Search Engine Optimization (SEO) is the method of increasing the visibility of a website in the search results of search engines, such as Google, Yahoo!, or Bing. Organic search results are based off of their relevance to the search terms, these results are unpaid. Alternatively, non-organic search results are paid ads.
You may be familiar with Google’s layout of search results in which paid ads are at the top and along the side and organic search results are beneath them. Search engines format their search results so that the difference between organic and paid search results is minimal. In a similar way the shelves of a grocery store are set up, you are more likely to pick up a product off a shelf that is eye level rather than bending down to pick up something on a bottom shelf.
Organic results are perceived as more credible than paid ads, however there are many factors that are out of your control with organic results. Organic search is free but requires time and effort to become a relevant website for a search. Competition is fierce for some industries and keywords, but high quality SEO will increase visibility across multiple search engines.
Pay per click (PPC) is used to increase traffic to websites and as it sounds, advertisers pay the search engine when the ad is clicked. You can target your ideal audience (location, even age and gender in some platforms) to make it more cost effective and you have complete control over the keywords that will trigger your ad. Pay per click ads begin as soon as you set them up so the traffic is immediate. PPC advertising requires learning and experience, so many companies rely on digital marketing agencies to manage their PPC advertising. Competition in PPC advertising is high and companies with big budgets hold dominant positions.
There are affordable SEO services that can put together a search engine strategy to improve your website’s relevance in search results. Visit motionborg.net today to learn more about the technical search engine optimization services that we offer.
By Rebecca Hunter
Motionborg, Inc.