SEO vs Google Ads vs Local Service Ads
Most small businesses get told to 'just run ads' or 'do SEO' without anyone explaining what that means or whether it's worth your money. Here's a plain-English breakdown of your real options, no sales pitch, just clarity.
Sound familiar?
Three problems keeping small businesses stuck
Too many options
SEO, ads, listings, social — everyone's selling something different
Money going nowhere
You've spent before and didn't see results. Now you're cautious
Invisible on Google
Your competitors show up. You don't. You're not sure why
How Google shows your business
When someone searches for a business like yours in Chatswood or Lane Cove, three different types of results appear. Here's what each one costs and how it actually works.
Local Service Ads at the top
These sit at the very top of Google results. You pay per qualified lead, not per click. Google verifies your business first, and it's only available for certain industries like trades and legal services. Most Australian small businesses pay $1,500 or more per month, and the visibility stops the moment you stop paying.
Google Ads below the top results
These appear below Local Service Ads and are clearly marked as Sponsored. You pay every time someone clicks your ad. They give you instant visibility, but they need constant management and money to keep running. It's easy to waste budget here if you don't know what you're doing.
Your website and Google Business Profile
Your website appears in the regular search results, and your business shows up in the Map Pack. It takes time to build, but once it's working, it keeps generating enquiries without costing you per click. This is the only option that builds something you actually own.
Ads rent attention. SEO builds an asset
For most small businesses, the smartest move is starting with the option that builds a foundation you actually own. Everything else flows from there.
- Most small businesses we work with start here because it's the fastest, most affordable way to show up locally on Google.
- Your Google Business Profile is where customers find your phone number, hours, reviews, and location.
The approach that works
Get this right first. It costs nothing and takes a few hours. This is where most of our clients start.
Note: "If you add ads later, a strong organic foundation makes them work better too."
Step 1: Get your profile right
Step 1: Profile
Claim your profile, add photos, respond to reviews, keep information current. Done properly, this alone generates enquiries.
Step 2: Build or fix your website
Step 2: Website
If your site is slow, outdated, or not built for search, it's costing you enquiries every single day. We build websites with SEO baked in from the start.
Step 3: Let it compound over time
Step 3: Compound
Over time your website and profile work harder together, generating enquiries without ad spend. This is the long game, and it's worth it.
Why Sydney businesses choose Seedwell Co.
Four reasons we're different from the rest
Plain English, no jargon ever
No confusing reports or marketing speak
Built for sole traders and small teams
Too small for big agencies, too important to ignore
Face-to-face service, local and personal
Not a helpdesk ticket, a real conversation
We back ourselves with 12-month contracts
Confident in results, not just selling promises
Ready to move forward?
We'll walk you through your options with no pressure and no jargon, just honest advice.