SEO/SEM – What Are They?

When hearing the words SEO or SEM, the first thing that comes to mind is that it’s something related to the internet and web searches. You’re not exactly wrong, but it’s something more than just that.

The goal in this article is to go more in-depth on what SEO and SEM are, how it works, how to take advantage of it, and how to apply the general tips and tricks for Search Engine Optimization and Search Engine Marketing.

What Are Search Engines?

Search engines can be accessed through websites and applications you visit and type or speak questions, phrases, or words into a search box. The search engine then provides you with quite a long list (several pages) of webpages (hyperlinks) that are the possible answers to your questions.

Chances are you’re already taking advantage of search engines on a daily basis. Famous options like Google, Yahoo!, and Bing are several notable search engines that millions of users utilize on a daily basis.

How Do They Work?

Google and all other search engines have crawlers that gather information on all the content they can find on all corners of the internet available to the public and are on public domains. The crawlers bring back all the binary information to the search engine’s index, and that index is then worked on an algorithm that tries to match all the gathered data with your query.

There are a lot of things that are taken into account with a search engine’s algorithm, and each individual search engine has its own algorithm. There are several factors like Domain-Level Keyword Usages, Social Metrics, Domain-Level Link Authority Features, and Page-level Link Features and other factors.

SEO? What’s That?

Search Engine Optimizations is how Web Designers, Article Writers, Bloggers, and all other content publishers on the web take advantage of Search Engine algorithms. They try to take into account factors from the more reliable Search Engines’ algorithms and optimize how their content is written to adjust to those algorithms.

All the writers who know what they’re doing know at least some of the basics like Key Words. These words should be included on write-ups to ensure that they pop up when someone searches for them on google and the more complicated factors like a meta description that Google, Yahoo!, Bing, and others.

The plan is to try and attract possible visitors through optimizing your writings to include Keywords and supplement Social Metrics, Domain and Page-Level Link Features, and other factors.

Tweaking, adjusting and supplementing your websites with enough optimizations so you can properly market your content through the web and through Search Engines.

SEM? What’s the Difference?

In the past, SEM or Search Engine Marketing used to be an umbrella term that included Search Engine Optimizations. In short, aside from actual Search Engine Marketing that is mostly paid search activities and advertisements, SEO also used to be included.

Nowadays, however, Search Engine Marketing is defined simply as the process of gaining website traffic by purchasing ads on search engines.

There are several types of SEM styles, namely: Paid Search Ads, Paid Search Advertising, Pay-Per-Click ads and pop-ups, CPC or Cost-Per-Click, and Cost-Per-Thousands Impressions. Those options verify slightly from each other like how domains and websites charge you for them and how you get to count your advertisements ticks, but generally, still, stand for the same purpose.

How Can I Use SEO/SEM?

To utilize Search Engine Optimization and Marketing, first, you have to learn the ins and outs of Search Engines and their algorithms. Learning how they work and learning how to fully take advantage of them are two very different things.

If you’re completely new to Search Engine Optimizations and Marketing, this guide is enough for you to understand how they work and how to get around the Search Engine Algorithms. However, suppose you’re looking for more in-depth information. In that case, there are a lot of forums, guides and databases in the web that discuss Search Engine Optimizations at a more rigorous level.

The Basics of SEO/SEM

Search Engine Optimization has a lot of important factors you have to take into account. In order from least important to most important, here are several:

•  Crawl Accessibility (make sure search engines can read your website),
• Compelling Content (make sure that search engines get the answers they want from your website),
•  Key Words, a title ( to make searching for your topic easier), and
•  Meta Description, and Share-worthy content that will ensure your site gets the recognition it deserves (and respect from Search Engines)

Search Engine Marketing, on the other hand, is slightly easier because of web agencies that are willing to handle the process and can cater to your needs. Nevertheless, you still shouldn’t take it lightly, because you would never want to put your hard-earned money to waste.

To ensure that the budget allotted for Search Engine Marketing doesn’t go to waste, you have to make sure to verify how effective, practical, and cost-efficient the websites or domains you’re paying for Search Engine Marketing.

Check out the previous clients that asked for their content to be advertised and see how it works. Chances are, you’ve already seen a lot of Search Engine Marketing advertisements. SEM’s aren’t limited to only websites, but can also be advertised through mediums like Search Retargeting and Site Remarketing, Display Advertising, Mobile Marketing, and Paid Social Advertising.

A few of the general tips would be to make sure to ask them for proof of who sees your ads. To ensure you don’t get scammed or ripped off, a quick google search or inputting their website can make sure that they are legit. If you like what you see and you like how your content is being advertised, then go for it.

Applying these things in your website’s contents can be quite the taxing job, and it’s certainly hard to get used to. With time and patience; however, your efforts are bound to bear fruit to very positive results for you and your website.

Remember, patience is always a key to many things and properly utilizing Search Engine Optimizations and Search Engine Marketing aren’t an exception.