Sunday, October 5, 2008

What should I know about Search Engine Optimization and Search Engine Marketing



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. It is evident that while the search engine optimization industry focuses on free traffic, the search engine marketing includes click costs. This differentiating factor has been the basis of many a generated misunderstanding.

One of the prevalent mistake assumptions being the belief that SEO is a more efficient tool to achieve high Return of Investment than SEM. Yet another such myth is what has been termed the 'landing page' yarn.

In Search Engine Marketing, the owner gets to decide where the visitor's land. 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

No searcher spends more than a few seconds assessing the landing page. More often than not, a searcher lacks the patience to browse through axilliary pages and simply hits the back button. In a matter of clicks they will be on your competition's landing page.


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. Every searcher ultimately wants to land on a relevant page and it is up to you to make the landing page as relevant as possible. Only a good professional Search Engine Marketing firm would be able to optimize your page accordingly. A search spider would achieve far from desired results in such a scenario.

The ultimate ambition of both SEO and SEM firms is to get searchers to convert. 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. On the other hand, Search Engine Optimization firms charge only for the management costs. But of course, only Search Engine Marketing would optimize your landing pages in a professional manner thereby increasing your returns.

Search Engine Optimization and Search Engine Marketing are two sides of the coin. Search Engine Optimization can shower traffic upon your page for sure, thereby increasing its rankings in the long run. 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.



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