What's the Difference Between SEO and SEM?

What's the Difference Between SEO and SEM?

Nearly 70% of all online activities begin on a search engine like Google. Most consumers (75%) never check the second page of results, though. With search engine optimization (SEO) and search engine marketing (SEM), you can reach your ideal customers online.



What is the difference between SEO and SEM, exactly? What marketing strategy will benefit your business most? Read on to find out!


After reading this guide, you can determine which digital marketing strategy best suits your company's needs.


Discover everything you need to know about SEM vs SEO today!

What is SEO?

Before we discuss the difference between SEO and SEM, let's look at these two strategies separately. What is SEO, exactly?


Search engine optimization is an organic search engine marketing strategy. That's right; SEO is a form of SEM. 


With SEO, you can improve how your website content ranks on search engine result pages (SERPs). Higher rankings will help consumers find your brand online. Then, you can generate brand awareness and website traffic.

SEO Campaigns

Your website content will appear based on the keywords the consumer uses during their search. You can gather keyword research to write content based on their search behaviours.


Writing personalized content for your target audience will help you forge stronger connections with your customers.


There are four types of SEO you'll need to consider: on-page, off-page, technical, and local. Requesting SEO services can ensure you create an effective SEO strategy. Then, you can boost your rankings to reach more customers online. 

Benefits

SEO drives 1,000% more website traffic than organic social media. In fact, about 93% of all global traffic comes from Google search, Images, and Maps. With SEO services, you can start generating more website traffic. 


Improving your organic rankings could help you reach the top of search engine result pages. Ranking at the top of the page will ensure consumers see your brand first. Then, you can start generating brand awareness. 


If your site doesn't appear at the top of SERPs, there's a chance consumers will never encounter your brand. After all, fewer than 1% of Google search engine users check the second page of results. 


Ranking at the top of SERPs can help your site appear before a competitor's, too. Consumers will continue encountering your brand over time, allowing brand recognition to grow.


Gaining brand recognition will allow you to remain at the forefront of the consumer's mind. The next time they need your offerings, they could visit your site directly.


You can also use SEO tactics like backlinks to generate website traffic from other websites.


Ranking at the top of SERPs can also boost your brand credibility. Consumers might feel more inclined to trust you if you appear at the top of SERPs. 


Gaining brand credibility could enable brand trust to grow. The more consumers trust your brand, the more likely they are to make a purchase. You can also use your content to demonstrate your experience and expertise in the industry.


In time, brand trust can turn into brand loyalty. You can retain customers to generate repeat sales, boosting your ROI.


SEO benefits businesses long-term, too. Once you improve your rankings, it can take a while for brands to knock you down.


Beyond that, SEO services are also cost-effective! 

What is SEM?

Search engine marketing includes multiple digital marketing strategies, including:

  • Pay-per-click (PPC) advertising
  • Social media advertising
  • Shopping advertising
  • Geotargeting
  • Programmatic advertising
  • Video ads
  • Display advertising
  • Remarketing


You can create text and display ads to appear in front of consumers online. As with SEO, you can appear based on the keywords the consumer uses during a search. You can also appear based on their demographics (age, gender, location, etc.).


With SEM services, you can create ads in different formats, including text, HTML-5, animation, and video.

SEM Campaigns

You can use platforms like Google Ads or Facebook Ads to create your first SEM campaign. Otherwise, request SEM services from an experienced agency. Working with an agency can save you time and money.



You can use keyword and audience research to ensure your ads only appear in front of ideal customers. Then, you can use personalized messaging to draw them to your brand.


Perfecting your targeting is essential to make sure you don't blow through your budget. With SEM, you can pay based on impressions or clicks. The cost-per-click can vary based on the keywords you're targeting. 

Benefits

SEM benefits businesses that want to generate immediate results. You can create campaigns right away to reach customers online. 



With SEM, you can also appear in front of consumers on different platforms, allowing you to maximize opportunities to reach new customers.


SEM also makes it possible for you to make immediate changes to your campaigns. Updating your campaigns can ensure you don't blow through your budget. The changes you make could help you optimize your campaigns for results. 


Paid advertising also has a 200% ROI and can boost your brand awareness by 80%.

SEM vs SEO

What's the difference between SEO and SEM, then?



While SEO is organic, SEM includes paid advertising strategies. With that in mind, it helps to request SEM services from an experienced agency. They can help you optimize your campaigns to make the most of your budget.


While SEM can generate immediate results, it can take time for you to improve your organic SEO rankings. 


When comparing SEM vs SEO, it helps to recognize that the two can benefit one another. You can use SEM ads to generate website traffic. As more people visit your site, Google might boost your organic rankings.


