There’s a reason businesses and individuals spend big bucks on Google AdWords. AdWords is scalable, and a great way for businesses to acquire leads without spending a lot of time and personnel. In fact, there are a number benefits to using AdWords, such as:
1. With AdWords, you can quickly and easily measure your results. AdWords can provide a ton of metrics where you dig down into the granular level of what appears to be working, and what’s not working. If your campaigns are off and running, you’ll know it.
2. AdWords is also quite flexible. You get to utilize exact keyword matches. You can also use ad extensions with relevant images, phone numbers, physical location, or even initiate chats. You can also gain access to email addresses directly from the SERPs.
However, even if AdWords is working for you, there’s a reason SEO is critical for your marketing efforts. Search engine optimization and organic search results can be the key to additional marketing success. So, yes! You need SEO.
Expect Lower Cost and Longer-Lasting Results
An organic listing, on average, costs less than AdWords campaigns and lasts longer. Why? With AdWords, once the campaign is over and shut off, your ad is immediately taken down. With optimization, once you rank in the top three for most terms, it takes at least a few weeks once the campaign is over for your results to drop (and you still remain on the front page). In fact, if your company and website rank at the top of the search results, you may even eliminate the need for pay per click.
Another way optimization can be cheaper is that AdWords costs you any time someone clicks on your ad, and it doesn’t matter if it was on accident, curiosity or if they really are interested in your product. On the other hand, an optimization campaign is paid for in an overall cost. In other words, it doesn’t matter how many people click on the result, the cost remains the same.
Traffic Increases
Once you nail down an ability to utilize analytics and reporting tools, you’ll be able to understand where your traffic is coming from and why. This adds up to being able to maximize business efforts. While you won’t get immediate results, they’ll come, and could end up being permanent.
Content will always be king, and good SEO means your site possesses a good amount of quality content. This is content users and customers find relevant, useful, and something they’re willing to share. SEO best practices say your links and pages are easily crawlable and search friendly. It’s an indication that you’ve put in quality time conducting the keyword research necessary to write relevant content people are looking for.
Good SEO also means marketers have engaged in effective link building efforts and are building relationships with authorities through articles, blogs, press releases, or other methods. It’s also an indication that you’ve tacked the social medial challenge. SEO and social media are two important, interwoven, strategies.
SEO isn’t a perfect strategy, but it can get you close to your goals. You may find you’ve made an error here and there, but you’ll generally walk away from each campaign with a passing grade. Another advantage of good SEO means other site owners will be more inclined to link to your site more frequently.
With SEO, the Aim Is for High Credibility
It’s a given! People trust Google. If your site ranks well, people will trust your site more. Your well-ranked website will become the brand name that people trust. A top ranking is credibility that may not come with AdWords alone. Also, keep in mind that millions of people have installed ad blockers on their browsers. Your ads may not even show up.
Look for a Solid ROI
SEO comes with a solid return on investment if it’s done right. When people find your page through an organic search, the odds are they were actually looking for your product or service. This is not necessarily true with AdWords. Thus, a Google hit is more valuable than a hit from an ad.
Another reason to drill down on SEO is that you can bet good money your competitors are doing it. The fact remains that people will buy products from well-ranking sites, even if that site’s products and services are not as superior as a site that doesn’t yet rank as well. If you can’t grow your company through your own SEO efforts, hire a company staffed with professionals who live and breathe SEO.
So, Is SEO Better Than AdWords?
In short, it depends on your site. If you’re relatively new to the online scene, using both AdWords and SEO in tandem is an excellent strategy – and an effective one if handled carefully. Just remember the differences between the two. PPC is great for short term campaigns, such as a push for a new product, when you’re re-marketing, or you want more local recognition. On the other hand, SEO is better for extended campaigns, to create a steady increase in traffic, and to cumulatively build your rankings in the SERPs.
If you’re not sure which way to go with your website, contact Level343. With over a decade of online experience, and more than two decades in marketing, we have the experience to get you results.