SEO vs. Paid Ads: Which Is Better for Growing Your Business?
Is SEO or Paid Ads Better for Growing a Business?
Valid question, my friend!
You’ve probably wondered what the best way to grow your business is with limited resources of time and money.
And, you’ve also probably figured out by now that putting all your eggs in the social media basket isn’t cutting it.
At Founding Females®, we say social media is one piece of the pie, but relying on socials can’t be your entire marketing strategy if you want to grow.
We recommend 5-7 solid marketing channels based on where your ideal client already spends time.
Blanking on what marketing channels are best aligned for your audience? Download our free guide, 25 Ways to Market Your Business (Aside from Social Media). The come back here so we can chat through SEO vs. paid ads strategy.
Hard truth: If you aren’t leveraging organic search to draw in ideal clients, you’re leaving money on the table. But the same could be true for paid ads as well. The good news here? You aren’t doing it wrong, it’s just that that’s untapped opportunity.
Let’s dive into SEO Vs Paid Ads: Which is Better to Grow Your Business?
Before we go any further, did you know at Founding Females® we host an entire training dedicated to helping female entrepreneurs upskill around organic search and conversion strategy called the ✨ SEO Glow Up ✨?
The ✨ SEO Glow Up ✨ is a two-hour training followed by two full weeks of “walk alongside you” “hold your hand” support so you can ask every question your entrepreneur heart desires to get your website and online presence bangin’.
Click to find out when we’re hosting this SEO training designed especially for female entrepreneurs next!
SEO vs. Paid Ads: Which Is Better for Growing Your Business?
It’s a trick question, really. SEO and paid ads can complement each other to maximize your marketing potential.
I.e. SEO and paid ads work differently; it’s not a “one or the other” scenario.
Both approaches can drive customers your way, but they operate on different wavelengths—one’s a steady build, the other a quick burst.
What really matters most is your time frame, money, and objectives.
Let's look at the pros and cons of each and find out why SEO-driven organic search traffic could be the long-term game-changer your business needs, but paid ads could be the pointed marketing strategy with the best bang for your investment.
Important! if you’re interested in this topic, you’ll definitely want to download the free pdf I have to get you rolling: Best On-Page SEO Tips for Generating Content.
Understanding SEO and Paid Ads
SEO is about generating great content, using the correct keywords, and ensuring your website functions properly. When you create an excellent search experience for visitors, Google rewards it with more organic traffic to your website.
On the other hand, paid ads involve making a financial investment to achieve awareness with your ideal client through various platforms such as Google Ads, Meta ads, Instagram ads, etc. They provide immediate exposure and can be insanely effective for clinching a direct conversion (email growth, webinar signups, etc.)
Both can elevate your business, but their strengths and trade-offs tell two different stories.
The Case for SEO: Strengths and Challenges
Advantages of SEO:
Cost-Effective Over Time
Whether you invest your time taking a course to learn SEO or outsource it to an expert, SEO calls for an initial commitment.
It’s not a quick fix, but rather a strategy that compounds results overtime if you do it right. For example, one of my clients is earning over 10 million impressions PER YEAR now, but when they started, they were getting merely a few hundred.
They applied best practices every time they tweaked their website and now the results are unmatched. Again, it takes time. SEO and conversion strategy are like tending to a tree that produces fruit season after season.
Builds Trust
People tend to trust organic search results more than ads. Ads make them feel sold to; organic search helps them feel in the driver’s seat of their own decision. A high ranking signals credibility, making potential customers more likely to choose you over a paid listing.
We teach everything you need to know about SEO to drive qualified traffic from the search engine and guide leads to become paying customers in our ✨ SEO Glow Up ✨ Training for female entrepreneurs. Click to learn when we’re hosting it next!
Sustainable Growth
A well-optimized page can attract visitors for years.
The more your website signals that visitors are having a positive experience, the more likely search engines are to refer traffic to your site…and the cycle continues!
That blog post or product description you publish today could still generate leads long into the future. In fact, blog content’s half life win’s over other marketing efforts, hands down.
Take a peek at this graphic which shows the half life of a blog post, Pinterest pin, YouTube video, LinkedIn post, Instagram post, and Facebook post.
When it comes to ROI for your time, unique, human written content originated from ideas about what your ideal client is already typing into the search engine win everytime.
Drawbacks of SEO:
Time-Intensive
SEO isn’t instant and it’s not “set it and forget it” either, although nothing in marketing really is. If you're looking for speedy gains, waiting months for notable results can be exhausting. It’s true that it takes 30-90 days to really see an uptick in organic traffic after you apply sound SEO strategy to your website.
Ongoing Adjustments
Search engine algorithms evolve constantly. The Google algorithm changes on a large scale once every couple of years and on a small scale several times each week. That’s how Google has amassed so much search market share - they’re continually learning from the data about what makes an excellent search experience as search behavior changes. Staying competitive means regularly updating your strategy to keep your rankings intact.
Initial Effort
Whether you’re learning SEO basics or hiring a professional, the early stages demand resources before the rewards kick in.
We teach everything you need to know about SEO to drive qualified traffic from the search engine and guide leads to become paying customers in our ✨ SEO Glow Up ✨ Training for female entrepreneurs. Click to learn when we’re hosting it next!
The Case for Paid Ads: Strengths and Challenges
Advantages of Paid Ads:
If you’re considering making the investment, here are the advantages of paid ads.
