It’s a question that comes up all the time from small business owners:
“Do paid Google Ads help my organic SEO rankings?”
Recently, someone asked this very question on Alignable — and our own Josh jumped in with a quick video to share what we’ve seen in real campaigns. Check it out below:
Here’s the Short Answer: Paid and Organic Work Better Together
While Google officially says that running paid ads doesn’t directly impact your organic SEO rankings… we’ve seen a correlation that’s hard to ignore.
Real-World Example:
We were running targeted Google Ads for a client focused on key high-intent search terms. During that time, we noticed something interesting:
Their organic rankings for those same keywords started to rise — even though we hadn’t yet made major changes to their site’s content or SEO strategy.
So, What’s Going On?
Here are a few possible explanations:
Increased visibility = more clicks
When your ad shows up, people see your brand name more often. That can lead to more branded searches and higher engagement — all positive signals for SEO.
More engagement = better performance
Even if users first click on a paid ad, visiting the site and staying longer tells Google the content is valuable. Over time, this can help organic rankings.
Reinforced relevance
When both your paid and organic listings show up on the same page, you dominate more real estate — and signal to Google that your site is relevant for that keyword.
The Takeaway
If your SEO strategy has hit a plateau, adding paid search — even for a short time — can help jumpstart progress. It’s not about one or the other. It’s about creating a strategic mix that works harder for your business.
Want to Learn How Paid and Organic Can Work Together for You?
Let’s chat. Whether you’re just getting started or trying to get your SEO out of a slump, we’ll build a digital strategy that delivers.
Reach out or drop us a message on Alignable or LinkedIn. We’re always happy to help small businesses grow smarter.