How many times has someone asked you a question that you didn’t have the answer to, so you instantaneously replied, “you should Google it.” How crazy is it that we use Google as a verb, without even giving it a second thought?
Search engines like Google, Bing, and Yahoo have become powerful tools for discovering new information and finding answers to the questions you may have. Simply type what you want to know into the search engine and voila! In a split second, you’re presented with an array of data at your fingertips.
Paid vs. Organic
When you type a search into Google, dozens and dozens of pages filled with information and a variety of different links appear. This is referred to as SERP or the Search Engine Results Page. What you may not know is that the SERP contains a mixture of 2 different types of ads – paid and organic. But what’s the difference you ask? We’re here to break it down for you.
Organic
Organic listings are results that have the most relevance to and match the user’s search query. Once mastered, they are considered to be the most valuable source of traffic. Google and other search engines are often very particular about their rankings. Therefore, if your content ranks within the top 5 searches on the page, it’s a great indicator that your content is high quality and keyword rich. The downside to this is that since there is no money placed behind these ads, it can be very difficult to get noticed and can take quite a bit of time to start generating traffic. However, once you’re up there in the searches, chances are your business will reap all of the benefits!
Paid
Let’s face it, competition is fierce… especially in the digital world. Every business has a website and thus, organic efforts may not be enough to get you noticed. Most organic listings take upwards of 3-6 months to see even a bit of movement in search rankings and most businesses don’t want to wait that long. That’s where paid search comes in. Paid searches appear as advertisements. As a clear identifier, search engines set apart paid listings and typically place them at the top of the page, above or to the right of organic results. Paid listings classify themselves and are annotated with the words “Sponsored” or “Ad.” Paid searches are paid by website owners to have their web pages displayed when specific keywords are typed into the search engine.
Which Should I Use?
Search Engine Optimization or SEO can be difficult to achieve. Every business wants to be the top search result. Wondering which option is for you? It can be hard to determine which type will work best for your business without clarifying the goals you hope to achieve. While organic listings do the best for your business in the long-run, they can be difficult and time-consuming. However, once your organic efforts pay off, your listing will continue to grow higher in rankings. On the other hand, paid searches disappear the minute you stop paying for them and only rank for the specific keywords you invest in. However, they are great for generating leads and getting noticed by a wide range of customers quickly.
Whether we’re searching for a recipe, a new place to eat, directions to a friend’s house, or answers to a pressing question, there is no doubt that search engines and Google, in particular, have become a staple of our everyday lives.
If you’re a business looking to increase your leads through paid ads, organic searches, or both, contact the SEO experts at Quick Marketing Group today!
To learn more about SEO and what it can do for your business, click here.
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