Marketers Still Aren’t Ready for GEO — Why That’s a Risk (and How to Get Ahead)
Geographic targeting is transforming how businesses connect with their audience, yet many marketers are still unprepared. GEO SEO, or location-based optimization, enables brands to appear in the right search results for users in specific locations, increasing relevance and conversions. Despite its potential, most marketing strategies overlook GEO, sticking to broad campaigns that miss local opportunities. In this article, we’ll uncover why marketers aren’t ready for GEO and how embracing location-based strategies can give your business a competitive edge.
Marketers Still Aren’t Ready for GEO — Why That’s a Risk (and How to Get Ahead)
When I first read the Search Engine Land article from September 11, 2025, one thing hit me hard: most marketers are still not ready for Generative Engine Optimization (GEO). And honestly, that’s worrying.
We’ve all spent years obsessing over SEO—optimizing for Google’s blue links, building backlinks, polishing metadata. But now search itself is evolving. Generative AI is shaping how people discover, evaluate, and interact with content. If you’re not adapting, you’re essentially preparing to disappear from the future of search.
Let’s dive into what the survey found, why it matters, and how you can actually prepare—whether you’re in the U.S., Bangladesh, or anywhere else.
The Survey: Where Marketers Stand With GEO
In August 2025, Centerfield surveyed 878 U.S. marketers about GEO. The results? Both eye-opening and a little alarming:
- 63% admitted they’re not putting time, money, or people into GEO yet.
- On average, only 9% of marketing resources go to GEO. Compare that with 24% for SEO and 36% for social media.
- Just 33% feel they have a solid understanding of GEO (meanwhile, 72% say the same about SEO).
- 41% expect to increase GEO investment next year.
- The biggest barriers are budget limits (~40%) and lack of expertise/competing priorities (~36%).
- Here’s the kicker: 67% believe AI-driven search visibility will be “very or extremely important” within the next two years.
So, in plain English: marketers know GEO is going to matter, but most still don’t know what to do about it.
GEO 101: What It Actually Means
If SEO is about being found in search engine results pages (SERPs), then GEO is about being surfaced in AI-driven answers.
Think of:
- Google’s AI Overviews (where results are summarized by AI at the top).
- Bing Copilot’s direct answers.
- Voice assistants like Siri or Alexa pulling answers directly from the web.
- Chat-style search tools citing sources instead of showing ten blue links.
In GEO, the goal isn’t just ranking high. It’s about being cited, summarized, or included in these AI responses. And that requires a different mindset.
Why GEO Matters More Than You Think
Here’s why I believe GEO isn’t optional anymore:
- Search Visibility Is Changing
Imagine your site ranking #1 organically, but the AI summary never mentions you. That’s a huge missed opportunity. - Early Adopters Win
Companies already experimenting with GEO will have a massive head start. Once AI-driven search becomes mainstream, playing catch-up won’t be easy. - AI Search = Trust Signals
Generative engines prefer high-quality, structured, trustworthy content. If your brand builds authority now, you’ll be the one AI cites when others fade into the background.
The GEO Playbook: How to Start Preparing Today
If you’re wondering, “Okay, but what do I actually do?”—here’s a practical step-by-step guide.
1. Educate Yourself and Your Team
- Take workshops on GEO, prompt engineering, and generative search.
- Follow how Google, Microsoft, and emerging AI search tools roll out new features.
- Treat GEO as a skillset, just like SEO was a decade ago.
2. Audit Your Content
Ask: which pages could actually show up in AI answers? Typically, it’s:
- FAQs
- How-to guides
- Definition or explainer pages
- Lists and summaries
Structure matters. Use clear headings, bullet points, and Q&A-style content.
3. Focus on Authority and Accuracy
AI models are picky. They want sources they can trust. That means:
- Adding citations and references.
- Using schema markup so search engines understand your content.
- Regularly updating information so it doesn’t get outdated.
4. Track What’s Happening
Traditional tools like Google Analytics don’t fully capture GEO visibility yet. But you can monitor:
- How often you’re showing in featured snippets.
- Whether AI overviews mention your site.
- Search Console trends for branded vs informational queries.
5. Budget Smartly for GEO
Don’t wait until your competitors are already ahead. Even small pilots—optimizing a few pages for GEO—can give you insights before scaling.
6. Create Internal Playbooks
Train your writers and marketers on what “GEO-friendly” content looks like. Consistency is key. Document it so your team doesn’t start from scratch every time.
The Bangladesh/South Asia Angle
Now, here’s where it gets even more interesting. While the survey covered U.S. marketers, GEO might look different in places like Bangladesh, India, or South Asia in general.
Why?
- Language diversity: AI still struggles with Bangla, Hindi, Urdu, etc. Optimizing for multilingual generative search could be a huge advantage.
- Mobile-first behavior: In Bangladesh, most users search via smartphones. Voice search is already more popular here compared to desktop queries. GEO for voice could become critical.
- Faster adoption curve: Many small businesses skipped the desktop-first era and went straight to mobile/social. GEO might follow a similar leapfrog pattern.
A Roadmap for Bangladesh-Based Companies
- Start with Bangla + English content
AI models need well-structured, bilingual content. Don’t just translate—localize. - Leverage FAQs and “People Also Ask” content
These are exactly the types of queries generative engines love. - Focus on niche authority
If you’re a Dhaka-based travel company, become the trusted source for Bangladesh itineraries. AI engines will cite you over a generic global site. - Prepare for voice-first GEO
With so many mobile users, optimize content for voice queries: natural language, conversational tone, and short answers. - Collaborate with local universities/training centers
There’s a real opportunity to build GEO talent in Bangladesh. Early movers can even brand themselves as GEO leaders.
My Final Take
Right now, there’s a gap between awareness and action. Most marketers know GEO is coming, but very few are ready to execute. That means there’s a huge window of opportunity for early adopters.
For me, the biggest lesson is this: GEO isn’t about replacing SEO, it’s about evolving it. Brands that see GEO as a natural extension of their search strategy—not a completely separate thing—will have the smoothest transition.
👉 If you’re in Bangladesh (or anywhere in South Asia), you have an extra edge. Because the market is still so young in GEO, even modest steps—like building structured, trustworthy content in Bangla—can put you ahead of the curve.
The future of search isn’t just about being ranked. It’s about being referenced. If AI isn’t mentioning you, you’re invisible.
So the question is: are you ready to be cited in the answers of tomorrow’s search engines?