Internet surfing was expedited with the help of a tool called a search engine. A search engine makes it convenient for users to plug in inquiries, and within seconds, receive information spit back out. Idil Woodall from 99 Firms said, “around 93% of all web traffic is via a search engine.” If someone enters a query into a search engine, the initial results are likely to be from companies that employ search engine marketing.
What is Search Engine Marketing?
SEM stands for Search Engine Marketing. It is a type of digital marketing strategy that involves promoting a website by increasing its visibility in search engine result pages (SERPs) through paid advertising or other optimization techniques such as search engine optimization. It comes into play when a business wants to strategically divert the traffic flow from a search engine to their website. With the help of keywords, they are able to optimize specific words or phrases that have the potential to generate your business as a relevant search result. It is a convenient way of marketing that makes it achievable for a business to be promoted on search engine result pages. The same way a business could market their product or service in real life, they can also do it online.
Both Google Ads and other search engine platforms provide marketing functionalities that can help businesses promote their brand. Once a business has defined what keywords best suit their consumers, they can begin to target them through SEM platforms. Those platforms help increase reach and visibility for a company because it makes their marketing convenient for an ideal consumer to see via search engine result pages.
Why is SEM important for marketing?
One beneficial part of SEM is the way it displays content to a targeted audience. Search engine marketing has the potential to target your desired audience and drive clicks from your ideal prospects by targeting keywords, demographics, and geographic locations. SEM provides measurable results, allowing businesses to track the success of their campaigns and adjust their strategies accordingly. Clicks show that people are engaging with your website, but they also come with a price. Hayley Clark, an SEO specialist from Yellow.com states, “Google estimates that for every $1 businesses spend on paid search, they make $2 in revenue.” Having a return on investment through search engine marketing proves that it is effective, and will drive your audience to your website or business.
How can SEM improve my business?
Not only could search engine marketing create a breakthrough in how people see your business, but it could also be highly efficient in driving revenue. SEM has the potential to expand your reach and visibility on the web, which are two important things that can lead to a business’ success. When a business invests into search engine marketing, it helps them show up at the right time and place, thus enhancing the perception of a business among potential customers. As a result, this can translate into potential revenue opportunities in the future, providing a significant advantage for your business.
Is SEM right for my business?
One of the biggest determinants of how search engine marketing will work for you is the type of product or service you supply and which marketing objective you are trying to accomplish. For both instances, SEM will put you into the hands of the consumer when they conduct the search that leads you to them. It’s possible that the person searching for your products or services may have no prior knowledge of your industry, or they may have already conducted research before starting their search. If you can identify your audience and keywords they would use, you’ve already set the foundation for search engine marketing. It may be helpful to consult with a digital marketing expert to determine the best course of action for your specific business and goals.
______________