SEM

What is SEM (Search Engine Marketing)?

Definition: Search engine marketing, or “SEM,” consists of cumulative efforts to promote a website in paid and organic search listings. SEM is a primary driver of business growth and customer acquisition for many ecommerce stores.

What exactly does SEM encompass - paid, organic, or both?

The term "SEM" is used in varying applications. In some organizations, SEM refers exclusively to PPC (pay-per-click) paid search marketing (or even more specifically, Google AdWords). Other marketers use SEM as an umbrella term that describes all marketing efforts that influence performance in search engine listings, including organic results. A related term, "search marketing," can also be used to describe both paid and organic search.

While there's no right or wrong definition, BigCommerce uses SEM to describe both paid and organic search marketing. As ecommerce becomes increasingly channel-agnostic with more customer touch points, unifying marketing efforts is preferable to siloed campaigns.

SEO and PPC: How they're different

Paid search advertising, or PPC ads, are results that appear above and beside natural organic ratings.