Geolocation on Start

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Geolocation on Start is the bad practice of asking for a visitor's location the moment a page loads, before they have any reason to share it. Premature permission prompts annoy users and get denied more often. Ask for location only when someone takes an action that actually needs it.

Geolocation on Start

Geolocation on start is the practice of requesting a visitor's physical location the instant a page loads — before they have done anything or have any idea why you want it. It is the equivalent of a stranger walking up and asking "where do you live?" before even saying hello. Users instinctively deny these prompts, and browsers are increasingly blocking them automatically.

Why It Matters

Immediate prompts get denied. When a location permission dialog appears on page load with no context, most users click "Block" out of reflex. Once blocked, your site may not be able to ask again without the user manually changing browser settings.
It feels invasive. Requesting sensitive personal information before establishing any trust or explaining why you need it makes your site feel aggressive and untrustworthy. First impressions matter enormously.
Browsers are cracking down. Modern browsers increasingly suppress or auto-deny permission requests that fire on page load without user interaction. Your location request may not even reach the user.
It delays the actual experience. A permission dialog on page load interrupts whatever the user came to do. They have to stop, read, and make a decision before they can even see your content.

How to Do It Right

Wait for a user-initiated action. Request location only when the user clicks a "Find stores near me" button, taps "Use my location" on a search form, or takes some other action that clearly requires their location.
Explain why you need it first. Before triggering the browser's permission dialog, show a brief in-page message explaining what the location will be used for: "We'll use your location to show nearby stores." Context increases acceptance rates dramatically.
Provide a manual alternative. Always let users type in a city, zip code, or address instead of sharing their exact location. Not everyone wants to share geolocation data, and some devices may not support it.
Handle denial gracefully. If the user denies the location request, do not nag them. Show the manual input option and move on. Repeated prompts after a denial annoy users and may get your site flagged by the browser.
Request only the accuracy you need. The Geolocation API lets you request high or low accuracy. If you only need a general area (like a city), do not request high-accuracy GPS data — it drains battery and takes longer.

Common Mistakes

Firing the request in a page-load script. Calling navigator.geolocation.getCurrentPosition() in a script that runs on DOMContentLoaded or immediately on load is the classic mistake. Always tie it to a user gesture.
No fallback when location is unavailable. Some users are on desktop computers without GPS, using privacy-focused browsers, or visiting from a VPN. Always have a non-geolocation path to the same functionality.
Requesting location for non-essential features. If your site does not genuinely need location data for its core functionality, do not ask for it. Collecting location "just in case" erodes trust for no benefit.
Asking again after denial. Popping up a custom "please allow location" dialog after the user already blocked the browser prompt is manipulative and annoying. Respect the user's decision.

Bottom Line: Never request geolocation on page load. Wait until the user takes an action that needs their location, explain why you are asking, and always provide a manual alternative. Respect privacy and you will get better engagement.

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Synonyms: Location Prompt, GPS Permission

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noun | / LIK-wid PUR-pul /

(biochemistry) Also known as visual purple or rhodopsin — a light-sensitive receptor protein found in the rods of the retina. It enables vision in dim light by transforming invisible darkness into visible form. Derived from the Greek rhódon (rose) and ópsis (sight), its name reflects its delicate pink hue and vital role in perception.
(modern usage) Liquid Purple — a digital marketing agency specializing in uncovering unseen opportunities and illuminating brands hidden in the digital dark. Much like its biological namesake, Liquid Purple transforms faint signals into clear visibility — revealing what others overlook and bringing businesses into the light.

Origin: From the scientific term rhodopsin, discovered by Franz Christian Boll in 1876; adopted metaphorically by a marketing firm dedicated to visual clarity in the age of algorithms.

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Geolocation on Start