As a web developer and digital marketer, I often hear this question from my clients: “Should I invest in SEO or paid ads for my website?” It’s a valid question, but my answer is always the same: Invest in SEO.
Search engine optimization (SEO) is a digital marketing strategy that involves optimizing your website’s content and structure to rank higher on search engine results pages (SERPs). Paid ads, on the other hand, are a form of digital advertising where you pay to have your website or product appear at the top of the SERPs for specific keywords.
Don’t get me wrong; paid ads can be effective for certain businesses and situations. However, in most cases, I believe that SEO provides a better long-term return on investment (ROI) for the following reasons:
1. Organic Search Results are More Trusted
When you search for something on Google, you’ll notice that the top results are usually marked as “Ad” or “Sponsored.” These are paid ads, and while they can be effective, they are also seen as less trustworthy by users.
Organic search results, on the other hand, are the results that appear below the paid ads. These results are determined by Google’s algorithm, which evaluates the relevance and quality of each website’s content.
Because these results are not paid for, they are seen as more trustworthy by users. In fact, studies have shown that users are more likely to click on organic search results than paid ads.
2. SEO Provides Long-Term Results
While paid ads can provide immediate results, they are temporary. Once you stop paying for them, your website will no longer appear at the top of the SERPs.
SEO, on the other hand, provides long-term results. By optimizing your website’s content and structure, you can improve its visibility on the SERPs, which can lead to sustained traffic and lead generation.
At Instant Web Tools, we have found that 80% of our business comes from organic searches. This is a testament to the long-term effectiveness of SEO.
3. SEO is Cost-Effective
While paid ads can be effective, they can also be costly, especially if you’re targeting highly competitive keywords. With SEO, however, you don’t have to pay for clicks or impressions.
Yes, SEO requires an investment of time and resources to optimize your website’s content and structure. However, once your website starts ranking higher on the SERPs, you’ll start seeing sustained traffic and lead generation, which can lead to a better ROI in the long run.
In Conclusion
While paid ads can be effective for certain businesses and situations, I believe that SEO provides a better long-term return on investment for most businesses. Organic search results are more trusted by users, SEO provides long-term results, and SEO is cost-effective.
At Instant Web Tools, we have seen firsthand the effectiveness of SEO. 80% of our business comes from organic searches, which is a testament to the long-term value of investing in SEO.
If you’re ready to start investing in SEO for your website, contact us at 513-802-4668 or visit Instant Web Tools. Our team of web developers and digital marketers can help you optimize your website’s content and structure to rank higher on the SERPs and generate sustained traffic and leads.