Using IF ELSE statement based on Count to execute different Insert statements

Question

While I am searching through my database, I run an INSERT statement if I find that a particular item does not exist, and I run a different INSERT statement if I find one or

Answer 1

Simply use the following:

IF((SELECT count(*) FROM table)=0)
BEGIN

....

END

Answer 2

IF exists

IF exists (select * from table_1 where col1 = 'value')
BEGIN
    -- one or more
    insert into table_1 (col1) values ('valueB')
END
ELSE
    -- zero
    insert into table_1 (col1) values ('value')