Search engine optimization is crucial to accounting firms because there are 5.6 billion searches per day. Many people are searching for your firm’s services, so accountant SEO is something you need to continue doing. However, it takes time to rank highly on Google. Today, we’re going to talk about SEO versus pay-per-click ads.
Both SEO and pay per click ads will:
However, search engine optimization takes longer to see results, and pay per click provides fast results.
Let’s take a look at both of these traffic-generating methods to learn which one is the right choice for your accounting firm.
Search engine optimization (SEO) works to improve your firm’s rankings for specific search terms in the search results. For example, if you type “accounting firm in New York,” SEO can help your firm rank in the search results for these terms.
Ideally, you’ll rank on the first page of Google to generate the most traffic possible.
Through on-page, off-page, and technical SEO, it’s possible to rank for local and worldwide keywords. The leads from keyword terms are high-converting forms of traffic.
Pay per click (PPC) ads are purchased on websites or search engines. For example, when you search the term in the last paragraph in Google, you’re sure to see ads from firms that aren’t ranking on the first page or two of Google.
How?
They’re paying for this privilege. Google makes most of its money from ads, and you can pay for each time someone clicks on your website instead of ranking organically in Google for free.
Roughly 2-in-3 businesses use PPC campaigns to land new clients. Your firm should use PPC, too.
SEO and PPC ads are two great ways to land new clients, but there are major pros and cons to each that you ought to know.
SEO campaigns can help your firm attract potential leads in all stages of the buying cycle. For example, you can target people:
Through SEO, you can target very specific keywords to generate organic traffic for your firm. While you’ll likely pay for expert SEO services, PPC is typically much more expensive than search engine optimization in the long run.
SEO allows you to build and grow your brand, authority and reputation.
SEO sounds like the ticket to success (and it can be), but there are a few drawbacks and reasons why you may want to consider PPC a little further. First, SEO does require:
Since SEO takes a lot of time to be fruitful, it’s important to consider using PPC if you need an immediate boost in site traffic.
Pay-per-click traffic is one of the fastest ways to start generating leads to your site.
PPC is the action of you paying to be listed on search engines in a designated, optimal space to encourage clicks. If you have the marketing budget or are just building your firm, PPC can provide you with fast results.
If you pay for each click, you’ll remain at the top of the search results almost instantly.
Additionally, you benefit from an:
In fact, search ads can increase business awareness by as much as 80%, according to one report.
However, there are also some blemishes on PPC ads, which may help you make a more informed decision on using SEO or PPC to market your firm. Due to the laser-targeting options of PPC, many firms will have their own PPC campaign while an SEO plan is being implemented.
Marketing intelligence can be learned along the way, too. The campaign will alert you to high and low competition keywords. You can use this information to find keywords to add to an SEO campaign.
PPC is very enticing because if you pay, they’ll come. However, PPC ads can be costly, and you must perform in-depth keyword research to ensure you’re targeting the proper keywords. They also require an an ad expert to manage, test, and tweak ads. PPC is a great short-term solution for firms, but it can be a major expense, too.
Firms should sit down with all stakeholders and discuss PPC marketing with them. You’ll often find that if you have the budget for it, PPC can be effective. Every $1 you spend on PPC can generate $2 in return. You will need to have a manager who will create, edit and monitor your ads to maximize your firm’s leads.
We recommend that your firm not focus too heavily on SEO versus pay per click ads and use both. Paying for each click can help you generate many leads to your site immediately, but SEO will provide leads organically.
In the long-term, SEO often provides sustained rankings for longer and cheaper, but it does take time for an SEO plan to provide results.
Using ads while your SEO campaign is in full swing will provide immediate leads while building your SEO plan. Over time, you’ll begin ranking for competitive keywords and can lower your paid advertising budget if necessary.
Do you need help with your SEO or paid advertising? Book a call with us today to discuss marketing your firm.
SEO typically takes several months to show significant results, as it requires time to improve your rankings on search engines.
PPC provides immediate visibility in search results, allowing you to attract leads quickly and target specific audiences effectively.
Yes, while SEO requires an upfront investment, it generally leads to sustained traffic and lower costs over time compared to ongoing PPC expenses.
Absolutely! Using both strategies can help you generate immediate leads through PPC while building long-term organic traffic with SEO.
Relying solely on PPC can be costly, and if your budget runs out, you may lose visibility and leads immediately, unlike with SEO.
Conduct thorough keyword research to identify high-traffic, relevant terms for your services, and consider using tools to analyze competition.