To say that search engines are heavily relied upon would be an understatement. Without these, the average user would find it difficult to pull up a certain fact, make a purchase, or get in contact with a business, just to name a few possibilities. Businesses have noticed said reliance, often leading to renewed focus on search engine optimization. This brings us to the topic of organic search versus paid search, which is one that your local Long Island SEO specialist can provide insight into. What do these two philosophies entail? Is one inherently better than the other? How can they be leveraged for SEO? To answer these questions, as well as others, here is what curious business owners should know.
Organic Search Versus Paid Search
Differentiating Between the Two
Generally speaking, organic search results are those that appear in the unpaid sections of search engine results. These are the ones that rank naturally based on a number of factors, including keyword research, smart linking, and the like. Simply put, if a business ranks organically for a specific term, they’ve done well from an SEO standpoint. It should also go without saying that, in this instance, the business in question would be most relevant to the term searched for. The fact that the business achieves visibility this way, without having to put forth much more of an investment, speaks to the importance of organic search.
Meanwhile, paid search refers to the process by which companies rank based on the advertisement space that they purchase. In many search engines, Google included, paid placements appear at the top of results, resulting in increased visibility. Additionally, paid search works based on a pay-per-click model. For example, if one business owner finds their link clicked one hundred times per day and another business owner has their own link clicked less than ten times per day, the former would spend more. These are just a few general details to understand when it comes to organic search and paid search opportunities.
The Benefits of Organic Search Versus Paid Search
Next, let’s discuss the benefits that organic search and paid search options offer, as such information will motivate users to invest in said options. Organic search provides multiple advantages, including lower costs. Essentially, depending on how well your SEO strategy is, you may not have to spend too much in the long run, which keeps overhead low. Another reason why organic search matters is that it can motivate you, as a business owner, to focus on content. One of the defining factors of any SEO strategy is content, including the use of keywords, links, and other attributes therein. Content helps drive search engine visibility and, as a result, website traffic.
Paid search offers its own line of advantages, too. First and foremost, with paid search opportunities, you stand the chance of shooting to the top of search engine results with little to no effort. This is especially useful for new or small businesses that can benefit from a leg up, which helps with long-term SEO. Another reason why a business owner may lean toward paid search marketing is increased traffic, which should be a given considering the improved search engine rankings mentioned earlier. You can drive users to your website in no time, though this will also be dependent on the keywords and terms that you focus on. Organic and paid search are advantageous, albeit in different ways.
Which One Should You Use?
With this information regarding organic search versus paid search in mind, you may be curious to know which option better suits your needs. The answer to this will vary from one company to the next, meaning that you are likely to require a unique strategy. However, as you may have already gathered, one search option isn’t inherently better than the other, mainly since they serve different purposes. The key commonality they share is to help drive visibility.
If you’re a Long Island business owner looking to focus more on SEO or develop your first strategy, consider reaching out to a New York online marketing agency. In addition to SEO, they may offer other services such as social media management and branding, though these recommendations will depend on your current and long-term goals. In any event, when it comes to leveraging search engines for marketing, it’s wise to consult a professional.
About fishbat: fishbat is a full-service content marketing agency that takes a holistic business approach to their clients’ digital marketing programs. The fishbat team understands the importance of business principles just as well as the nuances of the latest digital technologies. fishbat offers every digital marketing service available from digital marketing research and planning to brand development to website and asset creation through social media management and search engine optimization programs – all custom calibrated for both B2B and B2C businesses.
