Both SEO and SEM are well-established digital marketing strategies that a lot of brands and marketers use. However, some may not know what the benefits are or how to differentiate between the two. Read on to find out more about each of these digital executions.

SEO – Search Engine Optimization 

• For organic traffic
• Tactics are used to get websites to rank higher on search engines such as Google, Bing, etc.
• Long term results (It may take months for an article to rank in the top 10 search results)
• Technically free (But you have to work on consistent strategies and tactics for it to work)

Why is SEO important?

Ahrefs states that 90.63% of content gets no traffic from Google. To stand out from millions upon millions of websites on the internet, the SEO ranking of your products should be higher than your competitors. For example, if a consumer is looking for the ‘Best Restaurant in Metro Manila’, it would make sense for them to go to those restaurants on the top page or first page of their Google search.

SEM- Search Engine Marketing

• Paid method of showing your products and services in search engines
• Pay per click for every result clicked by users
• Marked as ads
• Immediate results (Ad can be visible on the first page within 24 hours)
• Targeted to a specific group of users

When should I use SEM?

SEM is a paid way to get to the top of search engines quicker in the form of an ad. You can use SEM to beat competitors who organically rank higher than your product on search engines. We would recommend this if you’re launching a new product or shopping campaign and require instant results.

Can they be used together?

Definitely. Ideally, the usage of both SEO and SEM should be in your marketing strategy to build your brand and guard it against your competitors. Schedule a consultation with us to learn more about SEO/SEM services, other digital marketing services, or if you need someone to implement marketing strategies for you.