We get this question from many of our clients and the overall answer is quite simple.

Search Engine Marketing is a form of Internet Advertising which promotes websites by increasing their visibility in search engines.

How to put this into practice

Now that we have covered the short answer things can get a little more confusing because many in the industry use this term in different ways.

Some companies often refer to Search Engine Marketing in the context of paid inclusion or what you might have heard of as PPC, CPC or Paid Search Marketing. Two of the most widely used platforms for paid inclusion are Google Adwords and Microsoft Advertising. Essentially these products allow you to pay for inclusion in their search listings and on targeted content networks.

Results you can expect

Other companies refer to Search Engine Marketing in a broader context which includes both paid inclusion and search engine optimization.

In general I will use the term Search Engine Marketing / SEM in the broader context which includes PPC and SEO but I am equally guilty of using the term in the specific context of paid inclusion as well.

So then you ask: What is the official definition of Search Engine Marketing? My official definition is any activity which promotes websites and increases traffic by improving the search engine visibility.

Key takeaways

Use these checkpoints to turn What is Search Engine Marketing / SEM? into action:

  • Focus on pages that match real customer questions, not just keywords.
  • Improve titles, internal links, and local signals before buying more content.
  • Track rankings and leads monthly so you know what to double down on.

Talk with IIAS

If you want help applying these ideas across your website, SEO, or ads, request a free growth review. We will tell you what is working, what is holding you back, and the best next move for your Fraser Valley business.