The battle of SEO vs. PPC

 

When talking about digital marketing, there’s this never-ending argument about which is best: SEO or PPC? While many say that PPC isn’t the best choice, both have its advantages if used properly.

SEO has a lasting effect but it takes time to see the results. In contrast, PPC offers an instant result but it won’t last as long as SEO does. To help you gauge what you actually need, we’ve listed the pros and cons of SEO and PPC here.

What is SEO?

SEO stands for Search Engine Optimization. It works like planting a seed on the field. In this metaphor, the seeds are strategies like metadata, keyword optimization, content, and multimedia.

 

It will take time for the seeds to grow. But when it does, it will bear fruits for the years to come. Still, it requires a lot of work and maintenance than merely watering the roots.

It’s imperative for all websites to perform SEO efforts to have a good standing on the search results. If not, their pages will be virtually non-existent.

Pros

• Excellent ROI. You can do it yourself or pay a reasonable amount so an expert will manage all the SEO needs of your website. In fact, SEO can bring in 300% more traffic to your site than using social media accounts alone.
• Lasting effect. Like what’s mentioned earlier, SEO has a longer effect compared to a PPC campaign.
• Free if you can do it on your own. Thanks to the abundant resources on the web, you can perform SEO efforts on your own.

Cons

• Learning curve. SEO isn’t as easy as installing WordPress to your hosting account. It takes patience and knowledge to see actual results.
• Difficult to master. SEO is a very technical method and it takes years to master. If you really want to become an SEO whiz, basic knowledge about coding is required.

What is PPC?

PPC or Pay Per Click is a paid advertising campaign. SEO advocates dismiss this to be costly and less effective than SEO. Still, the fact that it can show an ad based on the keywords internet users search is priceless.

 

Besides, if it’s not an effective method, large websites won’t pay for it. The good thing about PPC campaigns is the instant result. The moment you run it, the results will be visible.

Pros

• Easy to learn. Unlike SEO, PPC is way easier to master. Although it’s not a piece of cake, it takes less work than doing search optimization. In fact, there are Google professionals that will help you set up your PPC campaigns.
• Highly scalable. The more you pay the more scalable your PPC campaign becomes. For best results, always target the highly searched keywords while adjusting your budget.

Cons

• –You have to pay for it. Don’t get me wrong. It’s not bad to pay for clicks but you have the option not to if you opt for SEO.
• –Lower ROI. Since this is a short-term solution, the ROI is definitely lower compared to SEO. Also, when you stop paying, the ROI also stops.

 

Depending on what you need, both SEO and PPC can be champ marketing methods. But for those who know the ins and outs of these options, blending it together will yield unbeatable results.