If your marketing budget isn’t unlimited (and let’s be honest, whose is?), you’ll eventually face the same question…
Should you spend money on advertising, or focus on growing your business organically?
Both approaches have their strengths, but choosing the right one depends on what you’re trying to achieve.
What Is Organic Marketing?
Organic marketing is essentially attracting customers without paying directly for every click.
This could include:
- Writing blog posts
- Improving your SEO (so people find you on Google or other search engines)
- Posting regularly on social media
- Sending email newsletters
- Building your reputation through reviews and word of mouth recommendations
Organic marketing usually takes longer to build momentum (annoyingly!), but the results can continue long after you’ve created the content.
Think of it a bit like planting a tree. It takes time to grow, but once it’s established, it continues to provide value.
What Is Paid Marketing?
Paid marketing is exactly what it sounds like. You’re paying to get your business in front of the right people.
This could include:
- Google Ads
- Facebook and Instagram Ads
- LinkedIn Ads
- Sponsored content
- Display advertising
The biggest advantage is speed. You can launch a campaign today and potentially start generating enquiries tomorrow. But the downside is that when you stop paying, your visibility usually stops too.
So…which one is better?
The honest answer? Neither is “better”! It depends on what your business is trying to achieve.
If you’ve just launched a new website and need enquiries quickly, paid advertising is the better choice to help get your business in front of potential customers while your organic marketing grows.
If you’re thinking about where your business will be in six months or a year, investing in organic marketing like SEO and content marketing can build a steady stream of traffic that doesn’t rely entirely on advertising spend.
The strongest marketing strategies usually include a mixture of both! So think about your own online habits.
When you’re looking for something online, what do you do? You might search for something and click a Google Ad if you need something urgently. But you probably also read reviews, visit a company’s website, browse their social media and maybe even read one of their blog posts before making a decision. Your customers will do exactly the same thing. Paid marketing might help someone discover your business, and organic marketing often helps convince them to choose you.
One mistake businesses also often make is putting all of their budget into paid advertising while forgetting everything else. Ads can generate fantastic results, but they’re even more effective when they’re backed up by a good, fast website, helpful content and a strong online presence.Â
The same works the other way too. A brilliant website with no visibility can struggle to attract visitors if nobody knows it exists!
That’s why it’s important to think about your marketing as one complete strategy, rather than separate activities.
The Best Approach?
If your budget allows, don’t think about choosing between organic or paid marketing. Think about how the two can work together.
Paid campaigns can generate quick wins while your SEO, content and email marketing continue building long-term growth behind the scenes. Over time, that combination often delivers the strongest return on investment.
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Need help deciding what mix is right for your business?
Whether it’s SEO, PPC, social media or content marketing, the Every Trick team can help you build a strategy that delivers both short-term wins and long-term growth.
Book a free 30-minute consultation with us today, and let’s chat about growing your business online.