Quick Summary
When design firms want to rank on Google, the big question is: SEO or Google Ads? While Ads can drive quick visibility, they often attract lower-quality leads and stop working when you stop paying. SEO, on the other hand, takes longer—but delivers warm, high-converting traffic over time. In this week’s Q&A, we break down the key differences, discuss lead quality, and explain why most growth-minded businesses benefit from a mix of both strategies.
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I went hiking last Sunday.
We had a great time… until we didn’t. We got lost on the way back.
There were multiple trails and no clear signs. We kept changing our minds: “Should we try the quicker route? The scenic one? Maybe the original path?”
The real problem wasn’t the route. It was indecision. The more we hesitated, the worse it got. The sun started going down. We got hangry. And we weren’t getting any closer to home.
Eventually, we picked a direction and committed to it. And you know what? It worked.
That hike reminded me of this week’s question from reader Alex:
Question of the Week
“We want our firm to appear on the first page of Google, but we’re unsure of the best approach. Organic SEO or paid ads? Is there a difference in lead quality? SEO requires ongoing maintenance, so why invest when Google Ads can deliver faster results?”
– Alex Zhang, Aloe Design Studio
Alex is asking specifically about Google, but the question can be applied to any platform: When resources are limited, which strategy or route is the best? The organic or paid one? Let’s break it down.
Organic SEO vs. Paid Ads: What’s the difference?
Instead of running a solo press campaign, leverage your existing partnerships with designers to get Whether they find you through a blog post or an ad, Google leads are usually searching with intent. They’re not just browsing; they’re looking for a solution.
However, Google Ads is like the express route. It’ll get you to the top of search results fast, but your visibility disappears when you stop paying.
SEO is more of a scenic route. It takes more time and effort upfront, but once your site ranks organically, the results will last and won’t vanish when the budget dries up.
When to go paid
Paid ads are great for:
- Speed: Get more visibility ASAP.
- Testing: See which keywords convert before investing in SEO.
- Retargeting: “Remind” website visitors with ads.
- Display: You’re a product-based business with stunning visuals (hi, furniture makers).
Plus, certain keywords are so competitive that even if you rank organically, your site will get pushed down the page by ads. If you want that prime real estate, you’ll have to pay for it.with standout imagery makes it much easier for a magazine to say “yes” to featuring your work.
When to go organic
SEO is great for:
- Long-term results: SEO keeps working for you, even without ongoing ad spend.
- Credibility: Users often trust organic results more than ads.
- Education: Blog posts and service pages help nurture high-ticket customers who research more before purchasing.
Organic is a long game. It’s unpredictable. It’s slow. It’s not for the faint of heart. You do a hundred things that feel like they go into the void. And then one hits, and you’re left half shocked, half thrilled, wondering if this is the start of something or just a happy blip.
It compounds over time.
But it can also complement a paid strategy. If you invest in organic SEO and build a strong foundation—optimized pages, helpful content, clean site structure, etc.—Google rewards relevance with lower ad costs.
What about lead quality?
Lead quality doesn’t depend on organic or paid. It depends on the keywords you target and the strategy at large.
Both can provide high-quality leads, as long as the intent behind the traffic aligns with your services.
So… which one should you choose?
If you’re just getting started, organic SEO is the foundation I recommend building first. But if you need a boost or want to expand your reach, paid ads can help you level up.
Just don’t get stuck in indecision.
Pick a path. Stick with it long enough to see results. And surround yourself with people who can help you course-correct when needed (like a digital marketing expert, hint hint).
Until next Thursday,
Daniela
CEO at Findable Digital Marketing
PS. Want me to write more like this? Send in your own question!
