SEM (Search Engine Marketing) is the process of getting traffic to a site by buying ads in search engines.
“Search Engine Marketing” was once used as a term encompassing both SEO (search engine optimization) and contextual advertising. Over time, the industry adopted the abbreviation SEM, referring exclusively to paid search.
A longer term search engine marketing is used for both SEO and SEM. The following are some of the most common terms that also apply to SEM:
- Paid search ads
- Paid search advertising
- PPC (pay per click)
- PPC (pay-per-call) - some ads, especially those aimed at mobile search users, are charged for the number of clicks that led to a direct call from a smartphone.
- CPC (CPC)
- CPM (cost per thousand impressions)
Most search ads are sold on a CPC / PPC basis, but some advertising options may also be sold on a CPM basis.