SEO, PPC, Or Social Media: Where Should You Invest First?

Every business wants visibility in the digital world, but should you focus on organic SEO, paid advertising like PPC, or building your presence through social media? It is one of the first questions that business owners have in mind when trying to increase their visibility in the digital world.

Some brands stick to SEO, claiming that it helps in building sustainable growth, whereas others prefer PPC as it delivers quick and measurable ROI. Social media is often considered the go-to option to connect with the audience on a deeper level and enhance brand loyalty.

Whether it’s a local startup or an already established enterprise, it is extremely important to know in which platform to invest. One wrong choice can lead to a complete waste of money and time.

So, which is the right one for your brand? SEO, PPC, or social media. In this write-up, we will delve into the answer from a reputed digital marketing consultant in Kolkata. You will also get to know the strengths and weaknesses of each so as to make the correct decision.

SEO Vs PPC Vs SMM: Where Should You Focus First For Maximum ROI?

When aiming for high ROI, choosing between SEO, PPC, and SMM greatly depends on certain variables. There are countless business owners who go for the wrong marketing channel because they follow the trend rather than the strategy.

According to the opinion of an expert of a digital marketing consultant in Kolkata, the following are the variables that companies should keep in mind to drive the best ROI for their brand.

• Industry
• Goals
• Audience
• Budget
• Location
• Timeline

As a brand, you should always opt for a balanced approach as the key to growing your business. If you want quick and short-term results, it is recommended to start with PPC. SEO is for those brands which look for long-term value. SMM works best when it is combined with both SEO and PPC to directly engage with the audience and support brand awareness.

What is SEO?

Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) is a digital marketing strategy that focuses on improving a website’s rankings in search engines organically. It helps brands to go up when customers are searching for relevant products or services.

Benefits of SEO

• Cost-effective: Generates results with a lower cost per acquisition.
• Credibility and trust: Higher search engine rankings mean that the website is trustworthy and authoritative.
• Exponential ROI: Each piece of content ranks for years and continues generating leads.

Limitations

• Time-consuming: Takes quite a long time to give results.
• Constant algorithm monitoring: Requires continuous optimisation, content creation, and technical support.
• Competitive: Need greater investment and expertise to remain in the top spot.

What is PPC?

Pay-per-click (PPC) is a type of marketing where the advertiser pays when someone clicks on their ads. They bid on the keywords, and accordingly, the ads are displayed on the search engine pages or social media like Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn.

Benefits

• Precise targeting: Reach the audience based on their purchase history, demographics, and buying intent.
• Instant visibility: Brands start getting clicks as soon as the campaign is launched.
• Measurable ROI: It is easy to track each click and conversion.

Limitations

• Temporary results: Need ongoing investments to get leads
• High cost: More budget is required in competitive niches
• More creativity: Repetition of the same ads reduces effectiveness.

What is SMM?

Social Media Marketing (SMM) is a type of digital marketing that utilises social media networks to promote the brand through creating engaging posts, interactions with followers, and running ads.

Benefits

• More brand loyalty: Transparent communication with the audience increases trust over time and strengthens brand loyalty.
• Market insights: Social media platforms often provide information about consumer needs, behaviour and preferences.
• Strong audience relationships: When brands respond to audiences’ messages and queries, it gives the impression that they are genuinely interested in their customers, which results in better satisfaction.

Limitations

• Security issues: The accounts have the chance to get hacked, thereby leading to a breach of confidential information.
• Misinformation: Social media can prove to be misleading, which can impact a brand’s reputation.
• Highly competitive: Almost every brand is on social media, making it challenging for them to easily stand out.

Conclusion

If you are in a dilemma about where to invest first, get in touch with a digital marketing consultant in Kolkata, where the experts can guide you in creating a plan according to your needs.