You need more traffic. That’s a given in the entrepreneurial Alberta market. But where do you invest your next dollar? Do you build a lasting foundation with SEO, or do you drive immediate sales with paid ads? This is the key question for any brand working with a Calgary ecommerce marketing agency.

Answering the ecommerce SEO vs paid ads Alberta question isn’t about picking one. It’s about seeing how the province’s most innovative brands use both to build a national presence.

Instead of debating theory, we’re going to break down the live strategy of a breakout Edmonton-based brand to see how they tackle this challenge.

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Disclaimer: Eulav is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or a partner of Poppy Barley. This analysis is based on publicly available information as of September 2025 and is for educational purposes.

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The Teardown: How Poppy Barley Dominates Both SEO & Paid Ads

The Brand: Poppy Barley, the Edmonton-based brand that redefined luxury footwear with a focus on ethical production, perfect fit, and timeless design.

1. Poppy Barley’s SEO Strategy: The Fit & Ethics Authority

Poppy Barley’s SEO is built to attract a conscious consumer who is tired of poor-fitting, disposable fashion and is searching for a better, more sustainable alternative.

• Fit-Solution Keywords: They are masters of ranking for keywords related to fit issues, such as “boots for wide calves” or “comfortable heeled boots.” This captures customers with a very specific, high-intent problem.
• Ethical & Sustainable Content: They create a wealth of content about their factories, materials, and B Corp certification. This attracts a values-driven audience and is a masterclass in Alberta ecommerce traffic generation.
• The Result: Their SEO strategy positions them as a thoughtful, trustworthy, and expert brand. It drives organic traffic from customers who are not just buying a boot, but investing in a product that aligns with their values.

2. Poppy Barley’s Paid Ads Strategy: The Visual & Testimonial Showcase

While SEO builds trust, Poppy Barley’s paid ads are designed to showcase their beautiful products and leverage the powerful voices of their loyal customers.

• UGC & Testimonial Creative: Their ads, visible in the Meta Ad Library, often feature real customer photos and glowing testimonials. This provides authentic social proof that is far more powerful than a traditional ad.
• New Arrivals & Core Products: Their campaigns highlight both new seasonal styles and their core, “bestseller” products. When debating paid ads vs SEO in Edmonton for showing off product quality, high-quality ad creative is essential.
• The Result: Paid ads allow Poppy Barley to reach a broad audience of style-conscious women, using the authentic voices of their customers to build trust and drive sales at scale.

The Verdict: How to Choose Your Strategy

Poppy Barley’s success is a lesson in building a brand with a strong point of view.

• Start with Paid Ads if: You have strong visual assets and passionate customer reviews. Use UGC and testimonial-based ads to build social proof and drive sales.
• Invest in SEO from Day One if: Your product solves a very specific problem that people are actively searching for (like “wide-fit shoes”). Own that niche with detailed, helpful content.
• The Power Move: Actively survey your customers to find out what their biggest “fit” problems are. Turn each of those problems into a dedicated, SEO-optimized landing page that presents your products as the perfect solution.