Key SEO Pros and Cons Every Marketer Should Know in 2024

Have you ever wondered why some sites get all the attention, traffic, and sales while others barely get noticed?

These days, with constant Google algorithm updates and the the rise of AI, it’s important to fully understand the SEO pros and cons in order to know if it is the right strategy for you to pursue for your online business.

Did you know that 92.96% of global traffic comes from Google Search, Google Images, and Google Maps?

That’s a staggering percentage that shows the power of SEO in driving traffic to your website.

But, like any other tool or strategy, not all that glitters is gold and there are some drawbacks that every marketer should be aware of to have the complete picture.

What Is SEO?

SEO, or Search Engine Optimization, is all about making your website more visible in search engines like Google.

By tweaking your site, and your content and getting backlinks from the right sites, you can show up higher in search results, attracting more targeted traffic to your site in a simple but powerful way.

SEO is still as important as ever because it helps drive more visitors to your site without having to pay for ads.

By using relevant keywords, you can help the right kind of visitors find your site.

SEO isn’t just about keywords though; it also involves many technical aspects such as making sure your website loads quickly, is easy to use on both mobile devices and computers, and has useful information that matches the search intent of the reader.

This way, search engines will see your site as valuable and will reward you with higher rankings to show it to more people.

Let’s dig into the pros and cons of SEO and let’s see if SEO is something you should invest your time and money into in 2024.

Pros Of SEO

Increase in targeted traffic

One of the biggest initial positives I saw with my site when I started following a sensible SEO strategy was the increase in targeted users visiting my website.

I was not only attracting more people to my site but these visitors were also more interested and engaged in my content because I created high-quality content around the right keywords that my target audience was searching for.

Instead of just anyone visiting my site, it was people who were looking for exactly what I was providing.

In most cases, this led to more sales, more sign-ups to my email list, and more revenue from the site overall.

Generates sustainable clicks

From my experience, one of the standout perks of good SEO practices is how they provide a steady stream of sustainable clicks over time.

Unlike paid ads, which only draw traffic while you’re footing the bill, organic search results continue to attract visitors long after your initial effort.

It’s a more passive approach, ensuring a lasting impact.

Apart from the occasional update, your content should just sit there and continue to attract and attract engaged readers if it has been optimized for SEO.

Additionally, when your key site metrics are healthy, it can maintain its position in search results, drawing in consistent traffic day after day.

As more people visit your site, trust in your brand increases, leading to even more visitors—a cycle that can have a tremendous positive impact on your business in the long term.

Increased Site Visibility and Brand Awareness

I’ve found that following recommended SEO techniques significantly boost your website’s ranking in search results.

This higher visibility means that when people search for what you’re offering, your site is more likely to pop up.

As a result, more visitors land on your page, expanding your audience and enhancing your brand’s recognition.

Over time, this can make you a trusted authority in your field.

This trust is great for your business because it means more people will turn to you when they need your products or services.

Cost-Effectiveness Versus Paid Advertising

SEO can be more cost-effective than paying for ads. With PPC (pay-per-click) campaigns, you spend money every time someone clicks on your ad.

These costs can add up quickly, especially if you’re competing for popular keywords.

On the other hand, money put into SEO activities has been proven to be a more stable, long-term solution to growing your traffic and revenue.

Once you rank well in search engines, you don’t have to pay for each visit you get from search results.

Studies show that organic website traffic, which comes from SEO, often has a better return on investment (ROI) than paid traffic.

In fact, roughly 70-80% of users completely ignore paid or ‘sponsored’ results in the SERPs and instead prefer to scroll down until they find the organic search results.

The only real costs you will incur, at the beginning at least, are the SEO tools that you will need to invest some money in so you can get your website to where you want it to be in the SERPS.

This means your efforts in SEO can save you money over time while still bringing more visitors to your site.

Improved User Experience and Site Usability

SEO is key for making your website work better for the people who visit it.

By focusing on on-page optimization, you improve things like site speed and how your content is laid out. These improvements make your site easier to use and more enjoyable for visitors.

Google values good user experience these days, which is why they include Core Web Vitals as part of their ranking factors.

These vitals check things like how fast your pages load, how quickly they become interactive, and how stable they are when loading.

Optimizing these aspects not only helps your site rank better but also makes sure visitors have a smooth and fast experience on your site.

