Which fits where? SEM into SEO, or SEO as part of SEM?

how do you organize it and why? which function is part of the other?

[jeremy goodrich]

We've got SEM = Search Engine Marketing, eg, PPC, PFI, etc, etc.

For much longer, we've had SEO = Search Engine Optimization, get it for free by fine tuning your website ;) cough, cough, etc, etc.

Now, high level, which one fits where? Does SEM belong as part of your overall SEO strategy, or SEO as part of your overall SEM strategy?

[bunltd]

Good question jeremy.

I think that you can have SEO without SEM. Many small site owners SEO their site, but don't/can't go for the higher budget SEM things.

I do think that SEO is an important part of SEM, it wouldn't make sense to do it any other way. It'd be like leaving something out of the recipe, it wouldn't yield the expected result.

Although, I suppose there are those who SEM without SEO, in that case, I imagine it helps if you have deep pockets and a household name kind of brand. ;)

LisaB

[sidyadav]

I would say SEM would be my main strategy. In which I do PFI, PPC advertising etc. (anything to do with marketing in search engines), and SEO goes into my main thing in my SEM strategy.

Sid

[iamlost]

Search Engine Marketing is the logical root. If we were not interested in "marketing" our website(s) to the Search Engines we would not bother "optimizing" our pages for them.

That (some) people limit SEM to "paid for" off website marketing generally or the PPC type specifically is to limit the concept of marketing.

[pleeker]

iamlost is not lost on this one. :)

SEO is one aspect of SEM. Marketing your web site to search engines can include either the pay options or the organic efforts.

[Brett_Tabke]

What most people refer to as SEM, is actually SEA - Search Engine Advertising.

[Macguru]

I dont see SEO as part of SEM (or SEA).

I see them as different services part of Web Marketing.

I see it like this :

SEO as content optimisation. (Canadian, eh.)
SEM as media placement on search engines

Link trading, external site media placement, direct marketing, networking and the likes are all part of Web Marketing.

A good Web Marketing plan integrates into a standard Marketing plan.

[Eric_Lander]

I'd agree with some others in this thread.

SEM speaks of all search engine marketing efforts. SEO is a component of SEM, not the other way around.

SEO offers a number of advantages to the other facets of SEM because it offers a controlled and familiar environment to work in for site owners -- and often carries little cost with long term results. The other areas of SEM focus on an immediate cost for traffic acquisition.

[pleeker]

What most people refer to as SEM, is actually SEA - Search Engine Advertising.

True, true ... but SEA hasn't caught on as the acronym-du-jour just yet. When it does, I'd say that SEO and SEA are two types of SEM.

BTW, that's IMO, FWIW. ;)

[pixel_juice]

I dont see SEO as part of SEM (or SEA).

I see them as different services part of Web Marketing

Exactly. Although I personally prefer the term 'web promotion' or 'website promotion' ;)