Google Ads vs SEO: Will Running Ads Boost My Organic Rankings?

Let’s get straight to it — because we know you’re busy, and you probably have a coffee going cold somewhere. If you’re running Google Ads, will your organic rankings magically soar to the top? Spoiler: No. But, as with all things in digital marketing, there’s a twist worth sticking around for.

The Blunt Truth: Google Ads Don’t Directly Improve Organic Rankings

We’d love to tell you that throwing money at Google will make your site the next Wikipedia, but even Google’s own team says otherwise. According to Google’s official policy, “Advertising with Google does not have any impact on your organic search ranking.” Paid and organic are separate universes — think of them as colleagues who nod at each other in the hallway but don’t share lunch.

Key Fact: There is zero direct connection between running Google Ads and improving your organic search rankings. The search algorithm doesn’t care about your ad spend, your ad presence, or how many times you’ve refreshed your campaign dashboard.

“Running Google Ads has zero direct connection to organic ranking. There can be secondary connections: An Ads visitor could decide to link to your site, or become a repeat visitor, but the ad itself does not influence organic ranking.” — Google Search Central Community

The Plot Twist: Indirect Benefits of Google Ads for SEO

Here’s where things get interesting. While Google Ads won’t directly boost your rankings, they can create a ripple effect that helps your SEO efforts. It’s a bit like eating vegetables — not a miracle cure, but definitely good for your overall health.

1. Increased Brand Awareness

Google Ads put your brand in front of more eyeballs. When users see your brand in both ads and organic results, they’re more likely to trust you and click your organic listing. According to research, 70–80% of users focus on organic results, but seeing a brand in both places increases trust and click-through rates (Search Engine Land).

2. Higher Engagement and Click-Through Rates

Previous exposure to your brand through ads can make users more likely to engage with your organic results. A higher click-through rate (CTR) signals to Google that your content is relevant, which can (indirectly) help your rankings.

“Previous exposure to a brand through Google Ads may increase the likelihood of a searcher clicking an organic result. A higher click-through rate leads to higher engagement, which leads to better ranking. Note again: the effect of Google Ads is positive but indirect.” — Mavlers, 2024

3. More Mentions and Links

Ads drive more people to your site. More visitors mean more opportunities for your content to be shared, mentioned, or linked to — key ingredients for SEO success. It’s the digital equivalent of inviting more people to your party and hoping someone posts about it on Instagram.

4. Remarketing and Feedback Loops

Google Ads let you remarket to users who’ve already visited your site. This keeps your brand top-of-mind, increasing the chances they’ll return via organic search. It’s a virtuous cycle — like remembering to water your plants, and suddenly they’re thriving.

Google Ads vs SEO: Complement, Don’t Compete

Let’s settle the “Google Ads vs SEO” debate once and for all: they’re not rivals, they’re teammates. Use Google Ads to gain visibility for keywords where you don’t yet rank organically, and reinforce your brand presence for those you do. Monitor how your paid and organic listings appear together — combined, they can increase your total share of clicks on the search results page (Moz).

Summary Table: Google Ads vs. Organic Rankings

The Real Secret: High-Quality, SEO-Optimized Content

If you want to climb the organic rankings, focus on what actually matters: engaging, well-written, and SEO-friendly articles. That’s where we at Blogging Machine come in. Our AI agent generates SEO-optimized articles effortlessly, automating content creation, keyword optimization, and topic research. You get more organic traffic, and you don’t have to bribe your team with pizza to write another blog post.

Why Consistent, Purposeful Content Wins

• Relevance: Write for your audience, not just for search engines.
• Engagement: Keep readers interested with clear, relatable writing (bonus points for a laugh or two).
• Optimization: Use keywords naturally — no stuffing, no awkward sentences.
• Consistency: Regular posting signals to Google that your site is active and authoritative.

If you’re tired of juggling content calendars, keyword lists, and the existential dread of a blank page, let us handle your blogging needs. You focus on running your business — we’ll make sure your blog is working overtime.

Professional Advice: How to Balance Google Ads and SEO

• Use Google Ads to test new keywords. See what converts, then create organic content around those terms.
• Track your overlap. Use tools like Google Search Console and Google Ads reports to see where your listings appear together.
• Don’t neglect your blog. Even the best ad campaign can’t replace the long-term value of quality content.

For more on how to build a winning SEO strategy, check out Search Engine Journal and Google’s own SEO Starter Guide.

FAQ: Google Ads, SEO, and Your Organic Rankings

Q: Will running Google Ads improve my organic rankings? A: No, not directly. Google keeps paid and organic search separate. But ads can increase brand awareness, which may lead to more organic clicks and links.

Q: Can Google Ads hurt my SEO? A: Nope. There’s no evidence that running ads will negatively impact your organic rankings.

Q: Should I invest in both Google Ads and SEO? A: Absolutely. They complement each other. Use ads for immediate visibility and SEO for long-term growth.

Q: How do I know if my ads and organic results are working together? A: Use Google Analytics and Search Console to track traffic sources, CTR, and keyword overlap.

Q: What’s the best way to improve organic rankings? A: Consistent, high-quality, SEO-optimized content. (Hint: Blogging Machine can help with that.)

Final Thoughts

Running Google Ads won’t catapult your site to the top of organic search results overnight. But by increasing brand awareness, engagement, and the chance for more links, ads can give your SEO a helpful nudge. For the real magic, focus on creating purposeful, engaging content — something we happen to know a thing or two about.

Ready to let AI handle your blogging? Visit Blogging Machine and watch your organic traffic grow — no caffeine required.

References:

• Google Search Central
• Moz: Paid Search and Organic Search
• Search Engine Land: The Relationship Between Paid and Organic Search
• Search Engine Journal: Google Ads and SEO