SEO and Google Ads: Why Business Owners Shouldn’t Pick Just One
TLDR: SEO and Google Ads don’t have to compete—they can (and should) work together. When paired properly, SEO builds long-term organic visibility while Google Ads delivers immediate traffic and high-intent leads. This blog breaks down how to blend both strategies, why the synergy benefits local businesses, and how ML SEO helps clients balance both for maximum ROI.
When you’re running a business, every dollar matters—and every decision about marketing can feel like a gamble. Business owners often ask:
“Should I invest in SEO or run Google Ads?”
Here’s the truth: You don’t have to choose.
At ML SEO, we work with businesses across Coeur d’Alene, Post Falls, and the Inland Northwest to build digital strategies that combine the strengths of both SEO and AdWords (Google Ads). Why? Because the two services aren’t enemies—they’re teammates. When done right, they complement each other and lead to more visibility, more traffic, and better conversions.
What’s the Difference Between SEO and Google Ads?
Let’s start with a quick refresher:
SEO (Search Engine Optimization)
Search Engine Optimization is the process of improving your website’s structure, content, and credibility to show up organically in search engine results—without paying per click.
Pros: Long-term traffic, builds brand authority, better trust
Cons: Takes time, algorithm updates can affect ranking
Google Ads (AdWords)
Google Ads allows you to pay for placement at the top of search results for specific keywords. You’re charged every time someone clicks on your ad.
Pros: Instant visibility, highly targeted, flexible budgeting
Cons: Cost-per-click can get expensive, traffic disappears when you stop spending
The Power of Using SEO and Google Ads Together
Instead of choosing one strategy over the other, smart business owners are learning how to leverage both. Here’s how SEO and Google Ads support each other:
1. Faster Results with Long-Term Growth
Google Ads gets you immediate traffic from day one.
SEO builds a strong organic presence over time. Together, they help you own more real estate on the search engine results page (SERP)—both in the paid and organic listings.
2. Double the Data = Better Strategy
When you run Google Ads, you collect powerful data:
Which keywords convert
Which calls to action work best
What landing pages keep people engaged
You can feed that data back into your SEO strategy, optimizing your organic pages around high-performing terms and proven user behavior.
3. Better Local Targeting
SEO helps you rank in the Maps Pack and local search results, while Google Ads allows you to show ads to people within specific zip codes or cities—ideal for service-based businesses in Coeur d’Alene, Sandpoint, or Spokane.
🔁 Used together, SEO + Ads give you full visibility from local discovery to conversion.
4. More Trust and Credibility
People trust brands that show up everywhere. When a customer sees your ad and your organic result in the same search, it reinforces your credibility—and increases the likelihood they’ll click on one of them.
Real-World Example: SEO + Ads in Action
Let’s say you run a roofing company in Coeur d’Alene. You want to show up when people search for:
"emergency roof repair Coeur d’Alene"
"best roofing contractor near me"
"storm damage roof help CDA"
With SEO Alone:
It might take 3–6 months to build authority and rank on the first page—especially if you're competing with larger or older sites.
With Google Ads Alone:
You can appear instantly, but you’ll pay $10–$30 per click—and if you stop paying, the traffic disappears.
When You Combine Both:
You get the immediate traffic from Ads, and you can optimize landing pages based on ad performance. Meanwhile, your SEO efforts steadily climb, reducing ad spend over time as organic rankings improve.
This is the kind of synergy we help businesses unlock every day.
The Ideal SEO + Ads Workflow
If you’re wondering how to put this into practice, here’s the ML SEO recommended roadmap:
Step 1: Run Ads First
Start by launching a tightly targeted Google Ads campaign. Focus on:
High-converting keywords
Geographic targeting
Landing pages built to convert
This gives you fast data and traffic to validate what works.
Step 2: Build SEO Around the Winners
Look at your top-performing ad keywords and:
Add them to page titles, headers, and slugs
Create or expand landing pages using SEO best practices
Strengthen internal linking and build supporting blog content
This way, your SEO efforts are informed by real performance data, not guesswork.
Step 3: Reduce Ad Spend Strategically
As your organic traffic rises, shift your ad budget to:
Retargeting warm leads
Seasonal promotions
Geographic expansion
SEO does the heavy lifting, while Ads support specific business goals.
Common Mistakes to Avoid When Marrying SEO and Ads
Even with the best intentions, many business owners fall into these traps:
❌ Running Ads Without SEO
You drive traffic to a weak website, which kills conversions and wastes money.
❌ Doing SEO Without Clear Goals
You publish blogs and tweak pages aimlessly, without understanding what customers are actually searching for.
❌ Not Tracking Performance Across Channels
If you’re not tracking keyword performance, click-through rates, and on-site behavior, you can’t improve either strategy effectively.
✅ Solution: Let ML SEO manage the full strategy for you—content, ads, and analytics—so all channels work together seamlessly.
Why This Approach Works Best for Local Business Owners
As a business owner, your time is limited. You want results without having to manage 15 different tools or hire multiple agencies. Here’s why combining SEO and Google Ads under one roof works best:
Unified messaging: Your brand voice stays consistent across organic and paid.
Centralized data: Performance insights from one channel improve the other.
Better budgeting: You can adjust your monthly spend based on seasonal trends and SEO progress.
Compounded ROI: Every keyword you rank for organically saves you ad spend down the road.
ML SEO’s Hybrid Strategy: The LocalLift Protocol
At ML SEO, we don’t believe in siloed marketing. Our LocalLift Protocol is designed to combine:
On-page SEO optimization (metadata, headers, slugs, content)
Strategic blog development
High-performing Google Ads management
Local map optimization
Ongoing analytics and reporting
We don’t just get you traffic—we build momentum. And we do it with community-focused businesses in mind.
Ready to Rank and Reach?
Whether you’re just launching your business or looking to refresh your digital strategy, don’t feel forced to choose between SEO and Ads. With the right guidance, you can build a digital marketing engine that works today and tomorrow.
📥 Grab our Master Your SEO E-Book to start learning the fundamentals of on-page optimization.
💬 Or book a free consultation to see how we can align your SEO and Ads for real results in your market.
