There are many ways to get digital marketing right, but it’s important to know what is possible depending on your objectives, strategy and budget.
SEO and PPC are the 2 biggest ways to drive traffic to your website. Check out our infographic below if you have ever wondered what the difference is between the two?:
The difference between SEO and PPC
SEO, or Search Engine Optimization, is the practice of including content on your site that has the potential to improve your site’s visibility to search engines and their users – in other words, it can help your site show up more often in relevant searches.
There are a number of things to look for when trying to improve your site’s SEO (or having an SEO expert guide you through the process). First, and most important, make sure the writing on your website is clear, helpful, and descriptive. Explain your topic in simple, easy-to-read language, and try to include words you think a user might search for when looking online for what you offer.
If you do include search terms in your site copy, make sure you’re still talking to the people you hope will use your site, and not trying to talk to or trick the Google algorithm – cluttering your page with too many search terms (especially out of context) or putting up fake pages you don’t intend users to see can lead to Google considering your pages deceptive and ignoring your site. Also, don’t use text images for important titles, content, or links, since the Google bot doesn’t recognize those. Just think about what will be easiest for a user to navigate and understand, and stick to that.
Having other sites link to yours (whether they’re blogs reviewing your products or services, satisfied customers, business associates, listicles, or anything else) can also help your ranking, by showing Google that your site is relevant to people’s interests online.
There’s no cost to appear in organic search results like Google’s, and making small changes to your website with an eye to SEO can greatly impact your search rankings over time.
What does “PPC” mean, and why might I need it?
Google Ads is Google’s pay-per-click (PPC) advertising solution, which allows businesses and website owners like you to bid on the chance to show an ads next to searches on Google.com, right when people are looking for what you have to offer. You only pay when someone clicks on your ad to visit your site or call your business, and the ads give you the opportunity to be noticed by a wider audience online. Plus, you can tweak your ads anytime, to reach a specific group of people (by interest, geographical area, etc.) or promote a specific deal or product. This immediacy can be a great resource for small companies who who can’t frequently update their SEO to reflect sales, promotions, or seasonal changes to their offerings.
Google Ads also gives you the option of promoting your business outside of Google Search, by showing ads on relevant websites in the Google Display Network (GDN). The GDN is made up of thousands of sites across the web, where you can connect with even more potential customers. You can pick specific sites from the network, or choose the types of people you’d like to reach, and let Google Ads create a list for you.
A PPC ad solution like Google Ads doesn’t have the same results as SEO, and won’t improve your organic search rankings. But, because of its flexibility, Google Ads can help businesses of every size grab attention from people online in the moments that matter – that is, the exact moment they’re searching for a business like yours.
If you would like help growing your business and getting more customers, just get in touch.
