The Difference Between SEM and SEO
SEO vs. SEM
SEO is Search Engine Optimization and is the process you use in getting better search engine ranking results for your pages. Typical SEO activities may include optimising the HTML and other content of your website for relevant, targeted key phrases in order to attain higher organic listings than competing websites.
SEM is Search Engine Marketing and involves purchasing advertising space on search engine result pages like Sponsored listings (that you see at the top in a Google Search Engine Results Page). You generally use SEM via Paid Inclusion into a search engine/directory, Traditional Ads on SERP’s and via Pay-Per-Click (PPC) Advertising (Google Adwords, Yahoo Ad Campaign etc).
Both are related in a way that both work towards increasing traffic to your site. Nevertheless, SEO must be your first step in promoting your site as Good SEO would avoid you to spend additional money on advertising and paid placement.
What is SEO?
SEO is an acronym for Search Engine Optimization. SEO is the art and science of configuring a webpage so that it is found, read, and indexed by search engines in the most effective manner possible, making your website and its content attractive, relevant and visible to search engines and Web surfers. Normally there are two major steps taken for this to be done correctly to make a website search-engine-friendly.
1) All relevant areas of each webpage on the site must be thoroughly examined, structured, and tweaked, so when search spiders are indexing the site they are given the best possible picture to what the website is all about.
2) Individual pages must specifically target the best Keywords and Keyphrases that are interfaced with original content that best describes the nature of the website. These pages must be energetic by providing useful information to surfers, and clue search spiders precisely what you have to offer and provide supporting back-up for your other related keywords, phrases, and links.
What is SEM?
SEM is an acronym for Search Engine Marketing and it is used to describe acts associated with researching, submitting and positioning the website within search engines to achieve maximum exposure of your website. SEM includes things such as SEO, paid listings (e.g. directories, search engines) and marketing, banner, text and links campaigns, affiliate programs, and other search related services and functions that will increase exposure and traffic to your website.