Search Engine Marketing versus Search Engine Optimization
Search engine marketing (SEM), involves all the methods that can get you more search engine visitors. SEO, which stands for Search Engine Optimization is about optimizing your website to get higher ranking in the search results. We are often asked, “Which is more important, SEO or SEM?” Think of SEM and SEO as an umbrella. SEM is the canopy and framework, while SEO is the handle and the pole. Now you can understand that one is not more important than the other, you need them to work together to protect your company from a stormy forecast.
What is SEO?
SEO is the process of optimizing your website to gain traffic from search engines. When your website has been optimized, it is more prominent and more easily understood by search engine crawlers, and this increases the chances of ranking higher. The search engines determine a set of rules that you should apply on your website or blog, so that it is search engine friendly. For example:
- You need to use optimized titles
- Good descriptions
- Well formatted URLs
- Correct use of Headings, sub-headings, and images
- You should have links from SEO optimized web sites
The application of these rules may seem confusing at times, but just as there are rules for athletic contests that determine the winner, there is a ranking system where the website who has the most votes ranks higher.
What is SEM
Search Engine Marketing is more involved than SEO. However, it’s a significant part of your overall Internet Marketing Strategy. SEM is the marketing process to gain visibility in search engine results; either by getting more free traffic, or through paid search advertising. To utilize paid search advertising, you buy advertising space in the search engine results. In addition to using SEO to rank higher and get free traffic, you pay to appear in front of the searches. These ads are known as PSA. The most recognized advertising agency for PSA is Google Adwords. You sign up to get your ads to appear in the Google search results, and you pay only for the clicks on your ads. The whole process is called Pay-per-click or PPC. Most search engines have a similar system, but none are as successful and as widely known as Adwords. SEM traffic is considered the most important source of Internet traffic because people use search engines to find a solution to a problem. When searches click on an ad from the search results, they are more likely to convert.
Search engine marketing by a local SEO expert
Looking for local SEO services in the Charlotte area? Do you want effective results? An investment in your online presence more than pays for itself. If you consider one of the most successful SEO consultants in Charlotte; you can expect extraordinary results because the focus is singularly on your business, and not competitors in your market area. The answer can be found with SCD Consulting Services. If they provide you with online marketing services, they will not work with a business that competes in your market, if you are their client.
SCD Consulting Services can get the job done. Shirley Cress Dudley and her consulting team are experts in their field. Their goal is to help you achieve a consistently high-ranking position on a wide variety of search engines and business directories. Call them today, as this team of professionals look forward to talking with you, learning about your business, and helping you focus on what you do best. It will be your giant step towards effective search engine marketing, moving your business to the top through search engine marketing, resulting in more traffic and customers.