Most of the web developers who pioneered the craft had no idea that SEO and SEM techniques could be used to promote any website. Although, everyone realised that a simple website launch would not be able to attract enough attention from Internet users.
The most effective advertising in the late 90s was considered to be print ads and word-of-mouth advertising. Business cards, billboards on car roofs, pens with URLs, etc. were all used.
At the beginning of the twenty-first century, unheard-of technologies, including advanced snippets, autocomplete, Google search, sprang from the horn of plenty. As for the acronyms SEO, SEM, SMM and SMO, not every modern webmaster is thoroughly versed in their essence and the differences between them.
SEO (Search Engine Optimization) is defined as search engine optimization, which includes a set of measures to raise a specific website in search results, increasing its chances of attracting visitors.
To do this, it is necessary to create unique, unpretentious and useful content for a particular audience, get working links from verified resources, and widen the circle of users as much as possible.
By persistently following the basic rules of content writing and link building, you will improve your site’s organic search position.
SEM (Search Engine Marketing) is based on helping visitors to find the website they are promoting by using online advertising on search engine pages.
While there are undeniable similarities between SEM and SEO, there is a big difference between the two, which prevents one acronym from being substituted for the other.
Search engine marketing (SEM) consists of paid advertising: Bing Ads, Adwords, Yahoo and other online advertising services used to create campaigns with an investment.
This method will be able to draw the attention of a huge number of users to your website displayed at the top and side of the first page in the form of ads.
SMO (Social Media Optimization) refers to adapting to social media, improving the ranking and visibility of your profiles and published content.
With this kind of optimization it is easy to attract traffic to your blog or website, share content, attract search engines to index profiles, blogs and social activities.
For readers to spread your publications, you need to equip your site with buttons.
SMM (Social Media Marketing) is social media marketing that works to extend your target audience and increase brand equity.
As you have already understood, SEO and SMO are relatively free methods, which can be implemented without the involvement of specialists. SEM and SMM, on the other hand, require a financial investment in advertising and website promotion.
SEM and SMM are fast but not very long lasting within the allocated budget. SEO and SMO aim for a long-lasting or even permanent result.
The choice of a particular tool is based on a specific business plan.