While it may not seem as if marketers who invest in paid advertising have much to gain from SEO, quite the opposite is true. 79 percent of digital advertisers use SEO in addition to paid campaigns. See why SEO still persists, even among those who prefer paid to organic marketing efforts.
SEO Ranks First in Marketing Methods
SEO is the most common marketing method after paid search, followed by email marketing (66 percent) and content marketing (60 percent). Traditional marketing methods, such as direct mail and telemarketing, rank low in priority with 32 percent and 4 percent respectively.
The main reason given for preference of paid vs. organic is the immediacy of the payout. Paid search delivers results (and revenue) right away, whereas it takes time for SEO to generate a spike in organic search traffic. With time and effort, SEO as well as content marketing — which includes search engine optimization in blog copy — can deliver a steady stream of traffic.
44 percent of advertisers plan to keep their search ad budgets the same in 2019 as in 2018, which suggests that paid search will remain relevant for the near-term future.
Key Takeaway for Brands
For businesses looking to invest in digital marketing, the best strategy for 2019 combines SEO with fast-acting efforts like PPC advertisements. Paid advertising can deliver the quick hit of conversions needed for a company to launch successfully, in order for the business to last long enough for long-term strategies like SEO and content marketing to become effective.
At Upright Communications, we help brands put together comprehensive digital marketing strategies using SEO in tandem with other initiatives. To see how we can help you reach your target audience with SEO, schedule a call with our team today.