Digital Growth Team Blog

SEO vs PPC: Which One Is Right for Your Business?

Apr 24, 2023

Every business wants to get more sales and revenue. One way to achieve this is through digital marketing. Digital marketing can be a great way to spread your brand’s message to a wider audience while also reaching your specific target audience. Two of the most popular digital marketing strategies are SEO and PPC. While both strategies aim to increase visibility for your business, they function in different ways. So, which one is right for your business? Let’s explore.

Search Engine Optimization (SEO)

Search Engine Optimization (SEO) is the process of optimizing your website and its content to rank higher in search engine results pages (SERPs). The higher you rank, the more visible your website is to people searching for keywords related to your niche. SEO is a long-term strategy that requires time to obtain results. SEO is both free and paid methods. The unpaid method is called organic SEO, and the paid method is known as local SEO.

Organic SEO aims to create relevant and high-quality content for users, integrate the right keywords, and build quality backlinks. Given that it’s an organic search, results through organic SEO can sometimes take anywhere from 3-6 months to reflect. However, results through this method tend to be more sustainable once they are achieved.

Local SEO increases website traffic through paid means like Google AdWords and social media advertising, among others. It provides immediate results but at a cost. Local SEO campaigns should cater to localized products, services, or businesses that aim to increase leads and conversions through online traffic.

Pay-Per-Click (PPC)

Pay-Per-Click (PPC) is an advertising model where advertisers pay for each click they receive after placing an ad on SERPs. Popular outreach platforms for PPC include Google Ads and Bing Ads. PPC campaigns can provide immediate results and reach a vast network by appearing first in search results. This means that PPC ads can generate brand awareness and generate leads, even when organic rankings are low.

PPC, however, can be expensive, especially for high-volume or highly competitive keywords. Advertisers can sometimes struggle to meet their target return on investment (ROI), and it can also require some skill to carry out successfully. To run successful PPC campaigns, you may need to acquire skills like budget planning, ad copywriting, bidding on the right keywords, and split testing to optimize the campaigns for ROIs.

So, Which One is Right for Your Business?

SEO and PPC both have their pros and cons. While SEO requires more investment and time, the results tend to be more sustainable in the long run. By contrast, PPC offers instant results in generating leads and conversions but comes with a relatively higher cost. Sometimes, it can be challenging to meet an optimal return on your investment with PPC.

Therefore, the strategy that’s right for you will depend on your budget, goals, and long-term business objectives. Do you want to raise more brand awareness without investing a significant amount of money? Or do you want immediate results, even if comes with a cost? Look at your budget and objectives, then pick the method that best aligns with what you want to achieve.

Both SEO and PPC play a significant role in achieving your business goals and business growth. Your ultimate decision should be based on the right balance between your budget and long-term business objectives. If you’re looking for long-term results, developing your organic SEO can help create lasting results for less. PPC is good for immediate results that can contribute to your brand awareness and high-quality leads, although its costs rely entirely on your budget capabilities. Consider what is best for you and your business before you begin investing your time and resources in either SEO or PPC. Blue Burst Media digital marketing agency can help you with both SEO and Paid Advertising. Contact us from a free consultation.