SEO vs Facebook Ads: Which Marketing Strategy is Better?

SEO vs Facebook Ads is often a debate in the digital marketing discussion. Which strategy is better among these two strategies?

Though both have the same goal, the methods and approaches used are different.

SEO does not require a lot of money when executed, but it cannot provide optimal results directly. Meanwhile, using Facebook Ads can get faster results, but this strategy really depends on the costs that we budget.

From SEO vs Facebook Ads, which strategy is actually better?

Before knowing the answers to SEO vs Facebook Ads, first understand the advantages and disadvantages of each strategy in the following guide.

Advantages of SEO Compared to Facebook Ads

In the SEO vs Facebook Ads debate, there are several advantages to SEO that can make it an attractive choice for businesses. Here's the description:

1. Brand Awareness

SEO helps websites appear at the top of the SERP by increasing brand awareness that is relevant to the niche.

When it appears at the top of the search page rankings, the website is considered relevant and has the keywords or content that users are looking for.

Being at the top of search pages gives you a greater chance of attracting visitors who already have an interest or need.

2. Minimal Cost

The topic of discussion about SEO vs Facebook Ads is, of course, inseparable from the discussion about significant differences in costs. Compared to paid advertising, SEO costs are relatively lower.

Even though it takes extra effort and time to optimize a website, SEO can be a more cost-effective strategy because it can pay off more in the long run if planned properly.

3. Long Term

The SEO vs Facebook Ads debate is often related to the time period of the resulting impact. SEO has the advantage of being able to provide sustainable results in the long term.

Even though it takes more time and effort to achieve optimal results, SEO has benefits that can be felt over a longer period of time. This is, of course, different from paid ads, which only give results during the ad period.

4. Combination of SEO and PR

The combination of SEO (Search Engine Optimization) and PR (Public Relations) has a significant impact on increasing the online visibility and reputation of a brand.

Through SEO efforts, increasing website ranking and visibility in search results will be more optimal.

Meanwhile, PR focuses on building brand image and getting positive media mentions.

By combining SEO and PR, a business can expand its reach and have a positive impact on marketing campaigns.

Disadvantages of SEO Compared to Facebook Ads

Although SEO offers many advantages, it also has some disadvantages that need to be considered. Here are some of them:

1. It Takes Time

When viewed from the perspective of SEO vs Facebook Ads, the organic optimization process has a very striking drawback, which is that it takes time.

To be able to be ranked at the top of the SERP, it takes the implementation of an SEO strategy, which takes a long time.

It takes time to research keywords, optimize content, do link building, and measure results. This whole process takes three to six months to start seeing results.

2. Content Production Consistency

One of the important aspects of an SEO strategy is the production of quality content that is relevant to the audience.

In order to stay in the top rankings on search pages, quality content must be produced consistently.

Sometimes this can be a problem because producing quality content takes a lot of time and effort.

Therefore, SEO is a challenge for some businesses, especially those with limited resources.

3. Need a Good Website

In order for SEO to work effectively, a website that is well optimized is needed. A good website loads fast, an optimal user experience, and is mobile-friendly.

If the website has some technical problems, it may cost more to solve them. Poorly operational websites with problems can hinder SEO performance.

The Advantages of Facebook Ads Against SEO Strategy

When viewed from the perspective of the discussion around SEO vs Facebook Ads, advertising on Facebook has several advantages, starting from its ability to appear on various platforms, detailed targeting, and user friendliness. Here's the explanation:

1. Advertise on Multiple Platforms

Facebook Ads can be displayed on various platforms, such as Facebook, Instagram, Audience Network, and Messenger.

What's more, Facebook paid Ads can target specific people.

That way, the use of Facebook Ads can help reach a wide and diverse audience across various communication channels.

2. Detailed Targeting

Facebook paid ads offer detailed targeting options. Targeting can be used to determine the target audience based on certain criteria such as age, gender, geographic location, interests, behavior, purchase history, and much more.

Through granular targeting, ads will only be shown to relevant target audiences. That way, ads can achieve better results.

3. User Friendly

From the perspective of SEO vs Facebook Ads, this social media platform has another edge, namely a very user-friendly appearance and method of use. This condition is very favorable for beginners.

Facebook paid advertising provides an easy-to-understand user interface and tools and guides to help run campaigns.

In addition, this platform has a simple ad creation process that can be up and running quickly.

Disadvantages of Facebook Ads from SEO Strategy

The discussion about SEO vs Facebook Ads reveals that both marketing strategies have advantages and disadvantages.

SEO takes a long time to get optimal results. On the other hand, Facebook Ads is very dependent on money to get optimal results.

In this section, we will explain the shortcomings of Facebook Ads in more detail:

1. Strict Facebook Ads Policy

Facebook has strict policies regarding ads advertised on its premises. These rules cover content that can be used in ads, including provisions about disallowed images, text, or products.

The following is a list of advertising policies on Facebook:

• There must be no misrepresentation.
• Ads must not contain false, deceptive, or misleading content
• Ads must not discriminate against other people based on their ethnicity, race, religion, national origin, age, disability, gender, or sexual orientation.
• There should be no content that can spark controversy.
• Advertising of firearms, adult products or services, tobacco products, and religious or political content is prohibited.

Violations of advertising policies on Facebook can result in account closure and ad banning.

While these policies serve a positive purpose, they can often limit the types of ads that can be shown.

This, of course, can hinder companies if they rely heavily on Facebook Ads.

2. Often Considered Disturbing Marketing

Some Facebook users find paid Facebook ads to be a nuisance. While using Facebook, they tend to ignore the ads that appear on the screen.

To overcome this problem, advertisers must be able to create attractive and relevant advertisements to attract their attention.

3. Dependent on Money

Facebook advertising costs on a pay-per-click basis. This means that one of the success factors of the campaign depends on the budget allocated for advertising.

If your budget is limited, your campaign may not achieve optimal results or have difficulty competing with other advertisers with larger budgets.

Based on this, the existence of Facebook advertising costs can burden advertisers or companies with limited resources.

Which One is Better?

SEO vs Facebook Ads: It cannot be concluded which marketing method is more effective. Both have their advantages and disadvantages.

The use of SEO and Facebook Ads must be adjusted to each company, starting with marketing objectives, costs, and the timeframe for obtaining maximum results.

In terms of marketing goals, companies that want to gain visibility organically and improve ranking on search pages are better off focusing on developing SEO.

However, if you want to reach your target audience directly and quickly, then Facebook Ads can be a better choice.

In terms of costs, SEO has lower costs in the long run because there is no pay-per-click involved.

On the other hand, Facebook Ads have varying advertising costs depending on various factors, such as targeting, competition, and ad quality.

When it comes to obtaining results, SEO takes a long-term effort to build authority and top rankings in search engines.

Meanwhile, Facebook Ads can help get instant results and provide the right visibility.

That's an explanation of SEO vs Facebook Ads starting from the advantages, disadvantages, and considerations of which one is better.

Paid Facebook ads do have an advantage because they can provide faster results. However, results from Facebook Ads can only be generated in the short term and when there is a big budget.

In fact, a business cannot only rely on short-term strategies. A good business must have a long-term strategy in order to grow even further.

SEO can be a better option in the long run. However, SEO cannot provide results as fast as Facebook Ads. The implementation of SEO in business must be done consistently and gradually.

If there are problems when running SEO, SEO services from cmlabs can help your business implement an SEO strategy to do digital and organic marketing.

Implementing the right SEO strategy provides an opportunity for your business to grow organically.