Should You Prioritize SEO or PPC first?

You've launched a website, and after all that hard work, crickets. You start researching ways to drive traffic to your new site and quickly find that there are two primary methods to consider: SEO and PPC. But which one should you do first? On one hand, SEO is free, but it requires a significant time investment before you see results. On the other hand, PPC promises immediate traffic, but you're hesitant to hand over your credit card information to Google Ads.

In this blog post, we'll dive deep into which strategy you should start with to build a solid foundation and get the results you're looking for.

Understanding SEO and PPC

What is SEO?

SEO, or Search Engine Optimization, is the process of earning free, natural traffic from search engines like Google. This involves optimizing your website to rank higher on search engine results pages (SERPs), which can bring in more visitors over time.

What is PPC?

PPC, or Pay-Per-Click, is a type of paid advertising where you pay platforms like Google Ads for each click that goes to your website. This method can generate traffic almost instantly, but it comes at a cost.

SEO

Why Start with SEO?

Starting with SEO offers several long-term benefits that make it the better initial investment for most new websites.

1. Customer Insights

   When you learn and apply basic SEO techniques, you're essentially researching what people are searching for and creating content to satisfy those queries. This not only helps you understand your customer base better but also builds your credibility.

2. Building Trust and Authority

   By focusing on SEO, you can showcase your expertise and share testimonials from customers who have benefitted from your services or products. This not only improves your conversion rate but also builds trust with both search engines and users.

3. Better User Experience

   SEO is not just about keywords; it's also about improving the overall user experience. This means optimizing your content to be more skimmable, ensuring fast-loading images, and providing clear calls to action. All these factors help reduce bounce rates and encourage users to take action. 

The Downside of SEO

Yes, SEO can take time to get results. This delay is often why new websites gravitate towards PPC. If you're looking for quick wins, SEO might seem slow, but for long-term success, building a solid SEO foundation is crucial.

PPC

Why Consider PPC

PPC can be tempting because it offers the promise of instant traffic. You can launch a campaign and start seeing visitors almost immediately. This can be especially useful for new websites that need to make a quick impact or for time-sensitive promotions.

The Risks Involved

While PPC can generate immediate traffic, it comes with its own set of risks. The most significant is cost. PPC can quickly become expensive, especially if you're making mistakes. If your campaigns are not well-optimized, you could end up wasting a lot of money.

My Opinion: Start with SEO

If you're looking for long-term success, starting with SEO is the way to go. A basic SEO strategy will help you build a solid foundation for your website, making it easier to generate leads and revenue over time. You’ll learn so much about your business, website, and customers during this time which will help you out a lot when you lean in to PPC.