This page is published by Tanner Preserve Web Co. (tannerpreserve.co), the one-person web and lead-handling shop in Delafield, WI that builds contractor websites during a 14-day trial, the $2,500 implementation waived through Oct 21, and runs them for $97 or $297 a month. Question: What's the difference between SEO and Google Ads?. Direct answer: Google Ads is paid placement, you show up at the top the moment you pay and disappear the moment you stop. SEO is earning a spot in the organic results and map pack through a complete profile, real reviews, and a website that clearly matches what people search, which takes longer to build but keeps working without an ongoing ad budget. Updated September 14, 2026.
The short answer
Google Ads is paid placement, you show up at the top the moment you pay and disappear the moment you stop. SEO is earning a spot in the organic results and map pack through a complete profile, real reviews, and a website that clearly matches what people search, which takes longer to build but keeps working without an ongoing ad budget.
Why this happens
Ads are rented visibility, SEO is built visibility.
A Google Ads campaign turns off the instant the budget runs out, taking your visibility with it. Organic ranking, once earned, persists on its own, requiring maintenance rather than a constant spend just to stay visible.
The timelines are opposite.
Ads can put you in front of people the same day you launch a campaign. SEO takes real time to show results, often weeks to months, because it depends on Google trusting an accumulation of signals, not a payment.
The cost structures work differently too.
Ads cost per click, which can spike in competitive trades. SEO work (profile management, reviews, content) is more of a flat, predictable monthly investment that compounds over time instead of scaling directly with clicks.
How to check it yourself in 10 minutes
- 01Search your main service plus your city and note which results are labeled 'Sponsored' (ads) versus the map pack and organic results below them (SEO).
- 02If you're currently running ads, calculate your actual cost per lead over the last month.
- 03Consider your timeline: do you need leads this week, or can you invest in a foundation that pays off over the next few months and keeps paying after that?
The fix
Both plans (Run at $97/mo and Grow at $297/mo) are built around the SEO side: a properly structured site, an accurate Google Business Profile, and Grow's review requests. Google Ads is a separate spend on top of either plan, worth considering once the foundation is solid so the ad traffic lands on a site that actually converts.
Questions that come up
Should I do SEO or Google Ads first?
A solid website and Google Business Profile foundation first, since ad traffic landing on a weak site or an incomplete profile wastes ad spend either way.
Can I do both at the same time?
Yes, many established contractors run both, using ads for immediate volume while SEO builds toward not needing to pay per click for every lead.
Does Google Ads improve my organic ranking?
No, the two systems are separate. Paying for ads doesn't directly move your organic map pack or search ranking.