With both strategies, you can reach more customers to generate more leads and sales!

What is SEO?

Before we discuss the difference between SEO and SEM, let's look at these two strategies separately. What is SEO, exactly?


Search engine optimization is an organic search engine marketing strategy. That's right; SEO is a form of SEM. 


With SEO, you can improve how your website content ranks on search engine result pages (SERPs). Higher rankings will help consumers find your brand online. Then, you can generate brand awareness and website traffic.

SEO Campaigns

Your website content will appear based on the keywords the consumer uses during their search. You can gather keyword research to write content based on their search behaviours.


Writing personalized content for your target audience will help you forge stronger connections with your customers.


There are four types of SEO you'll need to consider: on-page, off-page, technical, and local. Requesting SEO services can ensure you create an effective SEO strategy. Then, you can boost your rankings to reach more customers online. 

Benefits

SEO drives 1,000% more website traffic than organic social media. In fact, about 93% of all global traffic comes from Google search, Images, and Maps. With SEO services, you can start generating more website traffic. 


Improving your organic rankings could help you reach the top of search engine result pages. Ranking at the top of the page will ensure consumers see your brand first. Then, you can start generating brand awareness. 


If your site doesn't appear at the top of SERPs, there's a chance consumers will never encounter your brand. After all, fewer than 1% of Google search engine users check the second page of results. 


Ranking at the top of SERPs can help your site appear before a competitor's, too. Consumers will continue encountering your brand over time, allowing brand recognition to grow.


Gaining brand recognition will allow you to remain at the forefront of the consumer's mind. The next time they need your offerings, they could visit your site directly.


You can also use SEO tactics like backlinks to generate website traffic from other websites.


Ranking at the top of SERPs can also boost your brand credibility. Consumers might feel more inclined to trust you if you appear at the top of SERPs. 


Gaining brand credibility could enable brand trust to grow. The more consumers trust your brand, the more likely they are to make a purchase. You can also use your content to demonstrate your experience and expertise in the industry.


In time, brand trust can turn into brand loyalty. You can retain customers to generate repeat sales, boosting your ROI.


SEO benefits businesses long-term, too. Once you improve your rankings, it can take a while for brands to knock you down.


Beyond that, SEO services are also cost-effective! 

What is SEM?

Search engine marketing includes multiple digital marketing strategies, including:

  • Pay-per-click (PPC) advertising
  • Social media advertising
  • Shopping advertising
  • Geotargeting
  • Programmatic advertising
  • Video ads
  • Display advertising
  • Remarketing


You can create text and display ads to appear in front of consumers online. As with SEO, you can appear based on the keywords the consumer uses during a search. You can also appear based on their demographics (age, gender, location, etc.).


With SEM services, you can create ads in different formats, including text, HTML-5, animation, and video.

SEM Campaigns

You can use platforms like Google Ads to create your first SEM campaign. Otherwise, request SEM services from an experienced agency. Working with an agency can save you time and money.


You can use keyword and audience research to ensure your ads only appear in front of ideal customers. Then, you can use personalized messaging to draw them to your brand.


Perfecting your targeting is essential to make sure you don't blow through your budget. With SEM, you can pay based on impressions or clicks. The cost-per-click can vary based on the keywords you're targeting. 

Benefits

SEM benefits businesses that want to generate immediate results. You can create campaigns right away to reach customers online. 



With SEM, you can also appear in front of consumers on different platforms, allowing you to maximize opportunities to reach new customers.


SEM also makes it possible for you to make immediate changes to your campaigns. Updating your campaigns can ensure you don't blow through your budget. The changes you make could help you optimize your campaigns for results. 


Paid advertising also has a 200% ROI and can boost your brand awareness by 80%.

SEM vs SEO

What's the difference between SEO and SEM, then?



While SEO is organic, SEM includes paid advertising strategies. With that in mind, it helps to request SEM services from an experienced agency. They can help you optimize your campaigns to make the most of your budget.


While SEM can generate immediate results, it can take time for you to improve your organic SEO rankings. 


When comparing SEM vs SEO, it helps to recognize that the two can benefit one another. You can use SEM ads to generate website traffic. As more people visit your site, Google might boost your organic rankings.


With both strategies, you can reach more customers to generate more leads and sales!

Rank Up: Unlock the Difference Between SEO and SEM Today

To recap, what's the major difference between SEO and SEM? SEO is an organic strategy while SEM includes paid advertising. Both, however, can help you gain more brand visibility, website traffic, and leads.


Remember, you don't have to develop your SEO or SEM strategy alone. Instead, consider working with an experienced agency this year.


Eager to get started? Contact us today to learn more.

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