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Organic SEO and PPC: Still Undecided?

Posted on: January 14th, 2008 | 13 Comments

Organic SEO and Pay Per Click is a familiar topic, but why is it that a company chooses one or the other? WebProNews Reporter Abby Prince talked with Matt Bailey and David Szetela about why they only chose to use one method for their companies. David Szetela only uses PPC for his company, Clix Marketing. However, Matt Bailey only does organic SEO with his company, SiteLogic. Also, find out what role social networks are playing in both methods. Check out all that and more, right here on WebProNews.

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13 Comments on “Organic SEO and PPC: Still Undecided?”

  1. Jodon Cober says:

    I know,I am thinking about putting the results in my Webmaster Reviews site.

  2. Woo Hoo

    The webpronews.com site is now ranked #1 for “left handed dyslexic gnomes” See how good I am! Number one ranking in just 3 days. I am thinking about putting the results in my SEO portfolio at adwebdesigns.com .. lol jk

  3. [...] Organic SEO and PPC: Still Undecided? Organic SEO and Pay Per Click is a familiar topic, but why is it that a company chooses one or the other? [...]

  4. Sangesh says:

    I can’t but agree with you more that PPC and SEO have their own pros and cons and both have their separate uses. Both should be used consecutively and effectively. Whatever brings more return should be used more effectively.

    Cheers.

  5. Wendy says:

    As a webmaster with several sites to maintain and promote, I find SEO programs like IBP essential. I use PPC when I first launch a site, but it’s entirely too costly to use for long.

    In using IBP for the first time this May, I was shocked at how well my sites ranked just a few months later.

  6. Usually someone that says SEO doesnt work couldn’t rank on the first page for a phrase like “left handed dyslexic gnomes”

    Over the past 12 years I have heard so many times that there are NO SEO methods that work. You can’t guarantee it etc etc

    Anyway your on target with the page rules idea. You can make the shopping cart template idiot proof.

    Over the long term good seo is a better value than ppc.(You know this) However there is nothing wrong with running a good PPC campaign. PPC is also great for testing a new product or service without waiting months to rank in the SERPS.

    The only thing I care about is the return on the investment for the client. The method is secondary.

    Some clients cringe at 2.00 a click others think 20.00 per click is ok.

    Plus there is better traffic than SEO or PPC and that is ________.

    Looks like both is the popular answer. I agree
    Go Giants!

  7. I have been using organic search engine optimization for 13 months. There is nothing sweeter.I have realized that its not about google, no its about a webmasters understanding of basic needs of the various players in internet marketing scenario. Its so easy, i wish i thought about it two years ago.

  8. Peter (IMC) says:

    I’d like to see more information on the indexing process of big (10.000 + pages) websites. The usual questions like: How long, how deep, what’s important, etc…

  9. Carol R says:

    Why you wouldn’t use both is crazy.
    Well optimized pages are actually great webpages.
    Users get the best experience from them, after all content is king.
    If you don’t have the content, no one will stay anyway.
    Paying for clicks to your site is still cheaper and more effective than other means of advertising since nowadays more people are online looking for their info/products/services than in a phone book or newspaper etc. I do SEO and SEM and can tell you the time spent on both is worth it.

  10. Good points Jared, I guess I am surprised to hear that anyone would prefer one or the other, as both have their separate uses. I agree Dave both should be used in tandem.

  11. David Burdon says:

    Anybody who has commercial responsibility for a website would know the answer is you use both PPC and organic. Dual use is synergistic. The idea that you should use one or the other is so 2002!!!

  12. Jared Guess says:

    Jaan,

    I think David meant that that because it is so time consuming compared to the alternative (in the context of his explanation) that is wouldn’t make proper business sense to do so. In other words, everyone knows time is money, or has at least heard the proverbial saying. Now, as the clip showed they were representing a company such as BestBuy for PPC over SEO. Best Buy is huge, in every sense of the word. To optimize every page as the products and figures change daily, even hourly, would be a massive undertaking. This is where time consumption cost alot of money in BB’s respective Marketing department. Where if they went to PPC, it is a simple matter of setting up exactly what they want consumers to see for that particular moment in time and it is done. No waiting for indexing, ranking, directories etc. Anytime things need to be changed, it can be done so instantly and rather quickly in comparison to SEO. This change will also be reflected immediately, vs. having to accrue with SEO.

    Depending on the nature of the web site/company I can understand where you favor SEO for all, even consumer electronics web sites with “100s of products”, because SEO can be done.

    I don’t beleive he said, correct me if I am wrong, that SEO couldn’t be done for a consumer site with 1000’s of electronic listings, I just think he said it would be time consuming in contrast to PPC listings.

    Personally, I am an advocate for BOTH. I think they both have their merits in the marketplace, but, personally, I use SEO and PPC for my own companies/clients.

    My thoughts are that PPC is great for a start-up web site to generate immediate traffic while the SEO optimization builds into fruition. Once SEO has built into a somewhat steady traffic flow then it is possible to back down on the monthly expediture on PPC advertising. Or, alternatively, offsetting the PPC expense by selective advertising in minimalistic manners via Google Adsense or other such programs.

    Lastly, I don’t think there ever is going to be any definitive right and wrong answer to this debate. It is an option people have, and both work. I really don’t think it is an either / or scenario.

  13. OK David so because something is time consuming business should not do it? That is laughable to say the least.

    A consumer electronic website with 1000s of products could be optimized EASIER by setting SEO rules through product page templates. You might want to try to optimize something before saying it doesnt work.

    Matt is right on with his comments. I agree that it is hard to do both very well and I am sure David does PPC very well hence pushing that as the ideal marketing spend fro clients.

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