SEO & PPC Search Engine Marketing Minneapolis, St Paul, MN
Top 5 Questions to Ask in Choosing SEO vs Pay Per Click
Either organic search engine optimization or pay-per-click advertising can be very effective if they are implemented properly. These two types of marketing campaigns can also supplement each other's results. If you have an unlimited budget, it is highly recommended that you take advantage of both SEO and pay-per-click. However, if you have budget restraints and you have to choose one or the other, here are some considerations that may help you make an educated decision:
- Long-term success vs quick results. If your internet marketing is for the long run, organic search engine optimization is definitely the better solution. Organic search engine optimization can bring in unlimited traffic for virtually unlimited keyword searches. With SEO, your traffic grows steadily and your business keeps getting higher exposure over time. However, search engine optimization can take months or longer to achieve the desired results, depending on the competition. If you need quick results, Pay-Per-Click can help you accomplish that goal. Immediately after you start a Pay-Per-Click campaign, your ads start appearing at search engines along with organic search results.
- More keywords vs specific keywords. If your goal is to attract web traffic resulting from a wide range of keywords, then organic search engine optimization is your answer. Users at search engines use a variety of keywords and keyword combinations to conduct and refine their searches. Organic SEO can attract unlimited number of keyword variations or combinations, whereas a Pay-Per-Click campaign simply cannot. However, there are circumstances in which targeting a limited number of highly specific keywords can generate high-quality leads or sales through PPC.
- Maximal exposure vs limited visibility. Because web users are tired of advertisements, about 70-80% of them DO NOT click on the PPC ads. These users consider organic listings more trustworthy and credible. Search engine optimization targets the majority of web users. Although PPC attracts only 20-30% of web users, it can be very effective if the target keywords are highly popular.
- Big budget vs small budget. Search engine optimization is a long-term investment that requires a considerable budget. For some small businesses, paying for the up-front cost of SEO can be a challenge. PPC, on the other hand, does not require a big budget to start with. For some small businesses, an initial budget of a few hundred dollars can get a marketing campaign up and running. In the long term, as the cost per click keeps increasing, PPC may reach the point of a diminishing return.
- Less control vs more control. Organic SEO doesn’t have much control as to which pages are listed by search engines. It is up to the search engines to decide which pages are most relevant to the searched keyword phrases. As a result, the listed pages may not be the best landing pages for visitors to see upon their arrival. With PPC, you have the precise control as to which pages you want visitors to go based on the keywords they search. You can optimize these landing pages for maximal visitor-to-customer conversion.
Both search engine optimization and pay per click have their unique advantages. If your budget allows, it is best to integrate both into your marketing strategy. We have been helping our clients with both organic SEO and AdWords pay per click campaigns with great results. We provide top-ranking SEO and effective PPC management for companies in Minneapolis, St Paul, Minnesota and across the country.
Give us a call and our SEO and PPC experts will provide the best option that maximize your marketing dollars.