Paid Ads vs. Organic Marketing: Which is Better?

Paid advertising and organic marketing are two distinct forms of popular marketing strategies that are popular in the digital space. Although quite different, both can be very effective when it comes to growing a brand’s audience and expanding their online reach. Let’s dive into how the two differ and, if at all, which one is better. 

Which is which?

In paid advertising, marketers pay the owner of an ad space in exchange for use of that space. There are several categories that fall under this umbrella term, including pay-per-click (PPC), pay-per-impression (PPI), and display ads. These are typically ads that you’ll see around the top area of search engines when you go to search for something in a similar category or field. You can also find them as you scroll through your daily feed on whatever social platforms you’re active on. 

Organic marketing is marketing that occurs naturally as you build your brand over time. Organic marketing, also referred to as inbound marketing, costs little to nothing to create and distribute to potential customers. Some examples of organic marketing may include unpaid social media posts on a brand’s channel, email newsletters, SEO copywriting, or traditional blog posts (such as the one you’re reading right now). With the wide-ranging scope of the internet in today’s digital age, this type of marketing is simple and easy to spread around quickly––at virtually no cost. 

So, which is better? 

We’ll save you some legwork: you’re probably going to want to do a bit of both. The main benefit of organic marketing is the fact that it can be implemented by even the smallest of businesses, with no marketing budget needed. 

On the other hand, the greatest benefit of paid advertising is the control you have over what you put out. Unlike organic advertising though, which is a long-term plan, paid advertising can help you get the results faster. 

Ideally, it’s best to combine the two. If you like instant results––and have the budget for it––it may be a good idea to run an organic strategy and a paid campaign side-by-side. In turn, if the organic strategy achieves the desired results, then there may be less of a need for the paid advertising. Either way, it’s your call. 
Curious about how to use paid and organic marketing to your advantage? Shoot us an email at info@thehyacinthgroup.com. We’re here to help!