Search Engine Optimization (SEO) | Pay Per Click (PPC) |
SEO: You can get first page positions if your web site is optimized for search engines | PPC: You can get your ad on the first page by paying a higher cost per click (CPC) |
Cost |
SEO: Cost of SEO is indirect. You cannot pay to get to the first page but you may have to pay for SEO services if you cannot do SEO yourself. | PPC: You pay only when people click on your ad. You can use the Google keyword tool to calculate how much you can pay. |
Traffic Potential |
SEO: Organic traffic is continuous as long as you are ranking in one of the top positions. | PPC: PPC ads can get more clicks but this means that you pay more. |
Conversion |
SEO : SEO traffic is better than other forms of traffic (i.e. social media) but in terms of conversion is not as good as PPC traffic. | PPC : Highly optimized keywords will generate more conversions but will cost more. |
SEO may take time but the results are (under some conditions) long lasting while with PPC when you stop paying for clicks, traffic will also stop. | Use PPC when you have a high converting product and use SEO when you have a limited budget to spend on advertising. |