Key Differences between SEM and SEO
SEM and SEO are marketing terms that are often used interchangeably.
SEM and SEO marketing strategies help businesses showcase digital content to the right audience at the right time.
Though SEM and SEO have some similarities, they follow fundamentally different approaches.
The key difference is that SEO is based on organic search while SEM focuses on paid traffic.
What you will find in this blog:
Why You Need an Integrated Marketing Approach to SEO/SEM Marketing
What is SEO?
Types of SEO
What is SEM?
Key Differences in SEO/SEM Marketing
The Similarities in SEO/SEM Marketing
SEM and SEO: Which Approach Should You Consider?
What makes SEO/SEM Marketing a Killer Combination?
Why You Need an Integrated Marketing Approach to SEO/SEM Marketing
Businesses that use both SEO/SEM marketing get 25 per cent more clicks.
This translates to more than 27% increase in profit compared to businesses that rely on a single channel approach.
Therefore, it makes sense to know the difference between SEO/SEM marketing.
This knowledge will get you results like improved website traffic, increased lead generation and conversion.
In this blog, let's know in detail about SEM and SEO marketing strategies and how they can help your business.
What is SEO?
SEO is the process of increasing your website traffic through organic/unpaid means of advertising.
Through SEO strategies you improve your website rankings in search engine result pages (SERPs).
This improves your website's visibility and authority and leads to desired conversions.
Types of SEO
There are 3 types of SEO: On-page SEO, Technical SEO, and Off-page SEO.
On-page SEO focuses on website optimization through content, keywords, tweaking URLs, title & alt tags, images, and meta descriptions.
Technical SEO focuses on optimizing website performance by improving website indexing & crawling, site speed, data security, and mobile device compatibility.
Off-page SEO improves your website rank and authority through link building, social media marketing, branding, and online reputation management.
All these three SEO strategies in tandem help your website rank higher on search engines and gain high visibility and recognition.
What is SEM?
SEM is the process of using paid forms of advertising on search engines to increase website visibility in a short period of time.
You must have seen paid ads on Google that appear on highly visible locations like the top, side, and bottom of the first result page. These ads are run by paying a certain amount to search engines through SEM campaigns.
SEM involves careful planning that includes keyword research, bidding, setting up campaigns, and optimizing the ads continuously for the best results.
Key Differences in SEO/SEM Marketing
The goal of SEM and SEO is to drive traffic to the website and generate desirable conversions.
But the SEM and SEO approach to marketing differs as highlighted below.
1. Ad Designation
SEO shows organic search results which do not have an ad designation to them.
SEM includes an ad designation, as you can view the word "Ad" over SEM search results.
2. Initial Search Results
SEO search results showcase featured snippets, the bits of a paragraph that show relevant information as per your search results.
SEM search results show Ad extensions, that showcase the features of products and services searched.
3. Main Goals
The goal of an SEO campaign is to improve site visibility through content creation and website optimization.
The goal of an SEM campaign is to improve site/landing page visibility to a select audience thus driving conversions/sales.
4. Time & Value
It takes about 3 months to 2 years for SEO campaigns to provide high conversions on your website.
Whereas SEM campaigns provide immediate results in a short period of time.
5. Monetary Considerations
SEO campaigns do not require money any payment to be made for viewer clicks.
In SEM campaigns, you pay for ad clicks, viewer impressions, or any other predetermined goals.
6. Audience Targeting
SEO campaigns can afford to target a broad audience.
SEM campaigns target a select audience due to budget considerations.
7. Impact and Competition
SEO campaigns have a considerable but staggered impact over time due to organic content, so the competition is less.
SEM campaigns are created to get a higher impact in a short span so there’s more competition.
8. Results
SEO provides cumulative results with long-term benefits and higher visibility.
SEM provides immediate results with short-term benefits and lower visibility after the campaigns are over.
The Similarities in SEO/SEM Marketing
Though SEM and SEO marketing strategies are different; they’re yet used interchangeably as they have several similarities too.
Here are some of the major similarities in SEO/SEM marketing.
1. Both SEM and SEO marketing drive relevant traffic to your website and improve its visibility.
2. Both SEO/SEM marketing use keyword research to target customers and improve website traffic.
3. Both SEM and SEO marketing needs a deep understanding of your target audience to get results.
4. Both SEO/SEM marketing requires ongoing optimization for best results.
SEM and SEO: Which Approach Should You Consider?
These are some hypothetical and real-life situations where following a singular strategy is a better option.
1. For long-term growth, opt for SEO.
2. For short-term goals to get quick website traffic, SEM is the best bet.
3. If your business/website already has good visibility, then you can opt for an SEM strategy to drive conversions.
4. If you have a limited marketing budget, then following an SEO strategy will save those precious funds and keep costs lower.
What makes SEO/SEM Marketing a Killer Combination?
An integrated marketing approach that involves both SEM and SEO gives you an edge over the competition.
You can improve your SEO performance by utilizing insights from your SEM campaigns.
And with SEO best practices you can create high-impact landing pages for your SEM campaigns.
You can use SEO practices like keyword optimization to remarket your campaigns and boost margins.
For a new website, you can create SEM campaigns to increase visibility, and gain backlinks, thus building website authority and improving SEO performance.
With a combination of these and other SEM and SEO practices, you can achieve your targets with maximum effectiveness.
In Conclusion
SEO/SEM marketing is equally important for you to reach your desired goals.
By Design is a full-service creative agency that provides 360 degree solutions in branding, mass media advertising, and digital marketing.
Our integrated marketing solutions, digital expertise and extensive advertising capabilities will help you achieve your desired business outcomes.
Get in touch with us or email at hello@bydesign.co.in to create high-impact SEO/SEM marketing campaigns that guarantee a wider reach and move your customers to action.