The concept of SEM (search engine marketing) started in 2001. This concept would include both paid and non-paid methods of marketing the content to get it ranked in search engines. Using this definition, we can say that both PPC and SEO fall under the SEM term.

In other words, you can consider SEM as a category of marketing through search engine. PPC and SEO are the parts of hierarchy beneath the SEM main category. And this definition makes sense.

Although the above statements about SEM make sense, SEM seemed to fit in the paid search sphere more than SEO; and it continues to do so. In this scenario, it may be worth describing the difference between PPC, SEO and SEM.

Difference between SEM and PPC

The simple thing that you are going to have to keep in mind here is that PPC is SEM. In other words, PPC is same as SEM or at least a major part of it.And SEO is none of those things.

This is mainly due to the evolution of potentially confusing acronyms as well the need to put a major emphasis on the importance of paid search. Whatever the reason is, the end result that we have got is that two cost driven marketing terms have now started to mean the same thing.

Sadly, if you are the one enthusiastic enough to get a sense based on the literal meanings, these two terms are going to confuse you further. Now, there is no doubt about what PPC means. It may be called CPC, paid search, or search ads. It is clear that it is referring to the paid search marketing through the search engines such as Google and Bing.

Difference between SEO and PPC

We all know SEO is search engine optimization. But if you look at the words in a literal perspective, you are going to see that these words do not make sense. I mean, how can you optimize an entire search engine? No, you are not going to do that. Search engine optimization is the set of strategies and tactics that help us in optimizing content and websites for search engines. The purpose is to make sure that they are better able to address the masses.

As mentioned above, PPC marketing is the same as or a bigger part of SEM. The factors that make both of these similar are mentioned below.

• Both are paid
• Both need budget allocation
• Both help search engines and other major marketing platforms earn a lot of money.

If you look at the basic definition of SEM, you will find it saying, “a form of Internet marketing that involves the promotion of websites by increasing their visibility in search engine results pages (SERPs) primarily through paid advertising.”

From this definition, you may call SEO and SEM the same; but they are actually not.

SEO and SEM are not the same

The reason for this is mentioned above. With PPC being the same as a bigger part of the SEM, there is not much room left for the SEO to be a part of this scheme. Both PPC and SEM are paid initiatives. It means that they have everything to do with the advertisers who are ready to spend money. On the other hand, the concept of SEO is entirely different even though it tends to do the same thing which the PPC and SEM pull off.