SEO and PPC: The difference explained

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If you want to enjoy better search engine rankings, two of the most effective methods that you can use today are Search Engine Optimization (SEO) and Pay Per Click (PPC). Both SEO and PPC have the potential to maximize search engines to generate traffic to your website, but both also differ in their own approach. Deciding on which route to take can be difficult especially if you are unfamiliar with both worlds to begin with. So you won’t have to spend countless hours researching SEO and PPC, we have done the heavy lifting for you and will present you with a comparison of both so it would be easy for you to choose which one is ideal for you and your business.

Defining SEO and PPC

Before we begin, let us first know what the definition of SEO and PPC is.

Search Engine Optimization (SEO) is a method of online marketing that improves the quantity and quality of traffic to your website through organic search engine results. When we say organic, we mean those listings on search engine results from pages that appear because of their relevance to a keyword and not because they are advertised. This simply means that SEO is free because you can still get great visibility and clicks by simply positioning your website in better search engine rankings.

Pay Per Click (PPC) is another method of online marketing where you will pay a certain amount every time your advertisement is clicked. These are the ads that you normally see at the top of search engines. With PPC, you are essentially buying visits to your site.

The Costs

As revealed earlier, SEO is virtually free while PPC will cost you for every click. However, there is no such thing as free in the world of marketing and there are factors that you need to consider to determine the real cost of each.

Hiring an SEO Agency – Unless you are SEO guru, you will need to hire an SEO agency to conduct SEO for your website. If you are unfamiliar with SEO, then you will have a difficult time doing it on your own. Hiring an SEO professional will cost a few thousand dollars a month and is an ongoing cost until you decide that you no longer require his services.

PPC – When it comes to PPC, the cost you incur is relatively straightforward as your payments will depend on the number of clicks on your ad. But just like SEO, PPC requires constant management. While you can do it on your own, it would be more effective to hand the reigns over to a professional who knows how to handle PPC campaigns. So aside from the click payments for your ad, you will need to spend additional on outside management costs.

Search Results Location

PPC Ads are normally located on top of organic results, which mean Google, and other search engines prioritize them first simply because of the payment they bring in every time a person clicks the ad. It’s also important to note that your ad’s position is out of your hands. Whether you are on top of all the ads will depend on how much you bid and the quality of your landing page.

Results for Each

How quickly you can enjoy significant results will vary for each. When it comes to SEO, it will normally take a number of months before you notice improvements in your online presence and relevance. This is because the competition in SEO in quite fierce today with tons of websites fighting hard to get those top positions in search engine rankings. Simply put, SEO is no walk in the park and not everyone will succeed in this venture. It would require patience, dedication, and careful implementation of effective strategies to become successful.

PPC Ads, on the other hand, are shortcuts to ranking in search engines. You will normally enjoy significant results faster than SEO. The more you pay the quicker the results. If you cease payment, your ads will simply vanish in the search engine pages.

Which is one is Ideal?

The answer to this question will depend largely on your objectives and budget. If you want quick results and you have enough money to make the payments for clicks, then PPC is the suitable route. If you want something that is long lasting, then SEO is ideal. To get started with SEO, speak to one of our consultants today.