With most purchases starting online, it is necessary for companies to establish a solid online presence. Having a pretty website is not enough to increase your website’s traffic. You also need to have an effective digital marketing strategy that includes targeting search engines.

Two strategies that help increase search engine traffic are search engine optimization (SEO) and search engine marketing (SEM). Adding these two strategies to your existing digital marketing strategy by hiring an SEO agency can generate more qualified leads while also increasing your organic traffic. 

Our SEO Austin Texas team is here to break down what SEO and SEM consist of and what’s the difference between SEO and SEM. 

Search engine optimization (SEO)

Search engine optimization, also referred to as SEO, is the process of optimizing a webpage for search engine results. Companies big and small use this strategy to get their products/services found on search engines. The better ranking your website has on search engines, the easier it is for your customers to find you.

Search engine marketing (SEM)

Search engine marketing, also known as SEM, is creating paid advertising on search engine result pages (SERPs). You can see these advertisements on top of search page results (SERP) above the organic search results. Advertisers then pay a certain amount for every click that the ad receives. 

What’s the difference between SEO and SEM?

A common mistake that companies make is believing that both these digital marketing strategies are the same. Although both involve search engines, there is a major difference. The difference between the two is SEM is paid traffic, and SEO is organic traffic. 

SEM is considered pay-per-click advertising, which means the advertiser must pay a certain fee for every click the ad receives. On the other hand, SEO is organic traffic which means advertisers do not have to pay for that traffic. 

When should you use SEO vs. SEM?

A question that business owners and marketers have is which one of these strategies I should be using. The answer is both. SEO Austin Texas experts recommend businesses to use both in a digital marketing strategy together. Companies should be using SEO as a long-term strategy. Landing a webpage on the front page of search engine results takes time, but using SEO can save money. 

It takes months to start ranking, but this kind of strategy pays off over time. Then, SEM is a short-term strategy. It is beneficial for companies to use once in a while because it does cost money and only lasts a certain amount. 

Hire an SEO Austin Texas company!

Whether you need help with your company’s SEO or SEM, let OMG Austin handle it. Our team understands which industries are competitive and how to navigate a way to lessen CPC costs while also generating revenue. Contact us to learn more about our SEO services.