SEO (Search Engine Optimization) and SEM (Search Engine Marketing) both are quite similar in many terms. Goal of both of the techniques are to improve impression and clicks. SEM is broad term and includes SEO as its part. SEO main purpose is to increase the website rank and improve visibility in organic search result where as SEM apply both organic as well as paid medium to maximise the number of visitors.
SEO (Search Engine Optimization) –
SEO is technique to improve visibility of website ranking in search engines results and maximise the no of visitors. Results generated from search engine optimization are organic and improves search engine trust factor as well as more persistence in nature. There are many techniques used in search engine optimization to improve the visibility of website.
SEO is typically set of white hat techniques or guideline as per search engine to optimize website accordingly and improve the relevancy. The guide line works in mainly two sub categories
- On Page SEO– The Optimization techniques as per the guideline within website to improve the relevancy is called on page SEO. On page optimization includes internal website quality link structure, quality of content targeting keywords as well as density of keywords in content. No of pages and relevancy of webpage with link structure.
- Off Page SEO– The optimization techniques used outside website to improve website visibility is called off page SEO. Both on page and off page are important to improve website visibility. Off page SEO techniques include social sharing and engagement. Link building or getting relevant hi-quality links to your website increase website authority. Guest blogging and others activities are also part of off page SEO.
SEM (Search Engine Marketing) –
Search engine marketing is a broad term and SEO is a part of it. Main purpose of Search Engine Marketer to improve marketing using SEO as well as paid advertisement. In SEM we use both SEO as well as paid medium, paid ads or pay per click gives quick acceleration in search engine results. If you are running a business you can’t wait for SEO to generate organic lead for business so paid ads are more relevant to generate quick results. SME adopts both the medium for long term business strategies. It is advised that if you are running a business which is in setup phase plan your 65% marketing budget for paid ads where as 35% of budget for search engine optimization. This will give you a well balance and result. As you starts getting result from SEO slowly shift your SEM budget to SEO. Search engine optimization is the technique which also helps you to optimize your paid ads so that you may lower down your cost per ad click.
Which Is Better SEO Or SEM?
As per business prospective both are important and needful in business. As SEO generates organic result which improve your visibility whereas SEM includes paid medium to boost your business sales. For example image you have an e-commerce company and want to sell handbags online what will you do? Will you wait till the time SEO ranks your pages or want to have some quick business as you start it. Online business competition is increasing day by day and if you need to compete with all the hurdles you need to include all the methods which is working. Paid ads generate quick results still you can’t ignore SEO for your business as SEO always gives a trust factor to your website and results generated are more persistence in nature, as well once you starts getting SEO results improve you can reduce your paid budget.
In SEM, though PPC ads are above the organic results,yet it is observed that 70% of the clicks are on organic results due to the trustworthiness of the people. Users are aware of ads and organic result and mostly preferences are given to organic results rather than PPC. Organic traffic from SEO is continuous due to brand loyalty that developed once but traffic from PPC is for short duration you get more clicks only when you pay more, and when your ad budget finishes your ad will also be removed.