Wednesday, October 17, 2012
SEO vs SEM - What’s the Difference?
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Search Engine Optimization (SEO) and Search Engine Marketing
(SEM) may sound similar but they are actually quite different. These two
acronyms should not be confused with one another. Though they sound and seem similar,
they hold a world of difference when it comes to marketing. In order to set the
records straight, let’s dive in and discover the difference between SEO and
SEM.
Search Engine
Optimization
Search Engine Optimization, SEO for short, is a branch of SEM.
It is mostly utilized by content writers or ambitious bloggers trying to make
their way up Google’s ranking. A way which SEO is accessed is through keywords.
A company—or individual—can pay to see which keywords are entered in a search
engine (i.e. Google) the most. Then, once this list is acquired, writers can
insert the keywords into their writing in order for Google to pick up on the
words.
SEO is the more natural way for a business to get noticed in
a search engine. A search engine will have a formula and algorithm that helps
them find information from the web and bring that information to their viewers.
The more naturally and efficiently the keywords are used, then the more likely
the article(s) will appear on the website search ranking.
Search Engine
Marketing
Search Engine Marketing (we will refer to this term as SEM
from here on) is a broader sense of online marketing. This can take many forms,
some of which are:
·
Using paid tools such as Pay-Per-Click (PPC) advertising. This takes form in paying for an
ad to be placed in certain websites (Facebook, Web search engines, etc.). The
number of times the ad or keyword is clicked will determine how much a company
will pay for the advertisement.
·
Paying for placement, also known as P4P advertising is a similar method.
For example, if an individual were to type in a certain keyword on a search
engine, then a company’s ad phrase would appear in the search engine if they
paid for the placement. This can get fairly expensive since businesses bid for
higher-ranking placements on a website search.
·
Taking advantage of Google AdWords. One of Google’s main sources of income is through
its advertising revenues. Google offers this method of advertising with several
sub-methods: PPC, cost per impressions, or cost per mille (CPM). Google AdWords
are also separated into local, national, or international distribution so a
business can determine how much to pay for an AdWord and appearance.
As you can see, SEO and SEM are two different topics but are
still interlinked with one another. Without SEM, SEO would not be as
successful. Without SEO, then SEM would not be effective. More importantly, SEO
is a part of SEM. Search Engine Optimization compliments online marketing. The
two marketing methods have their perks and downsides, but hopefully they are
now understood more clearly.
Author bio: Katrina
Sanga is a content writer for The Accident Attorneys’ Group.
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February 15, 2013 at 12:15 AM
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