In online marketing, it could be argued the better choice always depends on what you need. Most online marketing companies, such as Dog and Pony agency, recommends combining PPC with SEO to achieve the best results. So which one should your business use? In this article, you’ll learn more about the benefits of each approach, as well as the advantages of a combined solution that makes use of both PPC and SEO services!
PPC versus SEO: what’s the difference?
The main difference between PPC (Pay Per Click) and SEO (Search Engine Optimization) is that whole the former relies on paid search, the latter relies on organic search. Paid ads will always appear at the top of the page, above all of Google’s search engine results that are influenced by organic searches. As the definition implies, each interaction, or “click” has a cost, while direct organic traffic from SEO is free, but does take time and money to build up.
Are PPC services better than SEO?
One of the definite advantages of PPC over SEO is speed: while reaching a good organic visibility can take months, PPC campaigns can be created within a few days and bring you much faster results. This speed is also perfect for testing out new products or new advertising messages for some quick feedback.
Other benefits include a huge array of extremely accurate targeting options and the opportunity to work with any kind of budget. A professional marketing agency will be able to find your most relevant keywords that can be used in your campaign, and will closely monitor each PPC ad to constantly optimize them through methods like A/B testing. They will know who to target and how to target them, and can make the most out of a PPC campaign whether you have a tight budget or want to go all out.
Are SEO services better than PPC?
While PPC works mostly for the short term, SEO works in the favor of the long term survival and success of your business. It may take more time, but it’s an investment that will definitely pay off later.
SEO aims to bring more organic traffic to your business. So what are the benefits to that? Increased visibility and more effective branding are definitely one notable example, since more and more people will begin associating their searches with your name. This in turn leads to more trust from potential customers, since as one of the highest ranked results in Google’s search engine, they will find in you a much more credible choice for their purchases.
Another reason SEO is a more sustainable choice for the long term, is that it doesn’t fall apart as soon as you stop paying: the initial effort you put in will help your business either way. It also provides you with a definite strategic advantage. By putting your trust in the right marketing agency, your competitors won’t be able to outdo the advantage you’ve gained by simply investing more in PPC!
Can the SEO versus PPC question even be answered?
Yes and no. It will always depend on the situation and characteristics of your business: do you need results now, or are you looking to “play the long game”?
Still, in an ideal situation PPC and SEO don’t exclude, but complete each other. A professional marketing agency that is familiar with these methods can use the advantages of both approaches to make each one more effective, such as knowing what keywords work best in paid and organic searches, more testing options, and reaching your target audience at every stage of the customer journey!
As you can see, PPC and SEO services can both serve their purpose in helping your business be profitable. But in order to make the best of these methods, you will also need to find right marketing agency who has enough experience with both!
