How to Choose the Right GEOs for Your Budget and Goals
Tier 1 vs Tier 2 vs Tier 3 explained — with strategy tips based on vertical and ad format
Choosing the right GEO (geographic targeting) is one of the most critical decisions for any advertiser or affiliate. Whether you’re running pop, push, or banner ads, the country you target has a huge impact on:
- Traffic cost (CPM/CPC)
- Conversion behavior
- Compliance rules
- Competition level
In this article, we’ll break down the differences between Tier 1, Tier 2, and Tier 3 GEOs and help you align them with your budget, vertical, and format strategy.
🏆 What Are GEO Tiers, and Why Do They Matter?
GEOs are usually grouped into tiers based on purchasing power, average CPMs, and market maturity:
| Tier | Examples | Characteristics |
| 1 | US, UK, DE, CA, AU, FR | High-paying users, strict rules, high competition |
| 2 | BR, PL, MY, MX, RO, TH | Moderate CPMs, growing markets, solid ROI |
| 3 | IN, BD, VN, NG, EG, PK | Low CPMs, massive volume, lower CVR |
💰 How to Choose GEOs Based on Budget
Small budget? Start with Tier 3 to get maximum impressions and test creative angles cheaply.
Mid-level budget? Mix Tier 2 + Tier 3 for a balance of volume and quality.
Big budget? Go for Tier 1 if you’re promoting high-ticket offers, SaaS, or regulated verticals like finance or health.
🎯 GEO Strategy by Vertical
Different verticals perform better in different tiers. Here’s a quick breakdown:
🕹 iGaming
- Best GEOs: Tier 2 (BR, IN, TR, ZA)
- Strategy: Combine Tier 2 traffic for volume + Tier 1 retargeting for whales.
- Format: Popunder, In-Page Push
📱 Mobile Apps & Utilities
- Best GEOs: Tier 3 (IN, BD, PH, NG)
- Strategy: Go for mass installs with pop/banner + cheap Tier 3 volumes.
- Format: Pop, Display, Push
💳 Finance / Loans / Crypto
- Best GEOs: Tier 1 & selective Tier 2 (PL, RO, MY)
- Strategy: Focus on ROI — fewer leads but higher payouts.
- Format: Native-style push, prelanders, in-page push
💌 Dating & Adult
- Best GEOs: Tier 2/3 (TH, VN, IN, KZ)
- Strategy: Start wide, filter by device & carrier performance.
- Format: Push, Popunder, Banner
🛍 eCommerce / Lead Gen
- Best GEOs: Mixed Tier 2/3
- Strategy: Run sweepstakes or lead forms in Tier 3, scale winners to Tier 2.
- Format: Push, in-page push, display
📊 GEO Strategy by Format
- Popunder – Great for low-cost volume in Tier 3 and Tier 2. High CTR but low attention span — ideal for prelanders and app installs.
- Push Ads – Works across all tiers. Best for storytelling creatives and strong CTA.
- Banner Ads – Performs better in Tier 1/2 with good design and compliant offers.
- In-page Push – Often bypasses ad blockers, great for Tier 1–2 where competition is high.
🚀 Final Tips
- Start wide, then narrow. Test multiple GEOs, then scale the winners.
- Segment traffic early by device, OS, time of day — not just by country.
- Watch payout vs. CPM. Tier 1 may convert better but cost more to reach profitability.
- Use auto-optimization (if available) to let the algorithm redirect to performing GEOs.
📍 Summary
| Budget | Recommended Tier |
| <$100/day | Tier 3 |
| $100–500/day | Tier 2 + Tier 3 |
| $500+/day | Tier 1 + Tier 2 |
Choosing the right GEO isn’t just about where — it’s about why. The best affiliates and advertisers use GEOs strategically, aligning budget, creative, and offer with the right audience.
So whether you’re launching a new campaign or scaling an existing one — know your tiers, test smart, and optimize by data.
👉 Ready to test new GEOs?
Launch your next campaign with Clickaine — with premium traffic across all tiers, and tools that help you optimize every click.
