Using Geography Data in the Resonate Platform

Primary Geography Use Cases

Our observed Geography Data - including all 210 DMAs® as both attributes and insights - is now available.  Geography data of this scale has never been available before, giving you the unique ability to dissect your audiences with incredible precision. Of course, there are several use cases, but we see 5 primary use cases.

Use Case 1: Geofence Digital Footprint

1. Geofence your digital footprint and learn insights by specific DMAs® This is immensely valuable! While you can geofence your website pages in web analytics providers such as Google Analytics, you can't learn 15k insights from Google Analytics. 
2. Include Tag + DMA in your audience definition and view 15k insights.
3. Ex: Segment your homepage visitors into two different DMAs to understand if they have different purchase behaviors.

Use Case 2: DMA Insights on Digital Footprint

1. View DMA insights on your digital footprint and tags - such as your website, digital media, etc.
2. Include a Tag in your audience and understand where people interacting with your digital footprint are located.
3. Ex: Are people coming to your website homepage more likely to be in LA or San Francisco? 

Use Case 3: View 15K attributes by DMA

1. View our 15k attributes by DMA
2. Include DMA(s) in your audience and view up to 15k insights to understand more about people located in that DMA.
3. Ex: What people in the Atlanta DMA are like?

Use Case 4: DMA Insights by Attribute

1. View DMA insights by 15k attributes
2. Include a Resonate Element in your audience and view insights by DMA to understand where people with that attribute are located.
3. Ex: See where are Bank Switchers located, so you can focus your marketing efforts.
4. Ex: Which DMAs over-index for organic shopping moms, so you can understand where to double down on plum organics distribution.

Use Case 5: Survey Insights on a DMA + Survey Audience

1. View Survey insights on a DMA + Survey audience
2. Include a DMA in your survey audience and understand your audience in the DMA you operate
3. Ex: Learn more about Macy’s shoppers in New York
   
   * It's important to note that as you add more attributes, your audience size gets smaller which can cause greater variances in the data. Also keep in mind that insights within the DMA will be modeled on an attribute-by-attribute basis within that DMA.

Locating the Geography Data in the Taxonomy

To find the DMA* Geography data in the Resonate Taxonomy - click Segmentation.  You'll see Geography data under Additional Data.  

Once you click into Geography, you'll see Local Markets. 

In Local Markets are Nielsen DMAs* 

To find Region and State geography data, look in the Resonate Elements taxonomy under Demographics - Demographics - Geography.

You can use Resonate’s Geography data in the platform to:

• Build audiences by DMA for Analysis
  • Ex. Build an audience of people who are in DC Metro Area, and analyze them.
• Analyze & Filter audiences by DMA
  • Ex. Analyze an audience of Millennials, and understand if they're more likely to be located in Boston or New York.  
• Combine with geography data with tag data, Resonate Elements, and behavioral attributes, then Analyze

Usage Considerations

• You cannot save a DMA attribute in an audience that you wish to use in Audience Crosstab.
• You cannot combine DMA Geography Data with limited attributes.  This means if you have a limited attribute (such as individual age, etc) in your audience definition, you will not see Geography data (DMA) as insights.
• Our Geography Data is best used for audience sizing guidance, not for precise counts.

• Here’s why:

  • Geography Data reflects modeled audience distribution across regions based on observed behavioral patterns.
  • It is designed to provide directional insights and trends, not an exact census of people in a given area.
  • If you need weighted, representative audience sizing, use Region or State data from Resonate Elements, which are aligned to the U.S. online adult population.

Activation Considerations

You can build an audience using a Geography attribute and you have the ability to activate that audience. However, we recommend using your platform's built-in geo-targeting tools for the most up-to-date and precise location targeting.

Learn more about the different Geography data types available to Brand, Agency and Media & Entertainment clients, as well as Politics & Advocacy clients.

*The DMA® information is used pursuant to a license from The Nielsen Company.  Any use and/or reproduction of these materials without the express written consent of The Nielsen Company, is strictly prohibited. The DMA® information is valid for the period 2024 - 2026.