I recently was given early access to Bard and wanted to play around a bit. I had just had a prospect ask me this question yesterday morning, so I thought I would see what Bard had to say about it, and then tweak a bit with my own thoughts.  Sometimes this type of thing can be confusing for small business owners.  For example, this prospect didn’t know if Google Ads and PPC were the same or overlapped. Let’s start with the basics though.

Search engine optimization (SEO) and pay-per-click (PPC) are two of the most important digital marketing strategies businesses use to reach their target audiences. Both SEO and PPC can help you improve your website’s ranking in search engine results pages (SERPs), but they work in different ways and have different benefits and drawbacks.

What is SEO?

SEO Basics 2023SEO is the process of optimizing your website so that it ranks higher in organic search results. When you optimize your website for SEO, you’re essentially making it more visible to search engines like Google and Bing. This means that when someone searches for a keyword or phrase that is relevant to your website, your website will be more likely to appear in the top results. There are many different factors that go into SEO, but some of the most important include:

  • Content quality: The quality of your content is one of the most important factors in SEO. Your content should be well-written, informative, and relevant to your target audience.
  • Backlinks: Backlinks are links from other websites to your website. The more high-quality backlinks you have, the higher your website will rank in search results.
  • On-page SEO: On-page SEO refers to the optimization of your website’s pages for search engines. This includes things like using the right keywords, optimizing your titles and descriptions, and building internal links.

What is PPC?

Pinpoint PPC/Adwords TargetingPPC is a form of online advertising where you pay each time someone clicks on your ad. PPC ads can appear on search engines, social media platforms, and other websites. When you create a PPC campaign, you’ll need to choose keywords or phrases that you want your ad to appear for. You’ll also need to set a budget for how much you’re willing to spend per click. When someone clicks on your ad, you’ll be charged the amount you bid. If someone doesn’t click on your ad, you won’t be charged anything.

Benefits of SEO

There are many benefits to using SEO for your business. Some of the most important benefits include:

  • Increased visibility: SEO can help you increase the visibility of your website in search results. This means that more people will be able to find your website when they’re searching for products or services that you offer.
  • Improved website traffic: SEO can also help you improve the traffic to your website. When your website ranks higher in search results, you’ll receive more organic traffic from people who are searching for information related to your business.
  • Better conversion rates: SEO can also help you improve your conversion rates. When more people see your website and click on your links, you’ll have a better chance of converting them into customers or leads.

Benefits of PPC

There are also many benefits to using PPC for your business. Some of the most important benefits include:

  • Immediate results: PPC can help you generate immediate results for your business. When you create a PPC campaign, your ad will start appearing in search results right away. This means that you can start getting traffic to your website and generating leads right away.
  • Targeted traffic: PPC allows you to target your ads to specific audiences. This means that you can make sure that your ads are seen by people who are actually interested in what you have to offer.
  • Measurable results: PPC is a measurable form of advertising. You can track how many people click on your ads and how much you’re spending per click. This information can help you determine how effective your PPC campaigns are.

Drawbacks of SEO

SEO can be a time-consuming and complex process. It can take months or even years to see results from SEO. Additionally, SEO is not a guarantee of success. There is no guarantee that your website will rank higher in search results even if you optimize it perfectly.

Drawbacks of PPC

PPC can be an expensive form of advertising. If you’re not careful, you can easily spend a lot of money on PPC campaigns that don’t generate any results. Additionally, PPC is not a guarantee of success. Even if you create the perfect PPC campaign, there is no guarantee that people will click on your ads.

Which is better?

SEO and PPC are both important digital marketing strategies. However, which one is better for your business will depend on your specific needs and goals. If you’re looking for immediate results, PPC may be a better option. If you’re looking for long-term results, SEO may be a better option. Ultimately, the best way to decide which strategy is right for you is to consult with a digital marketing expert. They can help you assess your needs and goals and develop a plan that will help you achieve your desired results.

Are Google Ads and PPC the Same thing?

To answer the original question with a little more clarity. Google rebranded what was then called Google Adwords a few years back to make the name sound more all-inclusive. Google Adwords was essentially the Google brand name for PPC.  You paid to show up in the search results for certain search terms. Google Ads includes other forms of advertising as well. So Google Ads is the brand name for all of the forms of advertising that Google offers, from PPC to display advertising and those creepy ads that follow you around the internet once you have visited a website. We can typically help you set up a campaign using any or all of the Google targeting methods for Google Ads, as well as having over 15 years of successful experience navigating the waters of SEO. Give us a call if you need help with any digital marketing.