Immediate Results
A strategic campaign launch will result in immediate traffic arrival. As a quick solution, this marketing channel performs best for temporary marketing promotions and speeding up the launch of a new business venture.
Precision Targeting
Ads let you zero in on your audience—by location, age, interests, and more. We know that a marketing message that speaks to everyone tends to be ineffective. The key to effective marketing is speaking the language of your ideal client based on their lifestyle, values, and needs. Ads let you sit in the driver’s seat, reaching precisely who you want.
Clear Metrics
As an entreprenuer, you probably already know that what gets measured gets managed and what gets managed gets results. Ad platforms provide detailed analytics—clicks, conversions, costs—making it easy to measure success and adjust on the fly. You don’t have to guess what the right decision, the data paints a clear picture for you.
Drawbacks of Paid Ads:
Rising Costs
Every visitor comes with a price tag, and those costs can escalate quickly in competitive industries. When the budget stops, so does the traffic.
In addition, you have to be ready to make a considerable upfront investment in order to shake out the learning curve and it can be tempting to quit if you don’t get immediate results.
My friend Ally, founder over at Bluum Digital suggested to me recently that if you don’t have at least $1000 in ad spend to get started, wait to run ads until you do. This is coming from someone whose resume includes work at Google.
Skepticism from Audiences
Consumers often view ads with caution because who hasn’t felt manipulated by marketing efforts? Knowing they’re paid placements introduces a question of what the marketer’s intentions really are. That can make it harder to build genuine trust.
Temporary Impact
Ads deliver a short-term boost but don’t create lasting value the way SEO efforts do. Once the campaign ends, the momentum fades and it requires more investment to get more results.
Why Organic Search Traffic Is a Long-Term Game-Changer
While SEO and paid ads can be equally beneficially in their own right, SEO shines for most early to mid-stage businesses I know since organic search traffic provides staying power over the long time that’s just not possible with sponsored advertising.
Organic SEO Strategy Example
Imagine you own a little business offering environmentally friendly household products. You create a blog post titled "How to Make Your Home Greener in 5 Steps", and search engine optimization is your first concern.
Months later, it’s ranking on Google’s first page. People searching for sustainable living tips find your site, trust your advice, opt into your email list, receive repeat touch points over the course of 3-6 months, and then buy your products.
That’s a sustainable strategy! Years later, that single post still drives sales without additional spending. That’s the beauty of organic traffic.
Lasting Value and Compounding ROI
Paid ads are like faucets—turn them off, and the flow stops. Yes, they’re affective and yes they can serve a specific purpose, but they’re fueled by cash which most small businesses are strapped for. SEO is a wellspring, delivering steady traffic long after the initial effort.
Authentic Connection with Ideal Clients
Organic visitors arrive because they seek what you offer, not because an ad interrupted them. That intent fosters stronger relationships and higher conversion rates.
Cumulative Benefits of SEO Strategy
Each piece of optimized content strengthens your site’s authority, helping you rank for more terms and reach a broader audience over time.
So, Which Should You Choose?
The good news? You don’t have to pick one and ditch the other. Paid Ads excel when you need speed—like launching a product or testing a market.
SEO shines for building a foundation that grows stronger with time. Many businesses thrive by blending ads for immediate traction and SEO for enduring success.
Choose Paid Ads if you need results or want to experiment with a campaign.
Choose SEO if you’re committed to sustainable growth and long-term value.
Final Thoughts: SEO Vs Paid Ads - Which is Better for Growing Your Business?
SEO and Paid Ads aren’t rivals—they’re tools in your growth toolbox. Ads offer a fast spark; SEO fuels a lasting fire.
For a business poised to thrive years from now, organic search traffic is the game-changer.
It takes patience, but the payoff—a steady stream of customers who find you naturally—is worth it. Start today, and watch your efforts grow into something remarkable.
SEO Training for Female Entrepreneurs
Don’t forget! At Founding Females® we host an entire training dedicated to helping female entrepreneurs upskill around organic search and conversion strategy called the ✨ SEO Glow Up ✨!
The ✨ SEO Glow Up ✨ is a two-hour training followed by two full weeks of “walk alongside you” “hold your hand” support so you can ask every question your entrepreneur heart desires to get your website and online presence bangin’.
Click to find out when we’re hosting this SEO training designed especially for female entrepreneurs next!
Continue Learning about SEO with These Related Articles
How to Submit Your Sitemap to Google Search Console (Even If You Don’t Feel Tech Savvy)
The #1 SEO Mistake Business Owners Make (And How to Fix It!)
About Founding Females®
The mission of Founding Females® is to help women build thriving businesses. We create safe spaces for women to share business challenges and receive peer support.
In addition, Founding Females® offers an online female business mastermind, a how-to guidebook for female entrepreneurs called Dream, Build, Grow: A Female’s Step-by-Step Guide for How to Start a Business, and in-person events, like an annual women’s business conference and local Founding Females® Meet Ups.
Founding Females® was founded by small business educator, Francie Hinrichsen. She believes anyone with a dream on their heart can pull up a seat to change the world through entrepreneurship. Click to learn more about working with Francie.
Add your best email below to join the Founding Females® email list:
Feeling stuck in the social media marketing grind? You’re not alone. While social media has its place, it’s not the only way to grow your small business. In this blog, we’re diving into six powerful marketing strategies that female entrepreneurs can use to attract customers, increase visibility, and build a sustainable business—without being handcuffed to the algorithm. Click to read more!