Social Media vs. SEO: Which Should You Spend Your Marketing Budget on?

Imagine this scenario: You’re with your team and looking at an expense spreadsheet. Someone asks: Do we spend more on SEO or Social Media?

This question has been the subject of many debates among boardrooms and marketing agencies. The two strategies are both effective, but picking one is like choosing a favorite kid–it’s emotional, complex, and perhaps even unneeded. We’ll break down the two strategies and see what works best for your business.

What is SEO, and what’s it all about?

Imagine asking for the best book on Italian cuisine in a library and being given it instantly. SEO is what your website needs. When people search for specific keywords online, SEO helps them find your website.

It is about optimizing your website to appear higher in search engines like Google. It can transform your site into a magnet for traffic when done correctly.

Why do people love SEO?

1. Your business is always open: Search Engine Optimization works 24 hours daily. You can be found at any time by people once you’ve ranked.
2. Trust is everything: Being on page one of Google will make you appear legit. We’re being honest: no one believes page two.
3. Benefits for the Long-Term: It’s a slow start. However, once it starts to pick up, its results will be like compounding interest – valuable over time.

SEO takes time. You might be disappointed if you are looking for immediate gratification. You won’t see shade the first day, but you will be happy you planted it years later.

Then there’s social media.

Now, let’s change gears. The life and soul of any party is social media. Social media is where brands can show off their personalities, make connections, and go viral. Social media is a great way to get people talking.

What makes social media irresistible?

1. Fast Paced: Post Today, See Results Tomorrow. Feedback is received in a very short time.
2. Direct interaction: Slide into DMs to interact with your audience.
3. Viral Potency: A creative post could reach millions. This kind of exposure can be priceless. (Okay, advertising may cost some money.)

Social media, which is a BIG BUT, can make you feel like you’re running on a treadmill. If you stop posting on social media, engagement will drop. The momentum is significant, but it takes constant work to remain relevant.

Key differences (No fluff, just facts)

Please focus on the real issues; let’s not get distracted by all the noise.

FactorSEOSocial Media

Timeframe The slow and steady win the race Fast-paced, instant results

Longevity Long-lasting once established Short-term; content ages quickly

Cost Low ongoing costs Ads are the most common pay-to-play.

Intent of Audience Users are looking for you with high intent Users stumble upon your content with low intent

Engagement Comments or Shares are limited Two-way, real-time interaction

Where should you spend your money?

What you want to accomplish will determine the answer.

If you’re serious about SEO, go all in.

• Play the long-term game. You can use blogs and evergreen content to climb the Google rankings.
• Customers are actively looking for your products or services.
• Your industry needs to be trusted and credible.

A wedding photographer could use SEO to rank for the phrase “best wedding photographers in [city].” People who search for this term want to book and not simply browse.

If you want to bet big on social media,

• Visuals are your thing. You are a food blogger, travel agency, and fashion brand.
• Launching a product? You need to create buzz as soon as possible.
• Build a community of loyal customers who feel connected to your company.

Consider a coffee shop in your neighborhood. TikTok videos of latte art can attract more foot traffic than a blog optimized for SEO.

Why not do both? Spoiler alert: it’s best to do both.

SEO and social media do not have to compete. Like peanut butter and jellies, they’re better together.

• Build a solid foundation for organic traffic use.
• Use social media to engage your audience and amplify the message.

Say you are a trainer of fitness. You might:

1. Create a blog optimized for SEO about “5 quick workouts for busy moms”.
2. You can share snippets of your blog with Instagram and include a link to your site.
3. TikTok, here is a video of one of your workouts.

Boom! Both strategies have been used to increase your audience.

Conclusion: There is no one-size-fits-all answer

The choice comes down to which option best fits your budget, timeline, and goals.

SEO will be your friend if you are patient and wish to see long-term success. If you want to connect more personally with your customers, then social media is the way to go.

You’re still undecided. Why not try both? Budget a certain amount for each, and then monitor your results. It is just as important to experiment with marketing as developing a strategy.

Remember, the power lies in knowing your audience and providing value.

Here’s a humanized, no-nonsense guide for navigating social media and SEO debate. Please let me know what you think or if there are any other ideas that I should explore.