An online presence is not just a luxury but a necessity for small businesses. A large part of this presence revolves around visibility. Two of the most effective strategies to increase your online visibility are Search Engine Optimization (SEO) and Paid Search Marketing (PPC). But, many businesses don’t have the time or resources to devote to both of these strategies. With a limited marketing budget, how should small e-commerce businesses, especially those with a revenue of up to $1 million per year, decide where to invest? Allow us to guide you through.
Understanding SEO & PPC
SEO

SEO or Search Engine Optimization is about enhancing your website’s visibility in organic (unpaid) search engine results. It’s a long-term strategy with the potential to offer high ROI. Some examples of SEO tactics include keyword research, content improvement and the creation of backlinks.
Benefits of SEO
- Credibility and trust Organic results tend to be more trusted by users. Ranking high on search engines organically can build credibility with your audience.
Sustainable Long-term results SEO results are sustained over the long term. Once you achieve a high rank, it can be maintained with less effort.
PPC

PPC or Pay-Per-Click refers to the paid advertising model where you bid to have your ads appear at the top of search engine results. It can deliver quick results and is perfect for targeted campaigns. There are a number of ad platforms that can be utilized for these placements with Google and Bing being the most prominent for appearing in search results.
We recommend an ad spend of approximately 10% of top-line revenue, and consistently see ROI in the 4x-10x range. Reinvesting these returns in increased ad spend can rapidly fuel revenue growth.
Benefits of PPC
- Immediate results As soon as your PPC campaign is live, your ads can appear on the top of search results.
- Targeted traffic PPC allows for refined targeting. You can choose specific keywords, locations, and times of day to display your ads. Paid Search also provides the flexibility to target specific demographics and interest groups, retarget site visitors and more.
- Measurable results PPC campaigns are easy to measure. You can track clicks, conversions, and ad spend to measure ROI.
SEO or PPC: What’s Best For Your Business?
If you’re seeking long-term growth and sustainability, SEO is your answer. Investing in SEO helps establish a solid digital footprint and provides a steady stream of organic traffic. However, it takes time for the results to start showing.
On the contrary, if quick visibility and immediate results are your goals, PPC can bring them home. You can grab the top spots on search results, target specific demographics, and see immediate boosts in traffic.
SEO, PPC, or Both? – We Can Help!
Your choice between SEO and PPC, or a combination of both, should align with your business goals, budget, and timeline. That’s where our expertise comes in.
At our CommerceV3, we specialize in formulating and executing effective SEO and PPC strategies tailored to your business needs. Whether you want to build a strong online foundation with SEO, quickly attract traffic with PPC, or create a balanced digital marketing strategy that blends the best of both, we can make it happen.
Our team of digital marketing experts will work closely with you to understand your goals, design a strategy within your budget, and track relevant metrics to ensure we’re driving the results you need to grow your business.
So why wait? Contact us today and let us help you turn your digital marketing investments into real growth!