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SEO vs Social Media: On Choosing the Right Digital Marketing Strategy

ByTruelogic Marketing
woman searching the difference between seo and social media

This is one of the most common questions marketers and business owners wrestle with. SEO often takes time to produce results, while social media drives instant engagement.

So where should you put your time and budget? We’re here to break it down to help you decide what should be best for you. No fluff, no tech talk—just the facts that matter.

Let’s dive right in.

What is SEO?

SEO (Search Engine Optimization) is all about making your website rank higher in search engine results pages. The goal is to show up prominently when people hit Google or any other search engine with a query that relates to what you offer.

Here’s what goes into it:

  • Keyword Research – Finding the terms people are searching for in your niche.
  • On-Page Optimization – Using those keywords in your content and optimizing tags like meta descriptions and headers.
  • Link Building – Getting other reputable websites to link back to you (Google loves that).
  • Technical SEO – Making sure your site loads fast and works smoothly, especially on mobile.

When done right, SEO brings organic traffic to your website. These are visitors who are likely already looking for your product or service. And organic visitors? They convert like gold.

Want to see real SEO in action? Check out our on-page SEO services to boost your ranking game.

a man using social media marketing

What is Social Media Marketing (SMM)?

Social Media Marketing is everything you do to promote your brand on platforms like Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, or TikTok.


It’s how you create engaging content and even run paid ads to boost your brand’s presence on the social media sites mentioned earlier. Another great thing about social media is that it helps your brand interact directly with your audience.

Here’s how brands use social media:

  • Content Creation – Short, eye-catching posts, videos, or memes that resonate.
  • Audience Engagement – Replying to comments, answering DMs, or hopping on trends.
  • Paid Advertising – Target specific demographics for fast reach.

If SEO is a marathon, SMM is a sprint. It’s immediate, and you can often see results instantly. Run the right ad, and you can see traffic and engagement by the end of the day.

Need help managing those ads? Check out our Facebook Ads Management Services for a quick head start.

SEO vs. Social Media Marketing: Side-by-Side Comparison

AspectSEOSocial Media Marketing
PurposeIncrease search visibilityBuild brand awareness & engagement
TimeframeLong-term resultsFast engagement, but short bursts
CostLower long-term costsHigher with paid ads
Audience InteractionLimited interactionDirect engagement with your audience
Content-TypeLong-form (blogs, guides)Short-form (reels, posts, stories)

When to Use SEO

Here’s when you should use SEO:

  • You want sustainable traffic that builds over time.
  • Your product or service has consistent search demand (think “best pizza in Manila” or “Shopify SEO services”).
  • You have patience for a long game—SEO takes time to perform better but pays off big.

Sound like your vibe? Explore our SEO services to start your ranking journey.

woman using social media marketing for her business

When to Use Social Media Marketing

Here’s when you should opt for social media marketing:

  • You need visibility fast—run ads today and see engagement tomorrow.
  • Your focus is on brand awareness or community-building.
  • You want to interact directly with customers through real-time feedback.

Need a stronger presence? Try our social media marketing services.

The Power of Combining SEO and Social Media

SEO and social media are both important to any good digital marketing strategy, so instead of asking which one is better, maybe the question should be how can they be used together?

Why choose when you can use both SEO and social media to drive traffic and build relationships?

Here’s how social media and seo complement each other:

  • SEO attracts visitors, while social media engages them.
  • Use SEO to rank for “best laptop bags” and retarget those visitors on social media ads for conversions.
  • Social media trends (like TikTok challenges) can give your site more search visibility when integrated with SEO strategies.

A company using both SEO and social media marketing saw 270% organic traffic growth in six months. Check out our case studies to see the results.

seo vs social media marketing stats

SEO vs Social Media Marketing: Real Stories and Stats

For more insights on leveraging both, explore this article from Search Engine Journal or read Hootsuite’s take on mixing SEO and social media efforts.

FAQs

Neither is better—they serve different goals. SEO works for long-term traffic, while social media drives fast engagement. Use them together for the best results.

SEO takes about 3-6 months to show noticeable results, depending on competition and strategy.

This depends on your goals. Small businesses can start with $5-$10/day or P290- P580 per platform and scale up from there.

It depends on your target audience:

  • LinkedIn – B2B, professionals
  • TikTok – Younger demographics
  • Facebook – General audience

Conclusion: SEO and Social Media — A Winning Combo

If you want sustainable growth, use SEO to rank on search engines.
If you need visibility now, use social media to connect with your audience instantly.

Both are powerful tools, and the best results happen when you combine them.

Need help finding the right mix?
We’ve got you.
Contact us today for customized SEO and social media solutions that drive real results.

Explore our digital marketing services to build your digital presence today.

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