SEO or Google Ads – Which Will Get The Best Results?

Updated on October 18, 2023

Search engine optimisation (SEO) is an important part of any website marketing strategy. It helps potential customers find your site and rank it higher in results. But there are other types of online advertising that can also help drive traffic to your site. This article will explain how SEO or Google Ads differ, and which might be better for your business.

Is SEO better or Google Ads?

There are two main ways to market your products and services online: through search engine optimization, and through paid advertisements such as Google ads.

Both routes work well, but each has its own set of pros and cons.

But make your choice on which to use once you’ve read more about what each offers.

What is SEO?

Simply put, SEO relies on regular input on your website in order to get the most from it.

A website is like a car engine and if you don’t feed it with petrol then it won’t go anywhere.

My best advice is to do some regular tasks each week. These should include:

adding good search terms (keywords) to the page content
adding ALT tags to images
proper url naming
adding social media buttons
adding service pages
adding internal and external links
creating regular articles to add to your blog
improving your local SEO
link building

By doing some or all of the above you will gradually build traction with your results and nurture an audience – but it takes time to build momentum.

However, if the articles you create don’t provide value to your visitors then Google, Bing etc are likely to deem your website as low quality.

This may result in your site dropping in Google search for certain terms.

So always think about what the reader will get from your content. Don’t just slap anything on a page and hope someone will come and read it.

You always want to provide a good user experience.

And onsite SEO can be slow as far as seeing results. But that shouldn’t put you off as it sets the seeds for your website to start building traffic.

For most website owners doing this stuff is manageable. But if you really aren’t that inclined then you can get in touch with an SEO expert.

Does SEO help Google Ads?

Search engine optimization (SEO) and Google Ads are both methods of improving a business’s visibility online, but they are distinct and separate practices.

SEO involves optimizing a website to rank higher in organic search results, while Google Ads involves paying for ads to appear at the top of search results.

However, the two can complement each other.

By having a strong SEO strategy in place, businesses can improve their organic search rankings and potentially reduce their PPC ad costs.

Is SEO still relevant in 2023?

Despite changes in search algorithms and the rise of paid advertising, SEO is still a crucial component of any digital marketing strategy.

While paid advertising can provide quick results, SEO is a long-term investment that can lead to sustainable growth.

As long as people continue to use search engines to find information, SEO will remain relevant.

Is it worth paying for SEO services?

This is a question that many business owners ask.

While it’s possible to learn and implement SEO strategies on your own, it can be a time-consuming process that requires a lot of knowledge and expertise.

Hiring an experienced SEO agency can be a worthwhile investment, as they can provide a customized strategy that’s tailored to your business’s specific needs.

Can you learn SEO in a few months?

While it’s possible to learn some basic SEO techniques in a few months, becoming a true expert in the field takes time and effort. SEO is constantly evolving, so it’s important to stay up-to-date on the latest trends and best practices.

If you’re serious about learning SEO, it’s a good idea to seek out reputable resources and courses and to be prepared to dedicate a significant amount of time to the learning process.

Are SEO tools worth using?

Utilizing SEO tools for your website can be an effective way to improve your website’s ranking in search engine results in pages. SEO tools can help you analyze your website’s performance, identify areas that need improvement, and track your progress over time.

There are many different SEO tools available, each with its own unique features and benefits. Here are some of the most popular:

Google Analytics is a free tool from Google that allows you to track your website’s traffic, analyze user behaviour, and identify areas for improvement.

SEMrush is a comprehensive SEO tool that provides insights into your website’s organic and paid search performance, backlink profile, and more.

Ahrefs is another popular SEO tool that provides an in-depth analysis of your website’s backlinks, organic search performance, and more.

Moz Pro is an all-in-one SEO tool that provides insights into your website’s search engine visibility, backlinks, and more.

Yoast SEO is a WordPress plugin that helps optimize your website’s on-page SEO by providing suggestions for optimizing your content and metadata.

Ultimately, the SEO tools you choose to use will depend on your specific needs and goals. However, using SEO tools can provide valuable insights into your website’s performance and help you make data-driven decisions to improve your search engine rankings.

Will SEO exist in 5 years?

It’s hard to predict the future, but it’s safe to say that search engines will continue to play a major role in how people find information online.

While the specifics of SEO may change, the underlying principles of optimizing a website are likely to remain relevant.

What is Google AdWords?

It’s basically a program based online where you can target specific people with a specific thing you want to sell, like services or products.

Google ads can be a great way of accelerating traffic to your website. But depending on your sector, the cost can sometimes be competitive.

One thing to note is Ads will always appear at the top of most search results and are indicated by the ‘Ad’ badges.

These ads are called ‘Search ads’ and are text-based. They provide more flexibility with your offer and setup.

The initial setup can be complex for a beginner so I’d advise doing some research first on best practices.

The basic idea is that you use 1-2 keyword phrases based on what your audience will be looking for.

E.g. standing desk

You base your Ad around this search term by adding a title, and a description and pointing the Google ad to your website.

Ideally, you’ll want to direct people to a purpose-built landing page as there is less distraction would you point them to your main website.

You also have the ability to create a number of adverts so you can test which one works the best.

Google advertising can be a great way to get some hot leads, but if you don’t know your audience, and what you’re doing, then you can waste a lot of money quickly.

What is the downside to Google Adwords?

While Google Ads can be an effective advertising platform, there are some potential downsides to be aware of.

One is the cost – depending on your industry and keywords, the cost-per-click (CPC) can be quite high.

Another downside is that ads only appear for as long as you’re willing to pay for them – as soon as you stop paying, your ads will no longer appear.

So are Google Adwords worth it?

Whether Google Ads are worth it depends on a variety of factors, including your industry, budget, and target audience.

For some businesses, the cost of advertising on Google may be prohibitive, while for others, it may be an essential part of their marketing strategy.

Ultimately, the best way to determine if Google Ads are worth it for your business is to test them out and track your results.

Why you should use both ads and SEO in your content strategy

If you’re looking to promote your business online, then both SEO and Google Ads will play an important role in helping you reach more customers.

However, there are some differences between these two approaches.

Both site engine optimisation and Google Ads offer different benefits, so it’s important that you understand what each strategy offers before making a decision. Below are the main differences between them:

SEO – This type of search engine optimization focuses on building links back to your website. It also helps improve your rankings.

Google Ads – These ads appear as sponsored listings at the top and bottom of page results. They allow businesses to pay to show up higher than organic results.