The digital landscape is shifting beneath our feet. Whilst traditional SEO experts have long helped businesses climb Google's rankings, a new breed of specialist is emerging: generative engine optimisation (GEO) professionals. As ChatGPT and similar AI platforms reshape how people find information, Bangladeshi businesses are beginning to recognise they need experts who understand this new frontier.
Global startup funding reached close to US$ 314 billion in 2024, with AI showing the biggest leap, and startups are rising to meet brands' demands for visibility as keywords give way to LLMs (large language models). ChatGPT now handles billions of queries monthly, whilst Google still dominates with trillions of searches. However, ChatGPT users spend considerably longer engaging with responses, suggesting deeper interaction with AI-generated content.
What matters for Bangladeshi businesses is that people aren't replacing Google searches with ChatGPT entirely. Rather they're conducting more searches overall across multiple platforms. This creates additional touchpoints for consumers where companies need visibility. From RMG (ready-made garment) exporters seeking international buyers to government agencies communicating policies, each institution needs GEO.
Understanding where AI platforms source information is the first step for Bangladesh's businesses. Reddit discussions frequently appear in ChatGPT responses, this is particularly valuable for export and IT businesses sharing authentic customer experiences. Wikipedia's structured format makes it a viable source, especially important for government departments and educational institutions establishing authoritative presence.
The key differentiator involves human validation. AI models recognise content that demonstrates expertise through community engagement, citations, and editorial oversight. For Bangladeshi businesses, this means building credibility within relevant online communities becomes as important as traditional website optimisation.
Local manufacturers might create detailed guides about their production, positioning themselves as industry authorities when AI answers related queries. Government websites benefit from structured information with clear headings, FAQ (frequently asked qustions) sections, and step-by-step guides that AI can easily reference. Educational institutions should focus on comprehensive topic coverage that addresses related questions and provides context.
Authority signals is important too. This includes author credentials, publication dates, proper sourcing, and links to reputable external sources. For Bangladesh's emerging tech companies and service companies, demonstrating expertise through case studies and specific examples increases citation likelihood in AI responses.
Several funded startups now specialise in GEO services, indicating growing market demand for these skills.
Technical understanding forms the foundation. GEO professionals need familiarity with how different AI platforms work, their training data sources, and citation preferences. This includes staying current with updates to major platforms and understanding prompt engineering basics.
Content strategy expertise becomes equally important here. Successful GEO professionals will excel at creating content that serves both human readers and AI training processes. They will need understanding of information architecture and semantic relationships between concepts and obviously regarding the large language models.
Building these skills starts with immersing oneself in AI platforms as a user. Experiment with different queries and observe which sources get cited frequently. One can also take online courses in natural language processing and content strategy. Many international universities now offer AI-focused marketing courses accessible remotely.
Bangladesh's diverse economy offers unique GEO opportunities. The banking sector, and service sector overall, needs GEO expertise to maintain visibility in financial advice queries. Healthcare providers can optimise medical content for AI platforms whilst maintaining accuracy standards.
Tech companies in Bangladesh represent the most immediate opportunities for GEO professionals. These businesses understand AI's importance and possess budgets for specialised expertise.The companies which will be hiring GEO professionals today won't be just preparing for tomorrow. They're actively shaping how their expertise remains discoverable as user behaviour continues evolving.
As AI platforms become gatekeepers of information discovery, visibility no longer depends on search rankings alone. GEO professionals are reshaping how brands connect with audiences through machine intelligence. This emerging field offers both career advancement and business necessity rolled into one. Early adopters of these capabilities will find themselves at the centre of marketing's next evolution. Companies that grasp this transformation today will lead tomorrow's digital conversations, making this the ideal time to master GEO skills.
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