Did you know that Google accounts for over 92% of all internet searches? That means that you need to find a way to move up the ranks of Google results if you want to attract customers.
But how do you do that? You need to use SEO and SEM.
We’re here to talk about the difference between SEO and SEM so you can decide which one is right for your business. Read on to learn more.
What Is SEM?
There are two primary ways to define SEM and one is more common than the other. The acronym stands for “search engine marketing.” In other words, it’s marketing that relates to popular search engines such as Google and Bing.
Technically speaking, search engine marketing is an umbrella term that includes SEO (as SEO is still a marketing tactic). That said, when most people talk about search engine marketing, they’re referring to paid services.
While SEM is a paid method of advertising, most of the time business owners only have to pay for links that get clicks. This is also called PPC (pay-per-click) marketing. The majority of hoteliers employ this type of marketing. Hotels can compete with other properties and online travel agencies (OTAs) and increase brand exposure by using this search engine marketing strategy.
When you search for something on Google, you probably see a few results at the top that say “Ad,” right? Those are from businesses that are using SEM.
One of the SEM benefits is that it’s good for business owners who want instant results. Unlike SEO, you don’t need to spend time building up SEM. You get what you pay for right away.
With that in mind, it can be expensive if you’re trying to keep up with it long-term. Because of that, it’s more popular when business owners are first getting started and finding their stride with the rest of their marketing efforts.
What Is SEO?
SEO is a type of search engine marketing, but it’s in its own category. SEO stands for “search engine optimization.” In other words, it’s a tactic that boosts a website up the search engine rankings without “cheating” to get the top spot via a paid ad.
There are several types of SEO that matter. General on-page SEO, local SEO, and mobile SEO are the most common, but if you work with a great SEO company, they’ll make sure that you’re using all necessary types of SEO to boost your business. Click to learn more about one great SEO company that can help.
One of the benefits of SEO is that it’s a low-cost way to keep your business’s website among the first results when someone types a relevant query into their favorite search engine. The results also last for a long time, making the return on investment beyond worthwhile.
It’s a good idea to use SEM when you’re first getting started with SEO so you can combine the benefits of quick SEM results with slow and steady SEO results.
That’s the Difference Between SEO and SEM
The difference between SEO and SEM might seem slight, but it’s important! Whether you choose to focus on one of them or combine the powers of both, they’re great tools for your business.
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