What is the difference between SEO and Google Ads?

Posted on October 20, 2021 by Doors Studio

There are many ways for a brand to advertise and get recognized in the eyes of its potential clientele and more. The most popular ways to get recognized online and attract large amounts of traffic to your online presence are by opting for a successful SEO regime or google ads.

Before we start, it's important to know what one means by SEO and Google Ads. SEO is a term that stands for Search Engine Optimization. In simple terms, Search engine optimization is the process of improving the quality and quantity of traffic from search engines to your website. This is done with the help of finding the most searched keywords and further integrating them into the content of your online presence. Google keyword rankings are determined and used for our benefit to get more traffic on your website and other online presences from there. 

Now, as for Google Ads, Google Ads are Advertisements via an online platform, namely Google. Google Ads are displayed everywhere, on mobile apps, non-search websites, videos, and many more. Google Ads are paid ads based on a PPC model (Pay Per Click) made to achieve whatever goal one has set up. It can get more traffic on the website; it can be for more conversions or even just general awareness. In SEO, it's suggested to have a professional take care of the process for the best results. 

If you're wondering, 'What is SEO?' 'What are Google Ads?' or 'What is the difference between SEO and Google Ads?' You've come to the right place; We attend to all your queries and service requirements related to digital marketing and more. 

Difference between SEO and Google Ads

People often wonder how different Google Ads are from SEO techniques. The difference between them is explained below.

  • Cost Involved:

SEO is a more cost-effective way of promoting your brand to drive heavy traffic to your website. It is an organic way that tends to take more time relatively than other methods. 

Whereas Google Ads are based on a PPC model wherein one is charged with every click on their ad. Moreover, it is an inorganic method, i.e., a paid method of driving more traffic to your website. With the help of Google Ads, one can promote their business to be displayed on top of the results on search engines resulting in better and relevant traffic for higher conversions. 

  • Time Consuming:

Google Ads tend to be a faster method for attracting heavy and relevant traffic to your website. This is because this paid method of displaying one's business on top of results on search engines ensures that your ad is displayed to anyone and everyone, on the search engines or anywhere else on the internet, making it deliver faster results than SEO.

SEO takes more time to deliver favorable results. This process includes organic means to initially gather high-ranking keywords and continuous upkeep until your brand's website is automatically displayed in top results, free of cost. 

  • Placement:

When one is using Google Ads to promote their brand, they tend to use this paid platform and display their ads on search engines and other Google-related family sites and platforms—making Google Ads an option with a greater reach in comparison to SEO.

With SEO, one can get high-ranking keywords, integrate them in the content on their websites, and in some time, have a high-ranking presence on search engines. SEO is a more time-consuming process, and even the results take longer when compared to Google Ads. Moreover, Google Ads have a better Ad placement as it tends to promote the brand on more than one platform, whereas SEO only displays the brand on search engines. 

  • Cost For Clicking:

SEO is an organic but time-consuming method of getting higher rankings and further benefiting the higher volume of traffic on one's online presence. It is a free method and does not cost anything but time to get done.

Whereas Google Ads works on a PPC model. It stands for Pay Per Click model, which means one has to pay for each click on their ad displayed. Therefore, there is no cost of clicking with SEO, but one must pay when opting for Google Ads. 

  • Tracking Metrics:

As SEO is a time-consuming and organic process, the results take longer and track metrics. It takes time to track the findings and further analyze them to formulate an ROI. 

Whereas, with Google Ads tracking results, analyzing them and formulating an ROI is instantly possible. They are making Google Ads a better option for the ease of tracking results and taking necessary actions.