What is the difference between SEO and Google Ads?
Google Ads buys traffic now. SEO earns traffic later for free. Both work, both fail when done badly, and most service businesses need both running together. The right mix changes as you grow.
What each one actually does
Google Ads puts your business at the top of search results within hours of launch. You pay per click. Stop paying and the traffic stops the same day. Strong for emergency services, seasonal pushes, and new locations where you have zero organic presence.
SEO earns ranking through content, technical site health, and authority signals. It takes 90 to 180 days to feel meaningful but compounds. After 12 months a good local SEO program usually delivers more booked jobs per dollar than paid ads, because the dollar is fixed and the volume keeps rising.
How the mix should change over time
Year one we usually recommend 70 percent paid, 30 percent SEO. Paid keeps the pipeline full while SEO foundation gets built. By year two it flips to 50/50 as organic traffic catches up. By year three SEO often handles 60 to 70 percent of volume and paid is reserved for high-margin services and seasonal pushes.
Running only one is usually a mistake. SEO alone leaves money on the table during the first year. Paid alone means the day you pause ads the phone stops.
Ready to talk?
Tell us your current mix and your growth target. We will return a 12-month split between paid and organic that fits your margin profile and cash flow.
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