What is the difference between SEO and SEM in 2022?

What is SEM?

"SEM" is an acronym for Search Engine Marketing. The term often refers to anything your business does on search engines such as Google, Bing, etc. This can include advertising in paid search campaigns. However, the overarching definition of "SEM" can also include SEO and other organic search-related ventures. But most often in 2022, the term "SEM" refers more to your paid search marketing efforts.

What is SEO

"SEO" is an acronym for Search Engine Optimization. It is the process of improving a site's visibility or ranking in search engines. SEO includes keyword research, targeting, on-page optimization and mobile optimization, as well as content marketing and link-building.

What is the difference between SEO and SEM?

In broad terms, SEM refers to marketing strategy. SEO, on the other hand, is a technique you can use to implement that strategy. Search engine marketing (SEM), is an umbrella term that covers everything you do to market your website through search engines. While search engine optimization (SEO), is one of the things you do. These terms are often used by marketers in different ways, as we will discuss in the following questions.

Does SEM affect SEO?

Rather, it is SEO that influences SEM. SEO is essential if content marketing is part of your search strategy. Even if for some reason you're only interested in running Bing ads, you'll need to optimize your website to make sure your landing pages and ad copy are both relevant to the keywords your customers are searching for.

Is paid search part of SEO or SEM?

Paid search is part of SEM. Many marketers think SEM is just paid search, but the original definition of SEM is all search marketing (which you can tell by the name!). You'll also hear paid search, or pay-per click marketing or advertising mentioned often. This contrasts with organic search marketing, which is all the strategies used to increase site traffic and rankings without spending money on advertising.

Take a look at this diagram:

Is SEO paid for?

No. While you can hire someone to do your SEO, organic SEO is about optimizing your site's visibility and ranking in search engines. SEO and paid search can work together - as our guide explains organic vs paid search - but SEO practices are used to increase organic search engine rankings - essentially, to make your site the most relevant result.

If you are more interested in paid SEO tactics, we have a guide to paid search.

What is SEM useful for?

Marketing through search engines is a great way to get more traffic to your website, resulting in more market awareness for your business, and more leads or customers for you! Search engines drive 300% more traffic on websites than social media networks. Search ads can increase a company's awareness in the market by up to 80%. When people search and find local businesses, 88% searcherscalls or visits this company within 24 hours.

If you're going to engage in the search engine market, it's a good idea to use both paid advertising (buying space on the first page) and organic search tactics such as SEO to achieve long-term sustainable results (earning for a place on the front page over time).

What SEO is useful for

Having a high organic ranking for your site pays off, and SEO is how to get that ranking on the first page. Databox conducted a survey among experienced marketers. They found that being found through organic search resulted in higher click-through rates, longer time spent on relevant pages and more sales.

Eye-tracking research have shown that even the 80% people often ignore the paid results at the top of the search engine page. More and more people are also using ad blockers (30-40%).Hubspot found that of all the links that searchers click on, 70% are organic links.

You can't let your site have an organic ranking and expect people to click on it. Few goes past the first page of results. 75% people never get past the first page, and only 6% clicks on the site come from the second page results.

There are so many companies out there using SEO to improve their website visibility that it has become a requirement to be competitive in the market.

Is it possible to learn (and do) SEO yourself?

Absolutely. Although there are many SEO specialists and agencies with a lot of experience, you can still learn SEO. Here are the basics:

• optimize your title tags and meta descriptions
• Optimize page load speed for good user experience
• Write lots of blog posts around your top keywords and target audience
• ask for/get backlinks (other sites linking to you) with quality content

There are also some really great tools in 2022, such as Digivizer, which allow you to track your top pages and search queries to start your SEO journey.