When you type something into Google, the first few listings are often paid advertisements—labelled as “Ads.” These are paid search results from businesses who bid on keywords through platforms like Google Ads. Every time a user clicks on one of these ads, the advertiser pays a fee. Paid search can give you immediate visibility at the top of search pages, but it stops working the moment you stop funding the campaign.
Organic search results, on the other hand, aren’t paid for per click. They appear based on relevance, quality of content, and various ranking factors like backlinks and mobile-friendliness. Achieving high organic rankings typically requires good SEO practices—optimising web pages, building authority, and continuously publishing relevant content. While it can take longer to climb the ranks organically, the traffic you earn is “free” in the sense that you’re not paying for each click. Plus, many users trust organic results more and see them as more credible sources of information, which can boost the reputation of your trade business.