Search Engine Marketing

Yes, of course there is a difference between the two techniques. People often get confused by search engine optimisation (SEO) and search engine marketing (SEM) as, these terms are frequently used interchangeably. In this article, you will find out how each method is different?

SEM is a form of Internet marketing technique that is employed to promote web sites by increasing their visibility in search engine result pages. On the other hand, SEO is the first step in SEM that allows for broad reaching site promotion. SEM not only includes SEO strategies, but also various other methods to increase the web site’s targeted traffic and exposure. Some other SEM methods consist of: paid inclusion, paid advertising, and pay-per-click.

SEM refers mainly to the text advertisements that are published at the top or on the right hand side of the search engine results pages. These ad links are purchased mainly from the major search engines like Google and Yahoo.

SEM also includes any banner ads or ad placement advertising at authority related sites. With SEM, you can have full control over your budget, keywords, and web sites you wish to target.

As above mentioned SEO is the foremost step in SEM and is aimed to increase a site’s organic and natural ranking in the search engine results pages. Furthermore, SEO involves On-page optimisation and Off-page optimisation.

On-page optimisation elements are: keyword density, keywords in the content, title tag optimisation, keywords in hyperlinks and URL, meta tags, sitemap, and link structure. And Off-page optimisation elements include: back links, link exchanges, traffic, keywords in the anchor text, and much more.

Therefore, SEO focuses on increasing the volume as well as quality of the traffic to your web site from the search engines. As the Internet marketing method, SEO considers how the search engines work and what people look for.

Optimising your web site would involve editing its content and HTML coding to improve its relevance to definite keywords and to remove barriers to the indexing activities of the search engines.

Thus, both the techniques-SEM and SEO are important to help you promote your web site through better visibility in the search engine results pages.

SEM (search engine marketing) is a powerful online customer acquisition medium. It is a form of Internet marketing and essentially promotes web sites by increasing their exposure in search engine result pages. In other words, SEM is all about researching, submitting, and placing a site within the search engines to attain maximum visibility of the web site.

SEM comprises of various methods, such as search engine optimisation (SEO), paid listings, contextual advertising, and other search engine related services that increase the site’s visibility as well as attract more traffic to it.

Therefore, the main functions of SEM include:

1. Search engine optimisation: As abovementioned, SEO is one of the methods of SEM that seeks to improve the position of a web site within the search community.

2. Submission of directory and link development: A professional SEM campaign starts by submitting to all major directory services and the topic or industry specific directories across the web. This is one of the best ways to enhance the site’s credibility.

3. Pay-per-placement campaigns: For a successful pay-per-placement SEM campaign, the SEM manager should do thorough keyword research, write and test the content, form and test landing pages, plus measure and monitor the results.

4. Paid inclusion programs: This SEM technique is one of the fastest ways to achieve the top ranks in the major search engines, but a paid inclusion program is somewhat different from a pay-per-placement method.

Thus, SEM is a set of methods related to marketing to increase the visibility of a website. Once learned, this technique can provide an effective way of driving highly targeted traffic to the web site.