An Insight to Search Engine Marketing (SEM)
Digital marketing is becoming more and more important for businesses, especially entrepreneurs. Search engine marketing is the process of increasing the visibility of products and services in search engine results pages through running paid search ads or pay-per-click campaigns.
Internet users from all around the world use search engines every day to learn new things, consume media, and go shopping. Search engine marketing (SEM) is a powerful marketing technique that helps make it easier for companies to get discovered on the search engine results page (SERP) and reach a larger consumer base. Most people find the information they need on the first page of the SERP, and search engine marketing helps to ensure that people are seeing your ads and web pages as quickly as possible. Even if consumers don’t end up exploring a page after discovering it on the SERP, search engine marketing is still helpful for increasing brand awareness and revenue. Learn how search engine marketing can help you achieve your business goals.
Entrepreneurs need assistance in setting up and executing a digital marketing strategy to reach the goals they have set for their startups. Search engine optimization, content marketing, social media marketing, search engine marketing, and online reputation management are the key areas to focus on.
The role of a digital marketing agency includes guiding the establishment of a digital presence and providing tips to startup entrepreneurs, founders, marketers, and small business owners, on applying digital marketing to increase brand awareness and sales. With the insights gained from real-life examples, executing setting up and executing digital marketing strategies for startups and small businesses delivers more lucrative results.
What is SEM?
If you’ve seen ads appear at the top or right of search engines, then you already know what SEM is. It is a type of marketing that involves positioning a URL or ad on the SERP to maximize traffic and increase visibility for a website.
SEM often involves paid search, where companies pay to have their ads show up at the very top of the results page. When your ads display in these optimal, highly visible positions, your business can have an edge over your competition. Plus, most searchers only click on the first few results, which gives these premium ad spots a visual advantage to catch the attention of your future customers.
Paid search ads are typically distinguished with an “ad” designation in front of the URL. Ads may also appear as a list of product images which leads to more information about purchasing products related to the search terms that were entered. The brand is then charged when a consumer clicks on an ad, also known as pay-per-click (PPC) marketing.
How does SEM work?
Here’s how SEM works to help your business:
- People search online for a product or service
They enter search terms (called keywords) into search engines like Microsoft Bing. - These searchers then find your ad
If the keywords in your ad match a search, your ad appears next to or above the search results on Microsoft Bing. - Customers reach out to you
With SEM, you can configure your ad so that people have the option to call you, visit your website, or go right to your door.
Google Ads
Google Ads allows you to run paid campaigns on a pay-per-click and cost-per-impressions basis using Google’s search engine and network of websites; however, it takes time and patience to get your website on the top Google search results.
Elements of a Google Ads account include ad campaigns, ad groups, and keywords. An outline of how to start running Google Ads with steps such as doing keyword research, setting up ad campaigns and ad groups, writing ad copies, and adding landing pages and negative keywords. Four keyword match types are broad match, broad match modifier, phrase match, and exact match. These allow you to set when your ad is triggered based on keywords.
