Strategy & ROI
The math of running ads while SEO builds.
Why both is the right answer, not either-or.
The shape of the situation
SEO doesn't produce leads for 3-6 months. You have to pay rent in the meantime.
If you wait for SEO to kick in before running ads, you have 6 months of zero new leads. If you run only ads, you're renting traffic forever. The right answer is both: ads now, SEO building in parallel.
A working example
$2,000/month total marketing budget. 12-month view.
$1,500/mo
PPC Spend
Generates ~25 leads/month immediately. Stays steady the whole year.
$500/mo
SEO Work
Pages written, GBP dialed, reviews collected. Compounds quietly.
Month 9
The Shift
SEO starts producing 30+ leads/month organically. Total goes from 25 to 55+.
Why this beats either alone
Pure ads = forever rental. Pure SEO = six months of zero.
The blend gives you leads from day one and a compounding free traffic engine by month nine. By year two, you can shift more budget to SEO and pull ad spend down. By year three, ads are the support, not the engine.
The takeaway
Run both. The ratio shifts over time. The combination is what wins.
Either alone is the wrong shape.