Is it wise to use PPC to guage what you should optimise for in long term SEO?

[atlascs]

We do okay in the organic rankings on Google for more obvious searches such as

http://www.google.co.uk/search?hl=en&q=software+developers+essex&meta=

However I want to start long term work on improving our rankings for keywords that will drive even more enquiries through to our site. The problems are that I don't want to optimise for keywords over a period of time that aren't going to yield results. So with that in mind is it sensible and/or possible to use PPC as a method of gauging a keywords performance before committing to it for some long term SEO optimisation investment? Or are the two approaches so different that they shouldn't be compared?

Thanks in advance people

[SteveGibson]

Hi Simon,

I take it you're saying:

"knowing the number of searches for a term isn't enough, I want to know whether people actually buy"

If so, using PPC as a guage makes sense and should tell you if people searching for that term will buy from your site if they land on that page.

Steve

[WebPageOne-Solutions]

AdWords will give you feedback on search-able keyword phrases, you can obviously try many combinations then check the stats.

I like to use a combination of Organic SEO and AdWords for most campaigns that I manage.

[Words of Magic]

We do okay in the organic rankings on Google for more obvious searches such as

http://www.google.co.uk/search?hl=en&q=software+developers+essex&meta=

However I want to start long term work on improving our rankings for keywords that will drive even more enquiries through to our site. The problems are that I don't want to optimise for keywords over a period of time that aren't going to yield results. So with that in mind is it sensible and/or possible to use PPC as a method of gauging a keywords performance before committing to it for some long term SEO optimisation investment? Or are the two approaches so different that they shouldn't be compared?

Thanks in advance people

Google adwords is a great marketing vehicle to test out new products and services. Its a great opportunity to test out different keywords and keyphrases, so you can determine what works and what doesnt. Once you hit a winning formula through constant testing and tweaking, I would then use other marketing vehicles like search engine optimisation. Use google adwords to gain market intelligence.

Wishing you all the success in the world,

[PintoPotts]

Using your PPC phrases makes complete and utter sense, especially if you have identified the ones that bring the business in (your money phrases as I call them).

Put it like this, you value those phrases enough to pay for them...

[atlascs]

Many thanks guys it does seem to make sense to me too. Just wanted to ensure that I hadn't missed any "gotchas".

[RayB]

should tell you if people searching for that term will buy from your site if they land on that page.

Steve

That is the important bit - the landing page.

But yes - PPC is good for confirming your KW research

[I, Brian]

I think most established clients I work with have already determined the keywords for SEO from PPC. Not only does PPC give you an idea on search volume and potential sales, but also allows identification of the better converting keywords. Knowing this, you know exactly what to target via SEO.