In this article we will discuss:
- Utilizing real-peer devices to get served accurate data
- Leveraging geo-specific targeting for better results
- Overcoming target site blockades
Utilizing real-peer devices to get served accurate data
Bright Data is comprised of a comprehensive global network of peers who opted-in to be part of a network that businesses like yourself can tap into. These individuals are well compensated and can opt-out at any time. On the business side, this feature serves as a huge advantage for companies that want to get the most out of their data collection efforts.
A good example that illustrates this nicely is a company that uses classic Data Center proxies to collect pricing from competitors on an eCom marketplace. They are mostly using a limited subnet of IP addresses which at one point or another (depending on request volume) gets detected by their target site. That site will either block them from further collecting data or purposely serve them the wrong pricing data as a deterring measure.
When you route your data collection traffic through real-peer devices, your target sites will view them as normal consumers and serve them/you accurate data, setting the stage for a highly accurate dynamic pricing strategy.
Leveraging geo-specific targeting for better results
Another important aspect of proxy usage for data collection is geolocation. It is important to route traffic through local devices that correlate with the target sites you are trying to collect data from. If for example, you are utilizing an Indian IP to collect data on publicly traded entities in the U.K. then the target site may be the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). But when they detect an Indian IP trying to access financial data you are very likely to be flagged as a malicious actor and blocked or fed inaccurate data.
If however you route these data requests through an IP address located in London, you have an extremely high probability of getting accurate datasets. Additionally, you will want to use a proxy service that has ‘Super Proxies’ in close proximity to your target sites. This will ensure fast, streamlined access.
Overcoming target site blockades
Proxy technology is one of the most effective ways to circumvent target site blockades. This is due to the fact that especially when collecting data at scale, target sites flag your behavior as suspicious. This makes it extremely hard to access. When using a tool like Web Unlocker to complement your proxy usage and data collection efforts then you are able to completely automate the unblocking process. Web Unlocker helps you manage:
- IP rotations
- Request retries
- Request headers
- User-Agents
- Fingerprints
So for example, if your target data is ‘CAPTCHA-protected’ it can circumvent this and find the fastest, most efficient path towards a successful outcome. At the browser level for example, Web Unlocker will take care of cookie management and browser fingerprint emulation (for example, fonts, audio, canvas/webgl fingerprints, etc, ensuring that you get a 100% success rate every single time.
The bottom line
If you are currently using proxies for your data collection needs, you can greatly benefit from using a real-peer network in specific GEOs as well as a data unlocking tool. These will provide you with higher success rates, and more accurate datasets.
