In case you're new to the world of marketing online, SEO stands for search engine optimization. This means that when people use a search engine to find what they need; your business is set up to be seen first among your competitors. For instance, if you own a hardware store and someone in your town is looking for a new weed eater, and you are properly implementing SEO, then your web page should show up in the top of the search results. SEO involves a lot of techniques and some understanding of site development. It takes quite a bit of time and effort to work your way up through the ranks of search engines like Google and Bing, but once you reach that first page goal, you should get a lot more organic traffic without having to pay extra advertising costs.
Adwords is a Google advertising program. You can choose to focus on brand awareness by paying for impressions or attract more traffic with pay per click. Either way, the idea is to get a link to your site at the coveted top spot right away. Ads are shown to people who have searched specific keywords on Google, which targets an audience that is more likely to be interested in your product or service.
The Pros and Cons of Each
SEO is very important to the long-term success of a business. If your competitors are working hard at obtaining the top spots, you'll have to keep up or risk being pushed to the back. With so many customers going to the internet to help direct their purchasing decisions, it's vital that your website shows up on the front page, because many people simply don't have the time or patience to look on the sixth page of Google for a solution to their problems. In the eyes of consumers, having a high ranking in search engines says a lot about your credibility as well, and can help build an authority in your niche or local community. The downside is that it can take a while to establish. You'll need to stay on top of current trends and algorithms. You may need to publish more content, learn how to use keywords on your webpages, and constantly educate yourself on the frequent changes that occur in the online marketing industry. That can be a lot of work, particularly for a small business owner who already juggles multiple tasks that are vital to the success of the company. The technology can also sometimes be overwhelming to those who don't have a background in computers or web development.
