By Tanya Ganian · · 6 min readStart with Meta Ads if you need new clients this month and have a clear offer. Start with SEO if you want a steady flow of clients who are already searching for what you do. Most Montreal businesses get the best results by using Meta Ads for quick wins while SEO builds up over three to six months.
The short answer
SEO and Meta Ads solve different problems. SEO puts you in front of people who are already searching for what you do on Google, Google Maps and AI tools like ChatGPT. Meta Ads put your offer in front of people on Facebook and Instagram who fit your ideal client but aren't searching yet.
So the real question isn't which one is better. It's which problem you need to solve first.
SEO vs Meta Ads at a glance
| SEO | Meta Ads | |
|---|---|---|
| How people find you | They search for your service on Google, Maps or AI tools | They see your ad while scrolling Facebook or Instagram |
| Speed | Usually 3 to 6 months for real movement | Leads can start in the first week |
| Cost | A monthly fee; no cost per click | A management fee plus your ad budget, paid to Meta |
| When you stop paying | Rankings fade slowly; much of the work keeps paying off | Leads stop almost immediately |
| Lead intent | High: they're already looking | Lower at first: you have to spark interest |
| Best for | Services people search for: clinics, contractors, lawyers, home services | Offers people buy on impulse or need to discover: promotions, events, new services |
When to start with Meta Ads
- You need new clients this month, not in six months.
- You have a clear, attractive offer: a first-visit price, a seasonal promotion or a new service.
- People don't search for what you sell, because they don't know it exists yet.
- Your website is new and has no rankings to build on.
Meta Ads work when the offer, the creative and the tracking are right. Without a Meta Pixel and proper tracking, you can't tell which ads bring clients and which only bring likes. See how we run Meta Ads for Montreal businesses.
When to start with SEO
- People already search for your service: "dentist Verdun", "plumber Laval", "accountant Montreal".
- You want leads that don't stop the day you stop paying.
- Your competitors show up on Google Maps and you don't.
- You want to be recommended when clients ask ChatGPT or Google's AI who to call.
For most local service businesses, local SEO and Google Maps is the fastest SEO win, because the map pack sits above every website in the results. For broader searches, SEO in Montreal builds the pages and authority that rank over time.
Why most Montreal businesses use both
SEO and Meta Ads feed each other. People who see your ads often search your name later, which brings branded searches, reviews and website visits that help your SEO. And the pages you build for SEO become better landing pages for your ads.
A common plan for a local business looks like this:
- Months 1 to 3: Meta Ads bring in leads while SEO fixes your Google profile, website and listings.
- Months 3 to 6: SEO starts bringing in calls from Google and Maps, so you can test lowering your ad budget.
- After 6 months: SEO carries most of the steady demand, and Meta Ads focus on promotions and busy seasons.
How much does each cost in Montreal?
At Point7 Digital, SEO plans start at $890 a month, and Meta Ads management starts at $790 a month plus your ad budget. Most local businesses start with $20 to $50 a day in ad spend. Read how much SEO costs in Montreal for a full breakdown of what drives the price.
Whatever you choose, judge it by cost per client, not clicks, likes or rankings alone.
Not sure where to start?
Your free audit looks at your Google rankings, your Google Business Profile, your AI visibility and your Meta ad account, and tells you which channel will pay back fastest for your business.