Protecting SEO Budgets in a GEO Era

Summary

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Episode Overview:

Title: Protecting SEO Budgets in a GEO Era
Date: February 19, 2026
Podcast: Voices of Search // I Hear Everything
Host: Tyson Stockton
Guest: Patrick Stokes (Ahrefs)

In this concise episode, host Tyson Stockton engages Patrick Stokes of Ahrefs in a targeted discussion about the increasing pressures faced by SEO professionals, especially in retaining budgets amidst the rising focus on Generative Engine Optimization (GEO) and shifting digital marketing investment priorities.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Emerging Threat to SEO Budgets

Timestamp: 02:22

• Tyson asks a pointed question about the largest challenge SEOs will face over the coming year.
• Patrick Stokes identifies the top challenge:
  • “Proving their value, I think, and keeping budget because everyone seems to want to go to Geo or whatever and there's money there. But then where the businesses are still making money is SEO. So trying to find the balance there.”
    — Patrick Stokes [02:30]
  • He highlights a critical issue: businesses are increasingly drawn toward GEO (Generative Engine Optimization) due to its buzz and perceived opportunities, potentially at the expense of existing SEO initiatives.

2. The Value of SEO Remains Strong

• Despite an increased allocation towards GEO, Patrick asserts that SEO continues to be a core generator of business revenue.
• The episode underscores the balancing act SEOs must perform:
  • Demonstrating ROI and defending their budget=
  • Adapting to the evolving priorities of digital marketing teams.

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Notable Quotes

• “Proving their value, I think, and keeping budget because everyone seems to want to go to Geo or whatever and there's money there. But then where the businesses are still making money is SEO. So trying to find the balance there.”
  — Patrick Stokes [02:30]

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Memorable Moments & Takeaways

• Direct and Practical: The episode is notably brief but gets straight to the point, emphasizing the urgent, real-world challenge for SEOs:
  • Justification of budget and proving ongoing value as new digital paradigms like GEO compete for attention and resources.
• Insight for Practitioners: SEOs are reminded to focus on metrics, ROI, and clear communication about the impact SEO has—especially as senior stakeholders get distracted by newer trends.

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Timestamps for Important Segments

• [00:46] - Tyson introduces Patrick Stokes from Ahrefs
• [02:22] - Tyson poses the question about upcoming SEO challenges
• [02:30] - Patrick provides his key insight about proving SEO’s value and defending budgets
• [02:50] - Episode closes

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Overall Tone & Language

The exchange is matter-of-fact, practical, and slightly cautionary, reflecting the anxiety and competitive pressure within digital marketing teams as new technologies and approaches (like GEO) emerge.

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Summary

This episode delivers a focused message: in the coming year, SEOs must prioritize proving their value and justifying their budgets as GEO and similar trends attract attention and financial resources. The conversation, though brief, offers a critical reminder that while marketing strategies evolve, the proven revenue power of SEO should not be underestimated, and diligent advocacy remains essential for SEO professionals.

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Transcript

[A]

The Voices of Search Podcast is a proud member of the I Hear Everything Podcast Network. Looking to launch or scale your podcast, IHeAreEverything delivers podcast production, growth and monetization solutions that transform your words into profit. Ready to give your brand a voice? Then visit iheareverything.com welcome to the Voices of Search Podcast and I Hear Everything Production. In this podcast, we'll share the news, knowledge and strategies you need to navigate the ever changing world of SEO. Ready to expedite your company's organic growth efforts? Sit back, relax and get ready for your daily dose of search engine optimization wisdom. Here's today's host of the Voices of Search Podcast, Tyson Stockton.

[B]

Hey, what's going on? This is Tyson from the Voice of Search Podcast and I'm joined here with Patrick Stokes from ahrefs.

[C]

Time for a one minute break to hear from our sponsor, Pre Visible. So you're looking for SEO help and you got a couple of options. You could start replying to spam from agencies that claim they can get you to rank number one on Google. You can pay an hourly rate for a consultant who will inevitably nickel and dime you with hourly charges. Or you could work with a cookie cutter agency to quickly launch a strategy less project with low success rate. None of those sound very good now do they? Well, well, that's where Pre Visible's integrated consulting model comes in. Pre Visible draws From a collective 40 years of SEO and digital marketing experience to unlock your organic growth opportunities. They build custom solutions that combine strategy, technical expertise, content and reporting to effectively operationalize SEO for your business. Pre Visible's four stage approach ensures that your SEO programs thrive by starting off with a strategy first approach. Then they support you in your efforts to create quality content, help you identify technical issues, and most importantly, they'll work with your cross functional teams to integrate your SEO strategies to make sure that your SEO budget actually drives results, not just your agency's bottom line. So join brands like Yelp, eBay, Canva, Atlassian Square, all who rely on the SEO consultants at Pre Visible. For more information go to Previsible IO That's Pre Visible. P R E V I S I b l e.IO

[B]

what do you think the greatest challenge will be for SEOs over the next 12 months?

[D]

Proving their value, I think, and keeping budget because everyone seems to want to go to Geo or whatever and there's money there. But then where the businesses are still making money is SEO. So trying to find the balance there.

[B]

But that's it for today. My name is Tyson. Thanks for stopping by the Voice of Search podcast and we'll be in your feed in the next day. Sa.