Did you know that over 80% of data collection companies have difficulty accessing complete and accurate data due to IP restrictions? There are more than enough reasons — from legal to ethical restrictions. Yet, how do you get reliable data for competitive analysis when access to the right information is restricted? Utilizing the example of mobile YouTube proxy consultants from the company iProxy, we share their experience on how to solve the problem of blocking access to unreachable web resources. We are talking about proxy servers, the use of which can significantly improve the data collection process. If you read to the end, you will learn how proxy solutions can dramatically change your approach to data collection and make your business more efficient.

The data access problems

To cover the scope of the IP restriction problem in data collection, it's worth outlining the industry and the reasons why. It's worth noting right away that beyond the politically motivated decision to block access to websites, there are good reasons for such restrictions. The first is cybersecurity: companies that provide traffic monitoring and analysis services may restrict access to their customers' IP addresses to prevent potential threats such as DDoS attacks or hacking attempts. Another is to protect sensitive information and prevent unauthorized access. Other reasons include protection against spam (flooding and brute force attacks). However, the most common reason for blocking access to web resources is ostensibly to comply with legal regulations, but in reality it is political and geographic restrictions. 

  • For reference. In the U.S. alone, businesses lose significant amounts of money due to IP restrictions. Here are some numbers:
  1. Up to $600 billion a year in intellectual property theft, mostly by Chinese companies.
  2. 45 million jobs depend on IP-intensive industries that suffer from IP abuse.

Businesses that are more dependent on the quality and timeliness of the user data they receive include marketing companies, which cannot collect data for consumer behavior analysis and targeted advertising because of P-blocking; web scraping companies, which cannot collect data for market analysis on competitor pricing; and financial companies, which cannot collect data on potential customer creditworthiness and fraud. The reasons for blocking and the industries at risk provide an understanding of a possible solution, such as proxy services. They allow you to anonymize requests and bypass restrictions, allowing full access to information. 

How proxies help with competitive analysis

Proxy services are powerful data access tools that can be easily customized to meet business needs. They offer simple customizations that don't require complex technical skills. We won't dwell on the well-known benefits such as anonymity, security, access to geographic data, and efficiency gains, but focus on a mobile proxy for YouTube. 

For context, it's important to say a few words about what VPNs are and why they fall short when it comes to escaping I.P. restrictions. A VPN (Virtual Private Network) — a technology that creates a secure connection over the Internet between your device and a destination IP address. The role of the intermediary is played by VPN servers, their task is to hide real IP addresses and encrypt Internet traffic — this is how to ensure the ananisnomousness of users when they browse the web. But VPN does not always manage to bypass IP restrictions. The reason — servers block VPN traffic. This is where mobile proxies come to the rescue. They are designed to bypass VPN blocking. Tools:

  • Frequent IP address changes.
  • Use of mobile operator IP addresses.
  • Analogy with real users. 

For example, YouTube video resources are blocked in your country. You use a VPN, but it doesn't work — YouTube servers block your IP address. Solution: Use a mobile YouTube proxy. Tool: Proxies that use mobile operator IP addresses, which are less likely to be blocked. As a result, you can access the video content you want in any country. 

Collect and process competitive intelligence

Proxies allow companies to get more accurate data to analyze competitors without being blocked. For example, in electronics e-commerce, monitoring competitors' prices can help you improve your strategic planning — adjusting your prices to offer more competitive terms, such as special promotions.   

Speaking of mobile proxy for YouTube, this tool allows you to collect information about titles and descriptions of content, as well as tags used to promote the material and video views. Comments are another object of analysis: competitors can thus find out how the audience reacts to the promoted video product. Analyzing the activity — frequency of publication — will help you determine your competitors' content plan. Finally, audience analysis: in this part, proxies collect data on the subscribers of competitors. The data collected should help you build a portrait of your target audience based on their interests, so you can tailor your video content strategy. Better targeting, improved content, and audience insights give you a competitive advantage that translates into a 10-20% increase in revenue, according to iProxy experts.  

  • Note: Using proxies for competitive intelligence is ethical as long as privacy and copyright laws are respected. If you want to know more it about, the folks at Moviden can fill you in. 

The benefits of accurate and complete data

The world is not run by money, but by accurate and complete information. Proxy servers help to solve this task better than any other tool. Imagine being able to visualize, in real time, the vast amount of information on which the successful promotion of your product depends: competitors' strategies, consumer behavior, and market trends. This data gives you a strategic vantage point from which to tailor your campaigns. 

How can you be sure that the data you collect is accurate and reflects the real situation? The fact is that proxies collect data from multiple geographies and devices in a way that gives a complete picture of the market. For example, commentary on video of presidential candidates' speeches across the U.S. can reveal the weaknesses and strengths of the campaign in each region. Analyzing the information can help to choose the right arguments for the doubters. 

The most effective for such tasks are mobile proxies for YouTube; in a given context, they stand out somewhat for their advantages. Here are the main ones:

  1. Access geographically specific data. For example, comments on videos of presidential candidates' speeches can vary widely from region to region.
  2. Real user environment. Because mobile proxies mimic YouTube access from real mobile devices, the data collected is more accurate and relevant, and can be used to learn how mobile users are responding to election messages or debates.
  3. Bypass content restrictions. Reduce the risk of account blocking. Mobile proxies route traffic through the real IP addresses of mobile devices — this helps you avoid being on a suspicious activity list when collecting data. 
  4. Access regional statistics and algorithms. YouTube serves different content to users in different regions based on their activity — a proxy can help you understand the internal logic of this video hosting service. 
  5. Effectiveness in testing advertising and SEO strategies. It's about using proxies to test YouTube advertising campaigns targeting mobile users. The data obtained will allow you to adjust your strategies.

This is an incomplete list of the benefits of mobile proxy YouTube analytics, but it's enough to outline its virtue of making data collection more targeted, which is especially important in the context of events like an election race, when the smallest details can play a role in shaping public opinion.

Bottom Line

How do you stay ahead in a competitive market where access to data is limited? By using mobile proxies for YouTube, you can gain geo-specific insights, overcome content barriers, and collect accurate user data. The result? Smarter strategies, better targeting, and improved content creation that give you a distinct advantage. Isn't it time to rethink your approach to data collection and leverage proxy solutions for better results? Consider this.