SEO vs. PPC: Which is best for you?

Ask any digital marketing expert, and you'll quickly learn that both search engine optimization (SEO) and pay-per-click advertising (PPC) are effective real estate marketing tools. After all, a beautiful, information-rich, mobile-friendly real estate website is only an asset if your audience knows where to find it! Both PPC and SEO are geared toward making sure your website shows up in a prime position in search engine results—the real difference comes in how that goal is accomplished.

Let's take a closer look at the perks of SEO and PPC to help you identify the most effective marketing tools for your real estate business.

SEO vs. PPC: How Search Engine Advertising Helps Grow Your Real Estate Brand

The first thing to remember about the SEO vs. PPC question is that both are very effective marketing tools and that they complement one another. Both will help you occupy prime positions in search engine results, but there are also key differences between the two:

• PPC for Quick Results – PPC advertising has many similarities to traditional advertising because you're paying Google to place an ad within the "normal" search results. One key difference from traditional advertising is that PPC allows you to target the right audience with excellent efficiency.
• SEO Works Over Time – SEO will also help you reach a high position in search rankings, but it happens without paying Google directly. Instead, you (or your SEO team) will work overtime to improve your website's search ranking through content development, website optimization, and other SEO tools.

While SEO does require time to see the best results, it's a reliable, proven method for increasing the visibility of your website. At the same time, while PPC is great for growing visibility quickly, it's likely not the only tool you want to use to market your business through search engines long-term.

Why a Combination of SEO and PPC Is Great for Real Estate Marketing

While it may feel like you have to make a choice between PPC and SEO, the truth is that most real estate businesses will see the best marketing results by combining the two. If you're relatively new to digital marketing or haven't prioritized SEO in the past, then PPC is a great way to bridge the gap while building your website's SEO footprint. At the same time, if your SEO is already in a good place, then PPC can still be a very effective tool when you want to target a specific group of prospects or stretch your influence into a new area.

Both SEO and PPC are complex topics when you're new to digital marketing, so it's a great idea to ask for help from a marketing expert you trust. Effective SEO requires a broad, diverse approach which includes website design, content development, social media, and a deep understanding of how Google ranks websites. This overall approach is part of the reason that quality SEO takes time.

No matter which option(s) you choose, know that search engine marketing is one of the most important tools for growing your real estate business online. By making the most of all the search engine marketing tools available to your real estate business, you can keep the fresh traffic coming to your real estate website.

To view the original article, visit the Delta Media Group blog.