Thread: Finding the County of visitors

maxmind springs to ... mind for some reason

MaxMind - GeoLite Country | Open Source IP Address to Country Database

The county/city level information obtained from an IP database isn't going to help you much because again it's highly inaccurate. I think the only way is to rely mostly on users selecting or typing location information directly into your website and make an assumption based on it.

A simple selection box at the top of your website might work. Check if the IP is Irish and then output a Select your County: [Drop down box] - A lot of people would probably use it, especially if it helped focus the website for their location.

Good idea.
In fact you made me realise that the website I'm thinking of, is proabably pulling user info from the registered county upon registration....duh

Originally Posted by JamesFarrell

Good idea.

Was just about to say that ...

pre populate the drop down based on where you think it is ... if its wrong so be it ... they can easily change it.

it's an ironic story to be honest.

i am from westport in real life.
on dial-up, i am from castlebar.
on broadband, i am from either galway or limerick
...somtimes even st. stephens green in dublin.

the only accurate way of knowing where your visitors are from is to have them login before they can see your site, and when they register, to have them tick what county they are in.

going by IP is a total joke in ireland, with an accuracy rate of about 20-30% i would imagine, and that is for people who are in the same county as the exchange.