We know, between Google Ads and SEO the choice is difficult. That’s why in this article we’ll tell you what the main features and differences of each proposal are. One more way to help you make the best decision based on your real needs.
What is the difference between Google Ads and SEO?
Google Ads and SEO are two of the mainstays of web marketing activities that enable you to increase the online visibility of your business. The main difference? The way they do it. Let’s take a closer look at what they are all about:
Google Ads: features and benefits
Google Ads is the online advertising platform of the well-known American multinational company. It allows you to create ads visible on the search engine, Youtube, the display network and all other Google partner networks.
A paid solution that provides your brand with visibility in almost immediate time (which varies, of course, depending on the channels chosen, the type of investment and advertising optimization).
Here are all the advantages of this option:
- Much more likely to appear in the top positions of the search engine (in the sponsorship space).
- Careful selection of the target audience
- Tracking clicks and conversions (the most important actions you want to get from users) to determine campaign effectiveness
- Reaching audiences on multiple devices (PC, mobile, smart TV, tablet), ability to analyze the performance of each individual device and then optimize the investment.
If you want to learn more about this topic, we recommend reading:
- The benefits that will convince you to use Google Ads
- Lead Generation with Google Ads: how to get valuable contacts?
SEO: features and strengths
When we talk about SEO we mean all the practices that can be put in place to improve search engine rankings, that is, to make it easier for people to find your business during their web searches . It includes, for example, website optimization, keyword research, SEO-friendly content creation (quality, relevant and interesting) and link building. Solutions to be evaluated following a detailed study of the business, competitors and market.
The benefits of SEO? For example, it is useful for:
- Improve the ranking of your website, this will allow you to appear in the search engine without having to pay for every single click
- Achieve consistent and lasting visibility
- Win targeted audiences and generate conversions
About SEO and content for the site, find out What is Google SGE, what will change and how to prepare
Google Ads or SEO, the main peculiarities and differences to consider
We have seen what the features and benefits of each activity are. We can say that Google Ads can be useful if:
- you know clearly what your target audience is
- if you want to receive results in a short time
This activity is recommended for any business, from startups, which have just entered the market and need to make themselves known quickly, to SMEs, from professionals to small businesses with short-term goals.
Since it is tied to the Google platform, paid and with a specific duration, you have to consider that the Google Ads campaign brings results only when it is active. Conversely, you will notice a drop in traffic, leads or sales (depending on the goal set) when it is not running. Also, remember that the ad must be relevant and must always be optimized, both for the user and for the algorithm (that’s why you need the intervention of anagency experienced in Google Ads).
As for SEO, on the other hand, adopting a series of onsite and offsite techniques rewards you in the long run. In this case, you don’t pay the search engine to be found on the web (the results are all organic and determined by user searches), but you turn to a web agency that, after a thorough analysis of your website, will advise you on the optimizations to adopt to make you grow. The only disadvantage of SEO? Time. It does, in fact, take some patience to start seeing the first results.
But then… which solution is best? Google Ads or SEO?
There is no definitive answer to this question. In choosing the right approach you must consider three factors:
- Goals: you need to determine exactly what your goals are. Do you want to raise brand awareness? Make leads? Quickly sell a service? Launch a product?
- Time: Evaluate how long you can be patient to get the desired results. Do you need to promote an event in the short term or do you want to grow your business in a lasting way so that it appears in search engine results to as many people as possible?
- Budget: plays a key role on your decisions. Consider, for example, that if you lean toward Google Ads you have to invest an amount for each campaign and the professional who follows them.
To understand better, let’s take some examples. If you want to sponsor an event, a Google Ads campaign is more effective because the need is immediate. Conversely, if you have a business that has been operating for some time and you have noticed that your competitors have been ranking better than you on search engines then you can figure out what SEO techniques to adopt to climb the SERPs and gain lasting visibility.
Why not both?
Google Ads and SEO are two complementary activities that complement each other.
One does not exclude the other, quite the contrary! Both can be useful to boost your achievements and start getting your business off the ground by benefiting from both the stability of SEO optimization and the immediate results of Google Ads.
The ideal, therefore, when you are undecided and not sure which solution to adopt, is to rely on the marketing experts whose expertise can direct you to the most effective choice. After all, before starting any business, whether Google Ads or SEO, you always need a strategy. Only in this way will you be able to:
- Figure out what is the best way to go
- Distribute the budget in the right way
- Maximize the effectiveness of advertising and organic investments
- Measure your results and-if necessary-change your strategy as you go along to achieve your business goals.
Not sure whether to invest in Google Ads or SEO?
Rely on Isola and request a marketing consultation: we will advise you on the best path for your business!
