SEO is better than paid search says top research report

21 April 2009

New leading research reveals natural, organic search (SEO) is going to develop into a principal online marketing tool that delivers a flow of new business for companies.

Some 80-90 per cent of users click on natural SEO listings on search engine results pages, compared to just 10 per cent clicking on paid search advertising.

Key reasons for choosing to optimise websites using natural SEO and achieving great results in the search engines:

• Cost-effective
• Internet users prefer organic listings to paid search
• Works across all search engines
• Results stay on page 1 of search engine results
• Delivers longer term results

Currently, paid search dominates search marketing spend worldwide, consuming 88 per cent of the pie. SEO spend is only 11 per cent. Total search marketing spend was $13.5bn last year.

But David Hallerman, senior analyst at eMarketer, said the ratio of paid placement to SEO would change.

He said, "Marketers are realizing that even if optimisation's effects are not as obvious as paid search advertising, SEO delivers longer-term results that support any search marketing campaign."

SEO for banks, insurers and other businesses

For online marketing that works, marketers should consider search engine optimisation for insurance companies, banks, retailers, financial services organisations or whatever their line of business. Fuse Optimisation has bases in London, Manchester and Chichester to meet client needs.