Both SEO and Google Ads get your business in front of people searching on Google. The difference is how you pay and how long the results last.
Google Ads: fast, but you pay for every click
Ads can bring enquiries within days of launching. You control exactly which searches you appear for and how much you spend. The downside is that traffic stops the moment you stop paying, and in competitive categories each click can be expensive.
Ads make sense when you need enquiries quickly, are launching something new, have a seasonal peak (like admissions), or want to test which services people are searching for.
SEO: slower, but results build over time
SEO usually takes three to six months to show meaningful movement. But once you rank, you don't pay for each visitor, and good rankings tend to last as long as you keep your website maintained and useful.
SEO makes sense when you're planning for the long term, your customers research before buying, or ad costs in your category are high.
What we usually recommend
For most small businesses we suggest starting with local SEO and a small Google Ads budget together. The ads bring in enquiries now and show which keywords actually convert; that data then guides the SEO work. As organic rankings improve, you can reduce ad spend.
Whatever you choose, set up conversion tracking from day one so you know which channel is paying for itself. See our pricing or ask us for a recommendation.