While these two acronyms are similar, they are completely different marketing methods! SEO and SEM can be confused. This is because people often assume they are the same strategy.

Search Engine Optimization is SEO but what is this SEM we speak of? Allow us break this down for you.

What Is SEM?

Search Engine Marketing, SEM, is all about content. This content heavy marketing strategy can make or break you in a couple of ways.

SEM is also known to cover PPC (Pay-per-click) advertisement on Google Search Engine. All of this is done in a few different ways:

• Quality content on landing pages
• Organic keyword usage
• Meeting Google AdWords requirements

A landing page is one of the most important parts of a SEM marketing strategy. This is because the person who clicks on your PPC advertisement this is where they go from the advertisement.  

If the page is not optimized the whole point of the SEM marketing plans and research is a waste of time. (To put it harshly.)

So, SEM is the paid search strategy side of the SEO marketing strategy.

So What Are The Differences?

If there is an umbrella of SEO/SEM strategies are they not the same thing? While they have the same idea of bringing the most traffic to your website, they are both done in marketing for different strategic purposes.

An SEO strategy involves strategy with keywords, organic traffic, backlinking, digital marketing and more. SEO is the best tactic for overall organic growth to your website.

This process takes longer but is just as rewarding at the end (if everything is done correctly).

If you want to speed up the process when it comes to traffic to your website, then SEM is for you. The best advertisement gets put up into Google’s Search Engine and the system begins.

The highest-paying advertiser gets the best spot. This is where the landing page comes into play.

For example, you type in Austin SEO company into Google. A list of recommended companies comes up in the first few lines.

You click on the first one and it brings you to a landing page. Simple!

Why Does This Matter?

So, why does any of this matter? Why should you as a business owner even care?

Well, if you want to keep growing, increasing your website’s traffic, and getting the best return of investment (ROI) on that website, you need these strategies. In the long-term SEO will help you grow organically and SEM will help with promotions and more sales.

At the end of the day, both SEO and SEM simultaneously work together without most people understanding or even knowing it!

Are you really confused? This is because SEO/SEM is not an easy topic to understand.

The different components and how they are similar but different is not for a rookie! At OMG Austin, we are a leading Austin SEO company.

We can provide the best SEO/SEM practices for you.