Ads Vs Organic Marketing: Which is a Better Investment?

When it comes to driving online traffic, you’ve got two main players in the game: ads and organic marketing. But where should you put your money? Let’s discuss. 

Depending on what you’re selling and who you’re selling to, your strategy could go one of two ways. Are you all about selling directly to consumers? Then ads might just be your ticket to success. But if you’re in the B2B world, where building relationships is key, organic marketing could be your golden goose (but more on this later).

Let’s hear from Amanda Rogers, Founder and Chief Creative Officer at Digital Storyteller, as she discusses the age-old dilemma in the video below:

Ready to find out where your marketing dollars should be going? Let’s get into it.

Understanding Organic Vs. Paid Advertising

Before we discuss which type of marketing will work best for your business, let’s review the differences.

Organic Marketing 

Organic advertising is all about attracting attention to your brand naturally. It involves creating valuable content and optimizing it so that it shows up in places like search engine results or social media feeds without paying for placement.

Examples of organic advertising include:

• Writing blog posts for your website
• Encouraging customers to leave reviews and testimonials
• Posting updates on social media without boosting them with ad money
• Creating videos for YouTube

In organic advertising, you’re relying on the quality and relevance of your content to draw people in and maintain a relationship, rather than paying for visibility upfront.

Paid Advertising

Paid advertising, on the other hand, is like renting space to get noticed. With paid advertising, you’re paying money to platforms like Google or Facebook to display your ads to specific audiences.

Examples of paid advertising include:

• Running Google ads that appear at the top of search results
• Promoting posts on social media to reach a larger audience
• Placing banner ads on websites or sponsoring content

In paid advertising, you’re essentially paying for guaranteed visibility, but each time someone interacts with your ad, it costs you money.

Which Will Work Best For Your Business?

As we’ve mentioned, your type of business dictates which type of marketing will work best for you.

For DTC Businesses: Paid Marketing is a Fit

If you’re selling lip gloss directly to the customer – absolutely you should probably invest in ads and you can click off this blog right now because we can’t help you with that (but thanks for visiting!)

For B2B Businesses: Organic Marketing Works

Many B2B business owners think “well, why would I bother with organic marketing when I can just pay Google to show up first under people’s searches? They’ll click on the ad and I’ll get the business and that’ll be great.“

We hate to be the bearer of bad news, but we’ll be honest: we find that is not how people are shopping for what they want with B2B businesses. Instead, they’re doing their homework – they’re doing their own research, they’re visiting your website, they’re checking out your LinkedIn.

What does this tell us?  You need to have a trusted relationship with somebody before they’re going to give you their business. And, to build this B2B relationship, you will want to invest in organic marketing.

In summary, for our DTC friends, paid ads are your ticket to success. But for us in the B2B space, organic marketing is the secret sauce to building those long-lasting client relationships.

What Organic Marketing Can Look Like for Your B2B Company

Organic marketing for B2B companies takes on various forms, each aimed at cultivating meaningful connections, establishing industry authority, and driving sustainable growth. Let’s explore what organic marketing can look like for your B2B company:

Thought Leadership Content

Publishing insightful blog posts, whitepapers, case studies, and industry reports can position your company as a thought leader in your field. By sharing valuable insights and expertise, you can attract the attention of potential customers and establish credibility within your industry.

Social Media Engagement

Active participation on social media platforms like LinkedIn, Twitter, and industry-specific forums allows you to engage with your target audience on a personal level. Share relevant content, participate in discussions, and provide helpful advice to build relationships with prospects and industry peers.

Email Marketing Campaigns

Email marketing remains a powerful tool for B2B companies to nurture leads and maintain ongoing communication with clients. Sending personalized emails with valuable content, updates, and exclusive offers can keep your brand top-of-mind and drive engagement.

Webinars and Virtual Events

Hosting webinars, workshops, and virtual events tailored to your target audience’s interests and pain points can position your company as a trusted advisor. These interactive sessions allow you to showcase your expertise, educate prospects, and generate leads in a more personalized setting.

Search Engine Optimization (SEO)

Optimizing your website and content for search engines is essential for organic visibility and traffic generation. Conduct keyword research, optimize meta tags and descriptions, and create high-quality, informative content that addresses your audience’s needs and queries.

Client Testimonials and Case Studies

Sharing success stories, client testimonials, and case studies can provide social proof of your company’s capabilities and the value you deliver to clients. Highlighting real-world examples of how your solutions have helped businesses overcome challenges can build trust and confidence among potential customers.

By leveraging these organic marketing strategies, B2B companies can foster meaningful relationships, establish thought leadership, and drive sustainable growth over time. Organic marketing may require patience and consistency, but the long-term benefits of building authentic connections and trust far outweigh the initial investment.

Why Organic Marketing Matters

Building Trust and Credibility

• Authenticity allows businesses to establish themselves as trusted authorities.
• Consistently deliver valuable content and engage authentically to build trust.

Establishing Thought Leadership

• Showcase expertise and become thought leaders in your field.
• Share valuable insights and industry trends to attract potential customers.

Driving Sustainable Growth

• Focus on long-term success by investing in content creation and engagement.
• Generate a steady stream of organic traffic and leads for stability and growth.

Enhancing Brand Loyalty

• Deepen connections with personalized experiences and tailored content.
• Foster brand loyalty and turn customers into brand advocates.

Maximizing ROI

• Prioritize organic traffic and engagement to achieve a higher ROI over time.
• Reduce reliance on paid advertising and enjoy long-term benefits.

Organic marketing offers a pathway to building meaningful relationships, establishing industry authority, and driving sustainable growth for your business. 

Learn More About Digital Storyteller

So, are you ready to save money on ads so you can spend it on wine? Us too. At Digital Storyteller, we specialize in organic marketing for financial services companies. If you’re looking for a digital marketing agency that will grow your business better than just pushing paid ads, contact our team today.