If you’ve ever tried to grow your business via digital advertising, you most probably have run into this dilemma before. SEO vs social media marketing: which is better?
The thing is, this isn’t really a question that has a definite, short answer. What you should know from the start, however, is that none of them clearly wins over the other. Each method has its advantages, and the “best” method to use is different for each company.
It depends on factors such as the service or product you’re selling, as some may be more suited for paid advertising than others. Naturally, you also have to take into account WHO you are selling to.
In the following article, you will learn more about the main benefits of each method, so you may decide which one is better for your business: SEO or social media marketing.
How is SEO Better than Social Media Marketing?
The main goal of Search Engine Optimization is to improve your ranking in the results of search engines like Google whenever users enter search terms that are related to the products or services that your business provides. You can achieve this by providing your users with informative content, improving the user experience of your website, link building and more. SEO agencies focus on on-site, off-site, and technical SEO elements to make sure that a business’s investment pays off in the long term.
SEO is one of the best long-term strategies in digital marketing, thanks to the opportunity for exponential growth and lower customer acquisition costs. If you put in the effort to continuously build up your business’s SEO, no amount of paid ads, including social media marketing from your competitors can topple your rankings in search engine results. Especially since organic searches make up most of the web traffic.
You can generate higher traffic to your website from SEO than from all other social media platforms combined and can achieve a higher conversion rate since most people turning to search engines are often further along their buyer journey. Google and other search engines are used when people want to learn more about the products of a company on their own time, while social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube are more often associated with leisure and entertainment.
How is social Media Marketing Better than SEO?
What you must keep in mind about SEO is that compared to social media marketing, it takes a lot more time to see your efforts pay off. Search engine marketing usually takes at least 3-6 months to show results, but you may need even a full year to see more impressive numbers. SEO is a long-term strategy, and it takes time to make your website rank for relevant keywords, especially if you work in a highly competitive industry.
On the other hand, paid advertising like social media marketing isn’t constricted by the same time frame. It takes much less time for you to see the results of a campaign on Facebook, Instagram, or YouTube, which also means you can quickly see what works and what doesn’t for your brand.
With a heap of targeting options, you can also reach users based on a huge number of characteristics, including age, location, and interests.
Still, managing and optimizing a social media campaign requires constant attention, which is why many companies choose to outsource this to a professional online marketing agency.
SEO vs Social Media Marketing: A Digital Advertising Agency can help you Decide which one is Better for your Business
Marketing companies in Budapest such as Dog and Pony SEO agency always tailor their offer to the needs of your company, and may even suggest a combination of search engine and social media marketing.
Using one of these methods does not exclude using the other. The flexible budget of social media marketing and the higher visibility linked to SEO makes it an especially viable option for smaller businesses too.
Both require different approaches. The good news is that a professional full-service marketing agency is also prepared to offer consulting services to other companies and even plan a custom strategy suited for the current needs of your business. They will analyze your previous online marketing efforts, and make recommendations on what proportions of social media and search engine marketing can help you achieve your goals.