SEO vs Ads: Which Is Best for Your Business?

One of the most common dilemmas? Choosing between SEO (Search Engine Optimisation) and Ads (online advertising). If you’re a business owner wondering which strategy is right for you, you’re in the right place! 

Let’s break down the pros and cons of SEO vs Ads, help you determine the best fit for your business and even explore the power of using both together! 

SEO is all about optimising your website and content to rank higher in organic search results. When done right, SEO helps you appear on Google (and other search engines) without having to pay for every click. Essentially, free traffic! 

Pros of SEO 

• Long-term Results – Once you rank well, you can enjoy sustained traffic without ongoing payments. We achieved some incredible results for our clients through SEO, such as helping them to rank number 1 for 128 keywords. Want to read more? Click here. 

• Builds Credibility & Trust – People trust organic search results more than paid ads. 

• Cost-Effective – While SEO requires an investment in content creation and optimisation, you’re not paying per click.  

• Higher Click-Through Rates (CTR) – Studies show organic search results often get more clicks than paid ads. 

Cons of SEO 

• It Takes Time – You won’t see results overnight; it can take time to climb the rankings (but with an agency like Bold, our SEO experts are here to boost those rankings!) 

• Algorithm Changes – Google frequently updates its algorithms, which can impact rankings.  

• Requires Ongoing Effort – To stay on top, you’ll need continuous optimisation, content updates and backlink building. 

SEO is perfect for businesses looking for long-term, sustainable growth and willing to invest time and effort into organic visibility! 

If you’re a business owner who’s interesting in investing in SEO for your company, our SEO experts are always here for a chat. Get in touch to find out more. 

Ads, particularly Pay-Per-Click (PPC) advertising, allow businesses to pay for visibility at the top of search engine results, social media feeds and other platforms for specific keywords and search terms. 

Pros of Ads 

• Immediate Traffic – Unlike SEO, which takes time, Ads can start driving traffic as soon as they go live.  

• Highly Targeted – You can target specific audiences based on demographics, location, interests and even behaviour.  

• Scalable & Flexible – Increase or decrease your budget anytime to control ad spend.  

• A/B Testing & Data Insights – Ads provide clear data on what works, allowing for real-time adjustments. 

Cons of Ads 

• Costs Can Add Up – Once you stop paying, traffic stops.  

• Competition Can Be Fierce – Popular keywords have high bidding costs.  

• Ad Fatigue – People may become desensitised to your ads over time. 

Ads are ideal for businesses that need quick results, have a flexible budget and want to target specific audiences with precision. 

Our ads experts are the real deal, helping our clients by driving business growth with an 83% revenue surge through Google and Facebook ads! Looking for more results? Click here. 

So, should you focus on SEO or invest in Ads? The answer depends on your goals, budget and timeline. Let’s break it down: 

Choose SEO if: 

• You’re in it for the long haul and want sustainable growth.  

• You have time to build rankings and establish authority.  

• You want to reduce long-term marketing costs.  

• You want to build trust and credibility with organic traffic. 

Choose Ads if: 

• You want immediate visibility and quick results.  

• You’re launching a new product, service or campaign.  

• You have the budget to support ongoing ad spend.  

• You want to test different messaging, offers or audiences quickly. 

Here’s where the magic happens. Instead of choosing one over the other, our clients who combine SEO and Ads often see exponential growth! 

Why SEO & Ads Work Best Together 

• SEO gives you long-term, cost-effective growth, while Ads give you instant visibility.  

• Ads provide immediate data on what keywords convert best, which helps refine your SEO strategy.  

• Running Ads on keywords you don’t yet rank for organically lets you dominate search results.  

• SEO builds brand authority, and Ads reinforce visibility, keeping you top-of-mind. 

• We use Ads to drive traffic while our SEO efforts gain traction.  

• Our experts target high-intent keywords with PPC ads while, optimising content for long-term SEO ranking.  

• We retarget website visitors through Ads to nurture leads who found you via organic traffic! 

• We continuously analyse Ad performance to determine high-converting keywords and optimise SEO content accordingly. 

Our clients who opt for both strategies allow us to create a powerful, multi-channel marketing approach that leads to better visibility, stronger brand recognition and higher conversions! It’s literally a win-win strategy. 

If you’re a business owner wondering “SEO vs Ads, which is best for me?”, the answer isn’t always black and white. If you have time and want to build sustainable, long-term traffic, SEO is your best bet.  

If you need immediate results and have the budget, Ads can get you there fast. But if you truly want to maximise growth, combining both SEO and Ads is the ultimate powerhouse strategy. 

At the end of the day, it’s not about SEO vs Ads, it’s about using the right mix to meet your business goals and drive real results!