If you are into web scraping for valuable data, you probably know that the biggest mistake you can make is not to use a proxy server at all.
However, there are quite a few other serious mistakes that can turn your scraping session into a failure. Below are listed the most common mistakes when using proxies for Google scraping.
USING A FREE PROXY
It is great that you know proxy servers are crucial for crawling the web successfully.
Say you’re considering to buy a proxy server for your data harvesting operations. Whether you plan to use a proxy for web scraping, price monitoring, ad verification, or other types of online operations, you want to be careful about picking the right service. To help you navigate the vast spread of options available out there, we’ve compiled a list of common mistakes people and companies often make when they select a proxy server.
If you are using a proxy service for your data harvesting operations, you might want to step back for a minute and consider if you are using the best product on the market. Some providers seem to be reliable and offer a good product, but they don’t necessarily fit your needs, and at times may enable you to harvest falsified information, making the entire process counterproductive. Whether you need a proxy for social listening, ad verification, price monitoring, or any other operation, follow this easy five-step guide to ensure you have signed up for the best proxy plan.
Considering the fact that each new day more and more people are using proxies, it is easy to conclude why there is such high demand on the proxy market.
Proxies are extremely useful and we are sure most of you know this by now. For those who are still new to this topic, you can read our article on why you need residential proxies.
However, you need to be aware that there is no actual regulation on the quality of proxies that providers offer. That is why we want to inform you about some essential aspects of the proxy market.
So, you bought a residential proxy for your computer? Great job! Now the only thing that remains is to configure settings on your computer so as to allow your browser to use a proxy.
No matter which browser you might be using, there are settings that you will need to change in order to be able to browse the internet through a proxy.
Have you ever downloaded a file off the internet? You know what I’m talking about. When you have the “run” and “install” pop-ups and the 5 million page terms and conditions that none of us EVER read.[1] Well… if you’re downloading these kind of apps on your work computer and then doing QA or checking geo-targeted ads and content, then you may be giving completely inaccurate information to your clients. No. You are definitely giving completely inaccurate information to your clients.
So… what exactly am I talking about?
I don’t know if you’ve hear of this little bastard, but I’m talking about ad injectors. Ad injectors insert ads into others’ sites, without permission from those sites and without payment to those sites.[2]
Alright, let’s get something straight.
Think you’re getting a good deal when you’re using that “free” proxy server? (Note: that was sarcasm) Let me tell you something. For a proxy to provide unblocked internet access, a server needs a ton of bandwith to send information back and forth to the user. The thing is that bandwith costs a lot of money (and I mean A LOT)—and they need A LOT of bandwith. Plus, they need to hire maintenance, security, operations, and so forth. So why would they be spending all this money to create a FREE service? Because it’s not free.
Many sophisticated online advertisers and publishers are coming across private proxy servers and need some insight about what they are and how to use them. Below are the most common questions about private proxy servers and their answers. If you have further questions about private proxy servers, ask GeoSurf!
Q: What is a private proxy server?
A: Simply put, it is a computer which is physically situated in another geographic location. For example, if your office is in New York, you could have a private proxy in Brazil or Australia or San Francisco.
Q: Why do people in the online advertising world use private proxy servers?
