Nope, SEO and SEM are Not the Same Things

Many people believe that search engine optimization (SEO) and search engine marketing (SEM) are the same things. This couldn't be further from the truth, as these terms describe two different types of digital marketing strategies with completely different goals in mind. 

If you're trying to decide which approach to use or you're wondering what the difference between them is, this guide will help you determine which one makes more sense for your business and why.

What is SEO?

Search engine optimization (SEO) is a set of guidelines for improving your website's ranking in search engines. The goal of SEO is to get your site more natural, organic traffic from search engines. 

Search engine optimizers use a variety of techniques to improve rankings and we're here to show you how you can use those same techniques yourself. In SEO you can do the SEO with the help of SEO tools.

Whether you want to learn how to optimize your site for Google or Yahoo!, some basic concepts apply across all major search engines.

What is SEM?

Search engine marketing (SEM) is a great way to get traffic to your website by using tools such as PPC, or pay-per-click. It's similar to PPC in that it involves paying for a sponsored placement in search results. 

The advantage of SEM over PPC is that you can get highly targeted traffic for your site or business. With PPC, you don't know who you're reaching; with SEM, you know exactly who your target market is. 

For example, if you have a pet supply store and want to advertise on Google, then you would use AdWords to create an ad specifically targeting people searching for pet supplies. That way, when someone searches Google for pet supplies, your ad will show up on top of their search results.

How Can I Use These Strategies to Boost My Online Presence?

The biggest misconception surrounding SEO is that you can't track your progress. Some people go so far as to say that SEO is a black box because there's no way to tell how much traffic a certain strategy will drive. 

This isn't entirely true; while it may be difficult to nail down specific figures, there are several tools out there including Google Analytics that can provide helpful metrics regarding your campaign. It's also important to remember that many of these strategies take time, meaning you won't see results overnight. 

Rather than looking at SEO as an immediate fix for your website woes, look at it in terms of long-term growth opportunities. If you implement these strategies correctly, they could help boost your online presence over time.

Conclusion

Search engine optimization (SEO) and search engine marketing (SEM) are not the same things. SEM is a great way to get traffic to your website by using tools such as PPC, or pay-per-click. 

The goal of SEO is to get your site more natural, organic traffic from search engines. The advantage of SEM over PPC is that you can get highly targeted traffic for your site or business. Many of these strategies take time, meaning you won't see results overnight. 

If you implement these strategies correctly, they could help boost your online presence over time.