How Search Engine Marketing and SEO Work Together to Improve Your Google Ranking
How do SEO and SEM work together?
What’s the difference between SEO and SEM?
What are the definitions of SEO and SEM?
You’ve likely heard of the acronyms “SEO” and “SEM,” but you may feel lost as to their definitions, differences, and similarities.
There’s a lot to know regarding SEO and SEM in digital marketing. But even understanding the basics can go a long way in revamping your online presence. In this blog, we’re answering all of your burning questions about SEO and SEM. Today, you’ll learn:
The difference between SEO and SEM
SEO vs. SEM definitions
SEM vs. Paid search
How do SEO and SEM work together?
Don’t forget to bookmark this article as a guide for later when you forget what these digital marketing terms mean or need a refresher.
Now, let’s dive into the details of a successful search engine marketing and optimization campaign.
What’s the Difference Between SEO and SEM?
Although different, SEO and SEM in digital marketing are complementary strategies. A robust SEO and SEM strategy strengthens your company’s online presence and improves your ranking on search engines when used together.
Here’s some more in-depth information about SEO vs. SEM.
SEO vs. SEM: Definitions and Differences
SEO and SEM are closely related, but they’re fundamentally different strategies.
Let’s look at some of the differences, similarities, and definitions of SEO and SEM in digital marketing.
Search Engine Optimization (SEO definition)
SEO, or search engine optimization, is the process of improving your web pages so they rank higher organically on search engine result pages (SERPs) and drive traffic to your website. Organically, meaning companies don’t pay for their search positions. A few ways to do this are sharing keyword-rich content, link building, and on-page optimization (OPO).
Search Engine Marketing (SEM definition)
Unlike SEO, search engine marketing is a paid digital marketing strategy. With SEM, companies use various paid methods (i.e., pay-per-click) to increase their websites’ visibility on SERPs. So, if you’re wondering about SEM vs. paid search, they’re the same thing.
SEO and SEM Strategy Differences
SEO refers strictly to increasing organic (unpaid) traffic. Organizations often use an optimized website and SEO-friendly blogs to increase organic traffic. On the other hand, SEM uses paid, targeted advertising to get traffic and new sales leads. An SEM strategy may include avenues such as Google or Facebook Ads.
SEO and SEM Strategy Similarities
In terms of similarities, both digital marketing strategies rely heavily on keyword research to target terms that users are searching for on search engines. In addition, the purpose of both SEO and SEM strategies is to increase site traffic, thereby increasing opportunities to procure new leads, close more sales, and increase overall revenue.
How Do SEO and SEM Work Together for a Holistic Digital Marketing Strategy?
As we’ve discussed so far, SEO and SEM are different methods that go hand in hand to produce the same result: display your website on Google’s first page.
If you want your business to get noticed online, you need to search engine optimize your website.
For instance, did you know that 75% of users never click past the first page of search results? Meaning, your business needs to be front and center on SERPs if you want to get noticed by your target audience.
And how do you get on page one? By implementing a holistic SEO and SEM strategy.
Generally, SEM has a better chance of success when a website is already SEO-friendly. By optimizing your site for relevant keywords and concurrently using those keywords in paid advertising, your business has a better chance of occupying more space on search engines.
Keep in mind that SEM offers more immediate results, while SEO is a long-term digital marketing strategy.
Ready to Implement a Successful Search Engine Marketing and Optimization Strategy?
Now that you have an answer to “How do SEO and SEM work together?”, are you ready to start a successful search engine marketing and optimization strategy?
At Veivos, we’re equipped with SEO specialists that know how to get your website ranking on Google’s coveted first page. Here’s a peek into our proprietary process:
We begin by learning about your business, industry, and goals and identifying the marketing initiatives that will help us reach those goals.
Then, we find keyword golden ratio (KGR) terms and use them to create a long-term content strategy.
Next, we perform extensive research to carefully select relevant keywords that your target audience is searching for online—keywords that will quickly get your site ranking favorably on Google.
Finally, we write search engine optimized blog articles using the keywords we found to strategically position your site on search engines, therefore, driving more qualified traffic.
We also handle all of your on-page optimization (OPO) issues and can provide SEM (Google Ads) services for a holistic digital marketing approach. Schedule a call today to learn more about how Veivos’ SEO services can improve your digital marketing efforts.
