In this rapidly changing world of digital marketing, the acronyms can get a little confusing. Case in point: SEO vs SEM. Translated it means Search Engine Optimization vs Search Engine Marketing.
So, What’s the Difference?
One way to answer the question is to use the old cliche: They are two sides of the same coin. There are many similarities, but each relates to different aspects of marketing. Marketing professionals sometimes use the two terms to describe or reference similar activities which leads to confusion. Let’s take a look at how Search Engine Optimization (SEO) and Search Engine Marketing (SEM) work together in today’s digital marketing campaigns.
Internet Searches
It’s only a slight exaggeration to say the world revolves around internet search engines. The research numbers are startling:
- Google receives 79% of search traffic globally
- Others like Yahoo, Bing, and Baidu get the leftovers
- There are more than 66,000 Google searches every second
Those numbers are daunting for any given business trying to increase its internet presence and shows why SEO is such a vital part of digital marketing.
What SEO Means
When a person starts an internet search, the search engines “crawl” content on thousands of sites. Search algorithms assess several factors such as keywords, tags, and link titles. It’s vital to optimize your search results so your website ranks highly. Anyone can learn SEO basics but, for the most part, it’s a good idea to hire an expert like Duffy Marketing.
How is SEM Different?
Search Engine Marketing is different in that it includes various types of paid search advertising. The best example is those ads you see at the top of the page when you do a Google search. When it’s done well, SEM will get you to the top of the rankings and because of that is great for brand recognition. Since it has to do with paid advertising, it’s easy to understand your ROI as you can monitor the traffic. Just be aware Search Engine Marketing requires extra knowledge and specialized marketing tools because of how competitive the marketplace has become today. Duffy Marketing’s team is Google Ads Certified and has significant expertise to handle these campaigns and make them worth your while. Our PPC campaigns regularly boast lower than industry standards costs.
So, What’s the Bottom Line?
SEO and SEM can be complementary, but only if your website is SEO friendly first. In other words, Search Engine Optimization is the foundation on which good Search Engine Marketing is built. When you have harmony between the two, you have more of a chance of showing up at the top of paid searches.
Ready, Willing, and Able to Help You
Want to learn more about SEO and SEM for your business? Call Duffy Marketing or click here to request a meeting and discover how these valuable tools can be a part of your marketing strategy. We have helped our customers improve click-through rates, cost per click, and cost per conversion stats which far exceed industry average. We’d love to help your business achieve the same growth. Be sure to like and follow us on Facebook and Twitter to learn more about the marketing services we offer.
