How Search Engine Marketing is different from Search Engine Optimization

Recently, Search Engine Marketing (SEM) is a phrase that has come into the mainstream. As the nature of search engine promotion has expanded, the tag "search engine optimization" hasn't seemed to cover what some companies and individuals feel they do. While search engine marketing involves click costs, search engine optimization works through free traffic. This differentiating factor has been the basis of many a generated misunderstanding.

Primarily, it is though that it is an easier task to achieve a higher Return of Investment by using SEO rather than by using SEM. Yet another of these is what we shall call the 'landing page' myth.

The landing page where the visitors first land upon is decided perfunctorily by the owner himself. However, in Search Engine Optimization, the search is what determines the landing page visitors see. This is that difference that is the mother of all disparity

The attention span of an average searcher does not linger long enough to register the actual content of the page and the links leading away that might potentially be beneficial. More often than not, a searcher lacks the patience to browse through axilliary pages and simply hits the back button. Quicker than you can say 'click' they would be back on the search engine and off to a rival webpage.


It is therefore of vital importance to optimize the webpage landing in accordance to what a searcher may search for. This would ensure that the visitor to the site stays on as he has been assured of it being the ideal destination of his search. Relevancy is the keyword here. It is the hands of a professional Search Engine Marketing firm, which when at play would optimize the landing page. A search spider would achieve far from desired results in such a scenario.

It is only when the searcher is satisfied that the purpose of either SEO or of SEM is achieved. Money wise, a Search Engine Marketing firm requires more capital investment in the beginning than what is usually the norm at a Search Engine Optimization firm. This is because Search Engine Marketing involves management and pay per click costs as well. Search Engine Optimization only charges for the management prices . However, investing in a professional Search Engine Marketing firms ensures more relevancy of landing page and therefore more returns.

Search Engine Optimization and Search Engine Marketing are complementary to each other. At the end of the day, Search Engine Optimization can definitely get visitors to your page by giving you a brand image, better ranks and numerous other benefits. Nevertheless, only an investment in Search Engine Marketing makes the landing page worth the effort and worth a conversion by the visitor. A converted visitor is the entire difference in the equation between Search Engine Optimization and Search Engine Marketing.