Once you have established your SEO and have a firm grasp of how it can grow your business, you can then move onto Search Engine Marketing. Unlike SEO, which has the potential to be free, provided a business owner understands the concept, SEM or Search Engine Marketing will cost you something. However, as the old saying goes, “You must spend money to make money,” Search Engine Marketing can significantly grow a business of any size with minimal investment.
So, What is Search Engine Marketing Exactly?
Although the term Search Engine Marketing or SEM might seem foreign to you, you have likely had vast experience with it without even knowing it. For anyone who has searched for a particular item with the help of search engines, you have come face to face with SEM. Essentially, Search Engine Marketing is those suggested advertisements you see when searching for your needs. Say you search for a particular type of car. At the top of the search results, you will see ads for similar cars for sale and where to purchase them. Search Engine Marketing is not something that only works for large corporations, so it is worth investing in as it can substantially grow your SMB when coupled with SEO strategies.
Reliability at Its Best
The reliability of SEO practices is considerably high. Still, the downside is that the business owner must be vigilant in keeping up with algorithms and SEO demands on various search engines. Additionally, SEO works from organic traffic and ensuring that keywords are correct for clients to find your business. Search Engine Marketing works a little differently, and reliability with this form of marketing remains high throughout the process. Provided you place SEM ads on sites that benefit your business, you will always have a link to potential customers and maintain an easy avenue for them to find you.
What About ROI?
Anyone who has been in business automatically knows that an investment that lacks quality ROI is not good. Search Engine Marketing is an excellent investment with endless ROI. 2:1 ROI is possible with Search Engine Marketing, and properly placed ads can do the leg work for your business. Ads have the potential to attract both new clients as well as return clients who may have neglected to return to your website. Even though you have to spend something, SEM investments are well worth the effort.
People Are Already Seeking the Products
Search engine algorithms have an amazing way of tracking customers and providing ads based on their previous searches. When SEM is utilized properly, your customers, essentially, come to you. Your customers are already searching for the products they need, and Search Engine Marketing is just another way to reach them and keep your business in their mind’s eye. Search Engine Marketing targets customers seeking items in your specific genre of expertise, so much of the leg work is accomplished through a small investment.
Brand Awareness Driver
Creating brand awareness can be challenging as so many other companies seem to be higher up on the food chain, so to speak. Having the best logo and branding on your company means nothing if no one sees it. This is where SEM thrives. Businesses investing in Search Engine Marketing allow their businesses to become front and center, driving brand awareness. Through these campaigns, you have the potential to drive new customers to your brand and create a clientele that truly knows your brand. Every SMB can benefit from that.
Works Fast
Some marketing strategies require businesses to play the long game and wait substantially to see any benefit. Search Engine Marketing is almost an immediate return. Years ago, it was estimated that 80% of people had had experience with online shopping. With the pandemic and increased lockdowns in recent years, that number has likely grown substantially. Once your ad is placed online, potential customers are immediately viewed, so results are surprisingly fast when you invest in Search Engine Marketing.
Potential to Understand More About Your Customers
Search Engine Marketing is an excellent way to grow your SMB, and not only will it provide a potentially increased revenue stream from new online customers. It can also allow you to understand your customers a little better. By tracking where your sales come from, you can increase ads based on those sites and similar ones to attract more customers.
Search Engine Marketing costs money, but it is an investment in your company's future in today's world. Your virtual company identity has always been important in certain ways. Still, as more people turn to the internet for their basic needs and wants, it is even more vital to bring high-quality ads to your clients through proper SEM practices. Once you have invested in high-quality SEM, you can further your business marketing strategy to include Paid advertisements (PPC & PPV).
