Search Engine Marketing (SEM) is a digital marketing strategy used to increase a website’s visibility in search engine results pages (SERPs) through paid advertisements. It is one of the most effective ways to drive traffic and generate leads for businesses
SEM mainly consists of the following elements:
- Paid Search Advertising (PPC – Pay-Per-Click): Businesses bid on specific keywords to display their ads in search engine results.
- Search Engine Optimization (SEO): Although SEM primarily focuses on paid efforts, organic SEO plays a supportive role.
- Keyword Research: Identifying relevant keywords that potential customers use to search for products or services.
- Ad Copywriting: Creating compelling ad copies to attract users to click on the ad.
- Landing Pages: Optimized pages that users land on after clicking an ad, designed to convert visitors into customers.
| Feature | SEM (Paid) | SEO (Organic) |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | Paid per click | Free (requires effort & time) |
| Speed | Immediate results | Long-term growth |
| Visibility | Above organic results | Below paid ads |
| Control | Full control over ads | Limited control over rankings |
