What is the difference between SEO and SEM?

SEO is a smaller fraction of the term SEM, meaning that SEO comes under the term SEM and it is a subdivision of the category. The Knowledge Graph of Google states Search Engine Optimization as the process of increasing the total number of visitors to a specific site that ensures the ranking of the site amongst the top ones in the results of any search engine.

The SEO industry is, however, developing day to day with daily alterations to the algorithm of Google. Even with the changes in the algorithms, there are things that remain unchanged that are the SEO contents: SEO comprises of Off-Page and On-Page activities.

What are SEO components?

As written above the SEO is based on two aspects:

On Page consists of:

  • Integrating specific keywords that come naturally into heading tags, alt text, title tags and Meta descriptions etc.
  • The blog posts along with page copy are written and optimized for quality.
  • Formatting and cleaning of page URLs.
  • Social sharing mixing present within your content.
  • Optimized loading speed of the page.
  • Incorporated Google authorship.

Off-Page SEO includes:

  • Social Sharing signals
  • Social bookmarks
  • High quality and natural backlink profile (presence of various authoritative/high qualities ink sites to your website.

What is search engine marketing (SEM)?

Search Engine marketing, on the other hand, is an internet marketing technique carried out through the search engine. The technique includes the website’s promotion by making them more visible in the search engine results pages (SERPS) by advertising and optimizing. Within the SEM tactics, there is SEO and many other search marketing techniques.

What components does SEM include?

SEM further makes use of paid searches like the pay per click (PPC) advertisements and listings. Many times the SEM promptly makes use of the PPC activities and campaigns, but if you are using paid search and SEO then it is categorized as SEM activity.

What is the main difference between SEO and SEM?

The key difference between the two terms SEO and SEM is that Search Engine Optimization is just a part of Search Engine Marketing. As stated above the SEM further includes workings of paid search, like PPC including SMM (social media marketing).

It is necessary not to make use of the both the terms SEM and SEO interchangeable, as they both work hand in hand both the terms are not same.

Which marketing tactic is better?

A lot of marketers make a question about which is better over the other. As an Inbound Marketer, there would be a different debate as SEO is the best way to market, as it is evident, SEM, on the other hand, won’t get much success without Organic SEO usage.

Other than there are a lot of times when the PPC (a SEM component) makes a lot more sense than SEO. Like if you are starting site online and you want to get immediate exposure then spending in PPC campaign will take less time than SEO, but it will not be wise to not pay any attention to Search Engine Optimization as both make an important part of the marketing.

There is no doubt about it that SEO will have longer time span to give results but it will cost you less in the end and you will be able to build a search credibility that you might not get with PPC.

However when it comes to selecting the best tactic it is crucial to estimate according to your particular requirements, but before investing it is important to properly understand the difference and its impact on maintaining your efforts.

On general there are no major differences between both the terms SEO and SEM, but still, the two terms are completely different from one and other. The SEO is a subcategory of the SEM and comes under the tactics of SEM but still both terms can’t be used in place of one and other. The SEO is an important factor when it comes to the internet marketing on the other hand SEM makes use of different tactics that includes SMM and PPC.

SEO SEM SMO Services

Before adopting a marketing campaign it is important to keep the use and needs in mind. With the selection of right marketing campaign, your business can get the right exposure to the online world. The online market is growing and the need for a proper technique is important to get the correct exposure.

The choice of the marketing campaign differ from business to business so does the need for the marketing tactics required are not the same for every business. The online world marketers make use of different techniques and from them, SEM and SEO techniques are most popular as they bring out results for real. Both the processes are no doubt different in time span but each one has its own significance. Get free consultation from TNC SEO Singapore on your business’s website to determine the best approach for your business.

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