What Is The Difference Between SEO & SEM?

If you want to be at the top of Google search results, optimising your SEO can help! AIM Internet, a leading SEO agency in the West Midlands, specialise in helping businesses get the most out of Google to grow their business and brand. To further your knowledge, learn the key differences between SEO and SEM.

 

What Are The Differences Between SEO & SEM?

Put simply, SEO focuses on generating traffic and leads through organic search, whereas SEM aims to generate traffic and leads through organic and paid search. SEM includes SEO tactics and both go hand in hand when optimising your site.

Nitty Gritty

SEO or Search Engine Optimisation is aims to improve the rank of your site in the search engines. To do this we use techniques such as link building, landing pages and website tweaks, content update, keywords and plenty more. All of this helps to provide Google with the info it needs to find you relevant for your specific search terms.

SEM or Search Engine Marketing is more focused around advertising and paid methods, which help make your site more visible. These techniques include search advertising, GoogleAds and other paid methods to help your site appear when potential visitors are looking for sites that are similar.

 

Which Internet Marketing Tactic Is Better – SEO or SEM?

Depending on whom you ask the answer might vary.

Unfortunately it’s not as simple as just choosing one, this answer may vary depending on who you ask and your businesses needs. However, ranking high on organic search through effective SEO has a lot of long term benefits that isn’t just numbers on page.

All that being said, using SEM to help reach your online goals has a lot of advantages.

 

Benefits Of SEM

If you have a brand new site and want instant visibility then SEM is definitely your friend, with a carefully measured PPC campaign you can get instant results with a good ROI.  On top of this, it will also give you a clear insight into the keywords associated and performing well for your site.

 

Benefits Of SEO

Long-term, SEO always wins out. Ranking high on search results through organic methods adds tons of credibility to your brand. And of course, SEO offers higher rate of returns when compared to PPC, for example.

Related: SEO Blogs: Increasing Your Website’s Prominence

The Bottom Line

Still unsure of which online marketing technique will be best for your business? SEO or SEM?  There isn’t a one size fits all (or we’d all be out of a job), it comes down to the individual needs and goals for your business. If you’re looking for a quick fix, start with a well-planned PPC campaign, and I mean well planned! Then gradually focus more on SEO. SEO is a long-term investment but slow and steady wins the race.

 

Contact AIM Internet

At AIM Internet, we take the time to understand your business; each plan is different and entirely dependent on your needs. Talk to us today about how we can help grow your business with a successful AIM Marketing plan. Based in Worcester and the West Midlands, our digital agency has helped many businesses with their SEO digital marketing strategy. 

If you would like to talk to one of our agencies SEO experts, then call us on 0870 062 8760 or email info@aiminternet.co.uk

If you found this blog useful, take a look at a previous one: What is SEO? And How does It Work? Or 8 Ways to Improve your SEO and Drive Organic Traffic to Your Website

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