Marketing online has slowly become more complex and diversified. As new techniques, methods and tools are being introduced into the marketplace, you need to ensure that you are able to pick the right method for your online marketing strategy. Among the two biggest tools that you can come across, are SEO and SEM.
Focusing on improving the search results, SEO and SEM function, in a win-win situation. They help search engines provide more accurate results to users and improve visibility to your website and products. This largely relies on the users search text.
When thinking of using SEO or SEM for their online marketing strategy, confusion often arises because businesses usually think that they are either the same thing or they usually prefer to make use of one over the other. To truly understand how to use them, or which one to pick, it is a good idea to take a closer look at them here:
SEO – Search Engine Optimization
SEO is the most widely used mode of online marketing since it relies on organic growth and outreach. Many search results on your page are going to be from SEO strategies. Keyword usage, website design, and social media hashtags and more all count as SEO as it improves the visibility of your website, product, and brand in a natural manner.
Due to this factor, SEO is often popularly and widely used. While the most attractive part about SEO is that you don’t have to invest money into it, costs can occur nevertheless, especially if you are dealing with high competition. Nonetheless, the organic nature and minimal capital requirement with a healthy ROI – return on investment make it a favorable tool to make use of.
SEM – Search Engine Marketing
SEM differs from SEO in the fact that it consists largely of PPC – Pay per click strategies. Businesses usually have to pay a sum to get their advertisements featured on sponsored search results or ad listings, a website or even a blog.
Attention has to be paid regarding the kind of websites and blogs the advertisement is being featured on since it can make a bigger impact on the effectiveness of the SEM strategy. Tools such as Google AdWords and AdSense play a huge role in SEM strategies. While not every business opts for SEM, the targeted results generated through SEM ensure that one gets a bigger return on investment with it.
Why Not Use Both?
No one says that you need to pick and choose from SEO and SEM. In fact, many people often function well in conjunction since SEM can encompass certain areas of SEO with ease. Used together, you can create an effective marketing strategy that can give you greater results.
Most businesses usually prefer to make craft different strategies for SEO and SEM and end up tying them together in some manner. In this way, you can ensure that you can craft one seamless marketing strategy that will allow you to get bigger and more relevant results.
