Understanding SEM: The Basics of Search Engine Marketing

Search engine marketing, in general, refers to online or digital marketing efforts. The tactics and strategies involved are geared toward increasing your visibility on search engines like Google and Bing. The ultimate goal with SEM is to get more visitors to your site to boost conversions and meaningful interactions. Keep reading to learn more about SEM and how it relates to paid search.

How Paid Search Fits In

Paid search, or pay-per-click (PPC), is a significant part of search engine marketing. It’s done through platforms like Google Ads that allow you to bid on certain keywords related to your content, business or brand, products, or services. Essentially, you’re paying to boost your visibility on search engines with ads that appear above organic results.

How SEO Fits In

Search engine optimization, or SEO, is another component of search engine marketing. SEO refers to the things you do to make your relevant content more noticeable on search engine results pages. It’s a combination of both on-page and off-page efforts that typically include: 

• The natural use of keywords in titles, meta descriptions, content, etc.
• High-quality content (e.g., a well-crafted landing page linked to a paid ad)
• Social sharing of content
• Use of backlinks from trusted sources
• Multi-channel distribution and promotion
• Use of proper tags and other technical SEO factors that help search engines understand your content

If you need help building and maintaining a website that’s optimized for SEO, make sure to hire a trusted San Diego web development company.

How SMM Fits In

One other component of search engine marketing is social media marketing, or SMM. This refers to social posts or promotions. It also includes ads placed on specific social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

To sum things up, search engine marketing is a broad term that includes elements of paid search, SEO, and SMM. For example, let’s say a big chunk of your online marketing budget will be going toward paid search. You’ll be more likely to get results that are good for your bottom line and other goals if you also optimize your on-page and off-page content and promote it through various social platforms.

To learn more about SEM techniques your company can use, get in touch with Saba SEO, a leading SEO company in San Diego. We can help you determine the most effective plan of action for driving more traffic to your company’s website, and we can also take care of your website’s design. Give us a call today at 858-277-1717 to schedule an appointment.