Search Engine Optimization and Search Engine Marketing. Are they the same?

Search Engine Optimization (SEO) and Search Engine Marketing (SEM) are often confused for each other or are grouped together, much like people mistakenly group advertising, marketing and sales (a topic for a separate discussion).   The fact is that they are separate practices.

Search Engine Optimization (SEO) is an internal practice involving physically tuning up your site (the public side and the code side) so that it is appealing to search engines.  Properly done, it can help you, immediately and over time, improve your ranking on the organic side of search results.  Evaluating your site and code and appropriately integrating the content that is greatly sought by searchers in combination with specific registrations can have a substantial impact on your search engine placement.

Search Engine Marketing (SEM) takes on two fundamental forms, organic and paid.  Paid SEM is the practice of placing paid ads with search engines, which often appear to the right and above organic results.  There is certainly a science and art to this practice but that is the fundamental behind the practice.  Organic SEM strategies help to move a site up in the organic rankings.  In either case, SEO is a practical and critical first step to any search engine based optimization or placement strategy.

Contact thinkwebstore.com for more information on Search Engine Optimization (SEO) and Search Engine Marketing (SEM).

Think Webstore is a Mississippi based company that specializes in website design and web technology, logo and business identity design, marketing and business strategy. Think Webstore is co-located with Advanced Microsystems (www.advmicrosystems.com), who specializes in computer repair, networking and network administration.

www.thinkwebstore.com
info@thinkwebstore.com
601-856-2000
655 Lake Harbour Drive
Ridgeland, MS 39157

Read more about SEO and SEM at thinkwebstore.com
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