Is Google Ads or SEO better for my business?
Google Ads buys immediate, controllable traffic and proves which keywords convert within weeks. SEO compounds slowly but lowers blended acquisition cost over 6 to 18 months. Most Australian businesses run both: ads for immediate pipeline and keyword validation, SEO and answer engine optimisation for durable, lower-cost demand.
Key facts
- •Ads: results in days, cost stops when spend stops
- •SEO: 6–18 months to compound, cheaper long-run
- •Ads search term data is the best SEO keyword research available
Last reviewed 2026-09-03
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