SEO vs. Paid Ads in 2025 – Where Should We Invest More?

[jeffreestar]

Hi everyone,

As online marketing keeps evolving, I’ve been thinking a lot about the balance between SEO and Paid Ads. Both are important, but each comes with its own pros and cons:

SEO: long-term, builds authority, “free” clicks, but takes time and effort.

Paid Ads: fast results, scalable, but can be expensive and competitive.

With AI-driven search changes, Google’s updates, and rising CPC in many niches, I’m wondering:

Do you think SEO is still the smarter long-term investment, or is the landscape shifting too fast?

For small businesses/startups, would you recommend starting with ads first to gain traction or focusing on SEO from day one?

Has anyone here tried a hybrid strategy (using ads to test keywords, then building SEO around the winners)?

I’d love to hear how you guys are approaching this balance in 2025. What’s working best for you, and how do you see the future of SEO vs Paid Ads?

Looking forward to your insights!

 

[hipcat]

Basic SEO should be used on any website, no matter what your long term goals, but paid ads can kick start your growth from day one, so if your budget allows for it then a combination of both is the way to go.

It's also easier to scale paid ads, as SEO can be limited due to competition. I've seen sites with 100k/month ad spend earning 150k, so as long as there is profit to be made, then why not do it?

 

[mamta25]

SEO and paid ads both matter, but in different ways. SEO is a long term investmen, it takes time and effort to grow, but once your site ranks, it brings steady, free traffic and builds trust with your audience. Paid adsgive faster results and let you test ideas quickly, but they cost money and stop working as soon as you stop spending. For small businesses or startups, the smartest approach is a mix: use paid ads to quickly see what works, then build your SEO around those winning keywords and content. This way you get fast results now and steady growth over time.