SEO vs SEM – A Guide for Newbies
Marketers – both big and small – always need more customers. That's why many of us are always looking for opportunities to increase our customer base. While there's a lot you can do to make your website stand out from the rest, one of the easiest ways to do it is by getting onto the first page of Google's search.
Since we’re always looking for new prospects, it means we're also always working towards SEO. The bottom line is, SEO is a complex practice that requires a lot of time, money, and effort. But, with SEM though… you can jump the line and get right to the top of search results.
SEO Vs SEM
SEO and SEM are often confused or thought to be the same thing. However, it is important to know that they are completely different and the strategies behind each method are also different.
SEO is an acronym for Search Engine Optimization. This is a process of ensuring your website is optimized for search engines. This can include keywords, meta tags, title tags and many other things that will help Google find your site and rank it high in their search results for relevant searches.
SEM stands for Search Engine Marketing which is more about advertising on search engines (like Google Adwords). With this type of marketing, you bid on keywords so when someone searches for those words your ad will show up above theirs.
Search engine marketing is one of the most cost-effective ways to reach a targeted audience no matter what size your business is. By using SEM properly, your message will attract people who are actively looking for your product or service.
SEM helps you get in front of the right people at the right time with the right message. It allows your business to reach new customers, increase brand awareness and drive conversions.
At Digital Throttle, we understand that there are two ways to implement your search campaigns, those who use search engine marketing to turbocharge their campaigns, and those who don't.
A few things we do to turbocharge your campaigns:
- Target Conversions – Not Clicks
We optimize to cost per action (CPA), like purchase (eCommerce) or site engagement (branding).
- We Maximize Ad Space
We utilize every possible option to ensure your ad stands out. See examples to the left.
- We Fight Click Fraud
We include additional software to monitor and block users that are fraudulently clicking on your ads. Typically saves clients 10%.
- Connected & Unified to All Campaigns
Your search campaigns are connected to all the ads we manage. Data is shared and enables retargeting across all platforms.
Strong Together
As a result of this, simultaneously implementing both SEO and SEM techniques can present a more comprehensive solution for clients and businesses in regard to their digital marketing. Neglecting SEM leads to diminishing returns in terms of results and in many cases the loss of revenue from those who aren't properly served. As digital marketers, it is our responsibility to ensure that we deliver the best possible solution for our clients. We must consider best practices for both SEO and SEM when developing a comprehensive digital marketing strategy.
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