Side by side
| SEO | PPC | |
|---|---|---|
| Speed | 3-12 months | Immediate |
| Cost model | Monthly work | Pay per click |
| When you stop | Rankings fade slowly | Leads stop immediately |
| Trust | Organic and map results get most clicks | Labelled “Sponsored” |
| Best for | Long-term, lower cost per lead | Testing, urgent demand, seasonal pushes |
How to split a budget
- New business: lean on ads and Google Local Services Ads now, start SEO in parallel.
- Established business with reviews: shift toward SEO as rankings grow; keep ads for your most profitable services.
- Expensive-click industries (legal, HVAC, roofing): SEO’s value is greatest because each organic lead saves a costly click.
Use them together
Ad data shows which keywords convert: feed that into SEO. SEO pages with good content can also improve ad quality and lower ad costs.
