While SEM, SEO, and SMO are all acronyms and they all look slightly similar, they all mean different things. Search engine optimization is much different than social media optimization which is different than search engine marketing services in Chicago. While all similar, and while most companies offer all three, it’s important to learn the differences so that you can choose the right one for your needs.
SEO
SEO focuses on keywords and phrases that potential customers type into the search bar to find something they need. Many times, the keywords you choose are incorporated into text on your homepage and throughout your content, ensuring that when people type in that term, your site and that information pops up.
SMO
Social media optimization is a newer term that focuses on making your social media pages look professional and incorporates SEO (keywords) into the content. You may also hire them to update the pages regularly by adding new content where applicable. That way, you stay ahead, can find out how many people are liking or sharing your posts, and even measure success by seeing how many conversions you get.
SEM
Search engine marketing services in Chicago focus on marketing your website and products to show up in SERPs. It’s paid searching, which comes in many forms, such as Adwords or PPC.
Through these tactics, you can learn how many times your ad was on a screen, though not necessarily viewed by someone. You usually only pay a fee when someone clicks the ad, which means you can determine how many times the advert was viewed based on how much you’re charged.
While many of the acronyms and options tie in together, they all work slightly differently; most companies offer all three or provide package deals so that you get all three features to streamline your website and social media pages.