Cons Of SEO

Results will take time

From my own experience with SEO, I’ve learned that patience is key.

Results don’t show up overnight. It requires consistent effort and time before you start noticing a real impact.

You almost certainly won’t see an immediate increase in traffic to your site, but with persistence and consistent effort, the results do come.

Industry benchmarks suggest that it can take several months to a year to see significant changes in your rankings.

In fact, it took nearly 6 months before I started to see any real improvement in my traffic stats.

This is because search engines like Google need time to index and react to your website improvements, new content, etc.

The video below is a great explanation from Ahrefs as to why your site might not be ranking well in Google if at all. Check it out for some more juicy SEO tips!

So, while SEO is great for boosting the visibility and reach of your site, you need to be patient and consistent work to see the payoff.

Dependency on Search Engine Algorithms

A tricky part of SEO is its heavy reliance on search engine algorithm updates.

Every year seems to have around 4000+ Google updates that seem to constantly change the way the SEO game is played.

These updates can happen frequently and sometimes without much warning, affecting your website rank and making SEO seem like a moving target.

This is one of the significant disadvantages of SEO, as you might find your site’s position in search results fluctuating more than you’d like.

However, I like to look at these kinds of updates as an opportunity for you to improve your site and you should look at it this way because otherwise you will quickly get left behind.

Here are a few tips to help you stay on top of these changes:

• Follow SEO News: Websites like Search Engine Journal and Moz regularly post updates about new SEO trends and changes to algorithms.

• Use Google’s Resources: Google often provides guidelines and updates about significant changes through its Webmaster Central Blog.

• Attend SEO Webinars and Conferences: These can be great places to hear directly from experts about the latest in SEO and algorithm shifts.

• Network with Other SEO Professionals: Joining forums and online communities can provide insights and tips on handling algorithm changes.

• Regular Audits: Conduct SEO audits of your website periodically to ensure your practices align with the latest SEO standards.

Staying informed and adaptable is key to managing the impact of search engine algorithm updates on your SEO efforts.

Keywords with high competition can be tough to crack

Trying to rank for general keywords can be really tough, especially if you’re a new or small business.

These competitive keywords are often sought after by many companies, making it hard to get a good spot in search engine rankings.

But don’t worry, there’s a way around this! Instead of fighting over the most popular keywords, you need to focus on long-tail keywords.

These are longer and more specific phrases that fewer businesses compete for.

For example, instead of targeting “shoes,” you could focus on “affordable running shoes for women.”

Not only will this help you stand out from the competition, but it will also attract more qualified leads to your website.

Additionally, long-tail keywords often have higher conversion rates because they are more specific to what users are looking for.

So while it may seem counterintuitive, targeting less popular keywords can lead to better results in terms of traffic and conversions.

Is SEO A Guarantee For Success?

Is SEO a guarantee for success? Not exactly, but it’s definitely a powerful tool for business growth.

SEO has its advantages and disadvantages, but the key is understanding that it’s an ongoing process.

It’s not just about getting to the first page of search results once; it’s about staying there. This requires constant updates, learning, and adapting to new SEO practices.

While SEO can seem simple—like using the right keywords—it’s often tough to execute effectively because search engines frequently change their algorithms.

Based on my own experiences, even though SEO takes time and effort, it really is one of the best ways to get new customers.

By keeping up with updating your website and content, you can keep your site visible in search engine results. This means more people can find you, and that helps your business grow.

Conclusion

After looking at the key SEO pros and cons for 2024, it’s clear that search engine optimization is still a big deal for any online business.

SEO helps a lot with things like getting more visitors to your site, keyword optimization, and link-building

But it’s also important to see the challenges that come with it. As digital marketing keeps changing, we need to keep a balanced view and be smart about using SEO.

Keeping up with the latest trends and understanding what doesn’t work helps marketers make the most of SEO to reach their goals.

Personally, I think taking SEO seriously is a must now. There’s so much competition online that if you ignore SEO, you might fall behind others who are using it well.

It might look tough at first, but putting in the effort to get good at SEO really pays off over time.

From my experience, SEO is going to be just as important in 2024 for anyone wanting to succeed online. 

Why wait? 

Read some of our other SEO articles and articles and start applying what you learn to your own site. 

Believe me, it pays off! Focus on the positives, stay alert to any hurdles, and you’ll hit your SEO targets this year.