Both drive leads—but they work very differently. Here's how to choose.
SEO builds compounding traffic you own — but takes 3-6 months. Google Ads delivers leads immediately — but stops when you stop paying. The smartest play: run ads for cash flow while SEO builds momentum, then let organic take over the heavy lifting.
Businesses playing the long game who want sustainable, compounding traffic.
Businesses that need leads now, are launching new services, or have seasonal demand.
Run Google Ads for immediate leads while investing in SEO for the long term. As SEO gains traction, you can reduce ad spend—or keep both running for maximum coverage.
For local service businesses, $1,000-$3,000/month is a solid starting point. Enough to gather data and generate leads, but not so much that mistakes are costly.
You'll see movement in 60-90 days, meaningful traffic in 4-6 months, and full potential in 12+ months. It's a marathon, not a sprint—but the finish line is worth it.
The basics, sure — claim your Google Business Profile, ask for reviews, write service pages. But that's table stakes. Technical SEO, local link building, and competing against businesses that already have an agency behind them? That's where DIY hits a wall.
For most service trades, $30-$75 per lead through Google Ads depending on your market. SEO leads cost less over time — once you rank, each lead is essentially free. The key is tracking it. Every call, every form submission, every dollar — traced to the campaign that produced it. If you can't see your cost per lead in real time, you're guessing.
If budget allows, yes. Running both means you dominate the search results page — your ad at the top and your organic listing below. Data from your ads (which keywords convert) also improves your SEO targeting. Most of our clients start with ads for immediate leads, then layer in SEO for long-term growth.