03 September 2008

Search Engine Optimization is not 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. 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.

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. 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 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.

That precisely is the need to optimize your landing page keeping in mind what the searcher is looking for. This would convey to the searcher that he or she has come to the appropriate page. 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. This is something that an SEO cannot.

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. 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. Search Engine Optimization can shower traffic upon your page for sure, thereby increasing its rankings in the long run. However, it is Search Engine Marketing that makes the visitors to your site stick. It is the conversion that makes all the difference.

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