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Organic Search Vs. Non-Organic Search: No, Marketing Has Not Become Like the Supermarket

Internet marketing isn’t like having the confused shopper experience, where you’re holding an organic and non-organic apple in your hand, wondering which one is truly better.

Author: Jeremy Harrison

September 15, 2021

With the changing landscape of marketing, businesses are clamoring to get a website up and running and learn new marketing techniques to gain an advantage over local competitors and earn some of the revenue that’s available from internet customers.

When you begin an internet marketing campaign, often, one of the first questions you’ll face is whether to use organic or non-organic (paid) search. Unlike the grocery store, where consumers are led to believe that organic products are better, the marketing options aren’t so clear cut.

Here’s how organic search and paid search work, and their primary differences:

Organic search

Organic search is a method businesses use when they want to rank high on a search engine’s results page without having to invest in an ad campaign. Usually, this method involves using optimization practices on web pages and blogs and linking strategies, and conducting industry keyword searches that search engines view as valuable. Search algorithms are not entirely known, but marketing experts carefully study results to gather insight into how Google and other search engines rank pages. Some of the organic search engine optimization practices also include using relevant keywords on a page title, regularly posting optimized-blog articles to your site, and engaging with customers on social media platforms. This process takes time. The more you post and optimize your pages, the higher your results, as search engines see your content as relevant and trustworthy.

Paid search

Internet marketing professionals refer to search that isn’t organic as paid search. Instead of organically, or naturally, reaching the top of the search results for a particular keyword, businesses can pay to get noticed. So, paid search is a bit like doing a local endorsement, TV ad or radio spot—but for the internet. When a consumer types in a search term that you’ve incorporated into your campaign, your ad will show up at the top of search page results, above the organic results. Sometimes, your ad may appear in the sidebar. Only if the consumer clicks on your ad do you pay anything.

Which is better?

You’re not going to like this answer. But wouldn’t it be so simple if we would tell you to do one or the other and get stellar results? The truth is, an effective marketing campaign should include a bit of both strategies. For the short-term, a paid search campaign can give your business a quick boost, helping you gain exposure to customers searching for the relevant keywords in your campaign; however, sometimes consumers don’t trust—or even look at—paid ads. Using organic search methods, which consumers tend to see as trustworthy, will help drive traffic and increase revenue over the long haul, and solidify your position as a leader and authority in your niche.

Learning new marketing techniques isn’t difficult. Unlike teaching an old dog new tricks, which often seems impossible to do, using methods like organic search and paid search takes some getting used to. But once you’ve committed yourself to the process, you’ll see the outcomes, and sing its praises.Healthy Groceries LicenseAttributionNo Derivative Works Some rights reserved by greggavedon.com

Internet marketing isn’t like having the confused shopper experience, where you’re holding an organic and non-organic apple in your hand, wondering which one is truly better. A combined strategy of using organic search with paid search is a powerful one-two punch strategy that increases traffic, generates leads, and converts window shoppers into loyal, repeat customers.

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