You need more traffic. That’s a given in the unique Quebec market. But where do you invest your next dollar? Do you build a long-term foundation with SEO, or do you drive instant results with paid ads? This is a key question for any brand working with an agence marketing ecommerce in Montreal.

Answering the ecommerce SEO vs paid ads Quebec question isn’t about picking a side. It’s about seeing how the province’s best brands use both to win.

Instead of debating theory, we’re going to break down the live strategy of an iconic Montreal-based brand to see how they solve this problem.

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

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The Teardown: How DAVIDsTEA Dominates Both SEO & Paid Ads

The Brand: DAVIDsTEA, the Montreal-based specialty tea company that made tea modern, fun, and accessible. Their strategy is a masterclass in building a passionate community.

1. DAVIDsTEA’s SEO Strategy: The Flavor & Wellness Hub

DAVIDsTEA’s SEO is built around the vast world of tea, targeting both connoisseurs and wellness-focused consumers with a rich library of content.

• Bilingual Content: Their site is perfectly optimized in both English and French, which is non-negotiable for success in Quebec. This is the first consideration for any brand debating SEO ou pub payante au Québec.
• Ingredient & Benefit Keywords: They rank for a massive array of keywords like “benefits of matcha,” “what is oolong tea,” and “sleepy time tea,” capturing users at every stage of their wellness journey.
• The Result: Their SEO strategy positions them as a friendly, expert resource. It drives a huge volume of organic traffic from users who are curious about tea and looking for high-quality, unique blends.

2. DAVIDsTEA’s Paid Ads Strategy: The Visual & Seasonal Hook

While SEO builds their authority, DAVIDsTEA’s paid ads are a vibrant showcase of their colourful products and seasonal collections.

• Colorful & Bright Creative: Their ads, visible in the Meta Ad Library, feature their beautiful packaging, colourful tea blends, and stylish accessories. It makes tea feel like a fun, accessible luxury.
• Seasonal & Gifting Focus: A huge part of their ad budget is focused on seasonal collections (like pumpkin chai for fall) and gift sets for holidays. This is a key strategy for driving traffic pour Shopify à Montréal.
• The Result: Paid ads allow DAVIDsTEA to create hype for new and limited-edition flavors, drive sales during key gifting seasons, and visually appeal to a broad audience that might not be actively searching for tea.

The Verdict: How to Choose Your Strategy

DAVIDsTEA’s success is a lesson in building a community around a shared passion.

• Start with Paid Ads if: You have a highly visual, consumable product that is popular as a gift. Use ads to drive sales for seasonal collections and special offers.
• Invest in SEO from Day One if: Your brand is in a category with a lot of depth and educational opportunity. Create a deep well of content that answers every possible customer question.
• The Power Move: Use your paid ad engagement to guide product development. If an ad for a new “dessert tea” flavor gets a massive response, you know you have a winner and can invest more heavily in that category with new products and SEO content.