Long Term Customer Quality Always Outshines Short Term Search Results
When you stop to think about Pay-Per-Click (PPC) advertising and article marketing, there is truly a war between which is the better solution. The differences between the two methods are rather visible, and each side has a logical argument as to which is most beneficial. The question, at the end of the day, is whether you are more interested in short term appearances or long term results.
PPC advertising is certainly at a high advantage right out of the gate in that it can generate significant numbers of page hits in a short amount of time. This can certainly boost the ranking of your website within many search engines. There are problems with this method, however, and they are something that all business owners should be aware of.
PPC advertising has a few major flaws. First, while the method can generate high numbers of site visits, the random disbursement of links and irrelevant placement means that these visits rarely turn into purchases or customer relationships. Second, and perhaps most important, most reputable search engines are making a move towards only counting a certain number of links, or ensuring that each link is backed by relevant content. This means that paying a company to stick links in random places is becoming less beneficial to search rankings, even though it is still rather pricey when customer conversion rates are considered.
With these things noted, however, it is time to take a look at article marketing. It is certainly important to note that article marketing has a downside as well. When you are using well crafted articles to promote your business, you can be certain that page hits are intentional and that each visitor is someone that is truly interested in your content. The problem, however, is that it simply takes time to generate a consistent flow of traffic.
A well crafted article will offer needed information that fills a need for your customers. However, it will not become a viral sensation overnight. Article marketing is about long term quality. With this method, you make a single investment with the knowledge that it will be posted, distributed, and used by customers seeking information and that each distribution or view will send your company information to even more users. Well crafted articles can bring in thousands of viewers and can remain popular for years, without ever requiring you to pay another cent. The simple quality and low cost of this method is something that should not be overlooked.
To summarize, both PPC advertising and article marketing have their benefits and drawbacks. At the end of the day, it is up to you to determine whether you prefer a short term spike in your search ranking or whether you would like to earn a spot at the top by truly providing the best information and quality, at a reduced priced when compare to PPC.
Your business and the way you market it will determine your reputation and your overall sales. Every business struggles in the debate between quality and quantity, but the overall winning viewpoint is that quality is always the best way to ensure that you earn more business and create dedicated customers.
