subject: Search Engine Optimisation Vs Ppc Versus Social Media Marketing - Which Technique Do I Pick? [print this page] Any company competing on the web is in for a real challenge. On Google, you can find over a billion websites listed alone! All competing with your website for a piece of the action. So how do you stand out from the competition and sell your products online? A knowledgeable SEO company will be able to assist with SEO services but what about the rest?
The way business works has changed forever. If we go back a short while ago, people still worked on traditional forms to choose their company. Many would go down the high street and choose from the many shops open. The Internet has spun buying habits on its head. While the high streets are still open for the shopper that can't wait for next day delivery, traditional methods of shopping aren't utilised as much as they once were. Now business have to pick from an SEO company, a social media agency or a company to manage an Adwords campaign.
Internet marketers tend to expertise in one of the three methods. There are those companies that specialise in all areas, but they are few and far between. So let's look at each method and their strengths and weaknesses.
Search engine optimisation is the holy grail of the internet marketer. Simply put, imagine when you type in Google for a product, you are given two sets of results. Sometimes at the top, but mostly at the right, are paid adverts, which we'll move onto in a bit. Prominantly, in the middle are natural, or organic results. The natural listings are what Google considers most important. Imagine if you could appear at the top of these results? Even better, imagine being able to appear in the top three. This is where you need the help of an SEO company. There are a number of different methods to SEO. Mainly, there is onsite optimisation which includes optimising the content. Next there is link building which a good SEO company should be capable with. Link building involves getting other sites to link to your website. A backlink is when website A creates a hypertext link to your website. What about the disadvantages with SEO? But what about the disadvantages involved with SEO marketing? It is actually hard to fault SEO, because if you are exceptionally good at it, the benefits are enourmous. However one downside if the unpredictability of Google. A method that you have been using successfully can suddenly stop working. There are many other methods, which A good SEO company is always up to date with.
PPC is worth considering if you haven't the time or patience for SEO. PPC lets you bid to appear on the right hand side of the results. To an extent, you can therefore choose where you appear. So your title and body text can sell your product and entice the user to click through. This is something you don't have so much control over with organic results, as Google chooses what is displayed. Secondly, PPC is instant. With adwords for example you can setup an account and be active literally within the hour. Not only does it take months to get into Google, you have no guarantees you will stay in the position you are and not drop down. The pay per click model allows you to turbo your way to the top with no waiting around. Although arguable a good Adwords management company will be able to optimise your campaign in such away, you will save their fees and more. However Adwords can become incredibly expensive- in many cases you are bidding more than the value of the product. A good SEO company can be hired at a fraction of the price.
Unless you have been living in an air raid bunker for the last few years, you must have encountered social media! Who doesn't have an account with the two main social networking sites- Facebook and Twitter? Who was shocked when their parents added them on Facebook? Smart companies have realised social networking can be used for commercial gain. Social media is a subtle new way of getting your brand noticed. You should never try and sell with social media. Social media is all about creating fans, who in turn 'tweet' about or 'like' your company and tell their friends. A good social media agency can help here- but you need to be patient.
