We do not deliver either of these as campaigns. That makes this an easier honest story.
Google Ads delivers direct traffic for which you pay per click and that stops as soon as you stop. SEO delivers traffic that takes months to build and then stays. For a new company that needs customers now, Ads is the realistic start; for the long term, SEO is the cheapest source.
NEXT TO EACH OTHER
The differences at a glance
| ASPECT | SEO | Google Ads |
|---|---|---|
| Speed | Months to quarters | Visible tomorrow |
| Costs | Time and content | Per click, continuously |
| Continues after stopping | Yes | No, leave immediately |
| Predictability | Low, depending on competition | High, you buy visitors |
| Trust among visitors | Higher, unpaid position | Lower, recognizable as an advertisement |
| Test what works | Slow | Clear within days |
WHEN WHAT
When which
The practical route for most companies: advertise to discover which search terms actually bring in customers, and use that knowledge to win exactly those terms with SEO without pay.
What doesn't work is just advertising and never starting SEO. Then you continue to rent what you could have owned.
- SEO with a longer horizon — the cheapest source in two years.
- SEO on a small budget — time instead of click budget.
- SEO for informational questions — where advertising rarely pays off.
- SEO if you have something to say — your own knowledge is your raw material.
- Ads in a hurry — the first application tomorrow.
- Ads to test — which terms yield customers.
- Ads for a temporary promotion — where there is no point in building up.
- Ads in a new market — before investing in content.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
More about the choice
Do you do either?
We build the technical foundation and content on which SEO rests. We do not do advertising campaigns, nor do we do ongoing SEO campaigns with link building. We refer you to specialists for this.
How much does advertising cost approximately?
That depends entirely on your industry: the click price varies greatly. Start small and measure requests rather than clicks: buying visits is easy, buying profitable visits is the job.
Can I start SEO without a budget?
Yes, that's the attractive side: you pay in time. Writing down your own knowledge in pages that completely answer a question takes nothing but hours.
CONTINUE READING
Of course, continue reading about this subject.
Where would you start?
Explain your situation and timeline. We say where we would start, even if that is advertising.