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Lesson 12Beginner2 min read + 15 min exerciseFree account

SEO vs. Google Ads: what’s the difference?

One builds visibility you keep; the other rents visibility while you pay. How each works, what each is good for, and how to choose.

What you’ll learn

  • How SEO and paid ads each get you seen
  • Speed, cost and staying power compared
  • Which suits your goals and budget
  • How to start small and measure

Why it matters

Owners often spend on the wrong one for their goal: ads for something that needed SEO, or waiting months on SEO when they needed calls this week.

SEO: earned visibility

Search engine optimization means making your website and Google Business Profile the best answer for the searches your customers make. You don’t pay per click. It takes time to build, and it keeps working after the work is done.

SEO builds over timeAds: on while you payads pausedtime

Free with an account

Keep reading. It’s free.

Create a free Site Desk account to read the full lesson and every lesson in all four paths, use the Implementation Lab and keep your progress on every device.

Still to come in this lesson

  1. Google Ads: rented visibility
  2. Which to choose
  3. Measure either one
  4. A real-world example
  5. Your toolbox: 1 copy-and-paste template and 2 free tools
  6. Implementation Lab: Introductory Marketing Plan
  7. Verification checklist
  8. Common mistakes, quick answers and a printable resource

No password. We email you a 6-digit code. Already use Client Updates? Use the same email; it’s the same account.