​PPC vs SEO - Which Method Works the Best for eCommerce?

​When it comes to eCommerce, two marketing methods are usually mentioned the most: PPC and SEO. Both of these options are proven and have their benefits. While they do share similarities, they also have some major differences that could make one option better than the other. They can also be used in conjunction with each other for better results. If you want to know which method you should be focusing on between the two, here are a few questions you should be asking first.

​What’s Your Budget?

One of the benefits of SEO is that you can do a lot of the legwork yourself. You can create content, start improving your on-page factors, and even do some blogger outreach on your own. However, it’s a lot of work, and the results won’t be guaranteed.
PPC will cost you, but the results are verifiable. You know exactly what you got back for your money. It’s also possible to do PPC on a budget if you’re using the proper outlets.
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The biggest advantage of SEO, however, is that once you’ve done the initial work, you don’t have to work as much on maintaining results. With PPC, you constantly have to feed the beast. That shouldn’t be an issue if it’s counterbalanced by sales, however.

​How Tough is Your Competition?

You also have to check the level of competition in your niche. If there is high competition, then you might have a little trouble with PPC. With SEO, however, you could still have the chance to score with some underutilized but still profitable keywords.
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In either case, working with qualified SEO and PPC eCommerce marketing services could be the way to get an edge if you’re against tough competition. Some will even use AI tools to optimize your campaigns and find the absolute best keywords for traffic and conversion. This isn’t something everyone can do on their own, and you should definitely consider working with professionals if you want to increase your chances of success.

​How Fast Do You Want Results?

​If you want results fast, then PPC is the way. There is probably no other method that allows you to get high-quality laser targeted traffic that fast. SEO is a marathon, so you have to be in it for the long run. Results can be slow and frustrating, but once the floodgates are open, you could start getting tons of traffic for free. And this is when it really starts paying off.

​What is Your Real Goal?

If your goal is simply to get sales, PPC could be a great option, but it’s not the best option for building brand awareness. Some brands may be able to use it this way, but they have massive budgets that allow them to operate at a loss. SEO in this case would be a better option if you’re trying to build your brand organically.
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As you can see, both options could work depending on what you’re trying to accomplish and your circumstances. Make sure that you consider them and see where you could use them both as part of your online marketing strategy.