SEO vs. Google Ads — What’s the Difference?
Let’s clear this up once and for all. SEO and Google Ads are not the same thing. If your marketing person doesn’t know the difference, that’s a red flag the size of Lake Michigan.
We’ve worked with dozens of small business owners who thought they were getting SEO…Turns out they were just buying ads.
How to Tell If You’re Paying for Real SEO
Start here:
Real SEO builds long-term visibility. It’s not about boosting one post or running a few Google Ads. It’s about showing up where people are searching consistently, across platforms, without having to pay every time.
Here’s what real SEO includes:
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Keyword research
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Optimized content
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Technical SEO
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Strategic linking
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Google Business work
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Real reports, not fluff
We broke this down in Why $200 SEO Is a Waste — because if your invoice says “SEO” but there’s no real optimization happening, you’re not getting a deal. You’re getting played.
Network Solutions backs this up too — SEO is what earns visibility. Paid ads just rent it.
What Ads Can Do (and What They Can’t)
Google Ads are useful when they're done right. You pay → you show up → results come quickly.
But here’s the thing: you stop paying → you vanish → results disappear. Completely.
We explained the speed vs. value dilemma in Slow SEO Wins. Fast clicks aren’t always qualified leads. Paid traffic can spike your numbers, but unless there’s a plan behind it, it won’t convert.
According to a Klicksense report, over 70% of users skip paid ads and go straight to organic results because ads don’t build trust, authority, or lasting visibility. They’re not a replacement for SEO, and never will be.
Klicksense highlights why long-term SEO strategies outperform PPC for sustainable business growth.
Why “Fast” Doesn’t Always Mean “Effective”
We’ve had clients spend thousands on ads with zero ROI. Why? Because the wrong traffic doesn’t buy. And paid clicks without a foundation are like pouring water into a leaky bucket.
A recent Fast Pages Age report found that organic search delivers a 14.6% average conversion rate, compared with just 1.3% for PPC, underscoring that while ads can deliver quick visibility, they don’t build trust, authority, or sustainable rankings—that’s where SEO shines
If you want to rank over time, SEO is your path. If you want quick results, ads might help. But mixing them without a strategy? That’s where most businesses waste money.
We talked about this back in Wix SEO Truth, where the platform wasn’t the problem. The plan was. SEO takes time, but it works. It sticks. And it builds momentum you can actually measure.
What Your Report Should Show
Here’s a gut-check: Does your report show ranking shifts? Keyword trends? Optimization work?
Or is it just charts, bounce rates, and “engagement”?
If it’s the latter, you’re probably just getting noise, not SEO.
A recent Forbes article confirms that organic results consistently deliver higher click-through rates and build sustainable credibility, while paid ads offer visibility but not trust, long-term authority, or lasting rankings.
Want a refresher on how to spot BS? Go read Google Doesn’t Cold Call. It’ll give you the red flags, fast.
Want to Be Sure?
Send us your contract or last “SEO” report. We’ll decode it. No pressure. No pitch. Just clarity.
Or email admin@shelleyssocialmedia.com with the subject: Decode This
Want the real truth about marketing? Stick around. We’ve got a whole series coming.