What is the difference between SEO and SEM?
SEO Basics
SEO (Search Engine Optimization) is about earning visibility organically, while SEM (Search Engine Marketing) typically includes paid strategies like Google Ads. SEO builds long-term authority: optimizing pages, building links, and creating content to rank in organic results. SEM delivers instant visibility, but at a cost per click.
In 2025, the line blurs because AI search features often combine ads with organic snippets inside Overviews.
A practical example:
If you sell online courses, SEO might get your blog “Top Python Courses in 2025” ranking organically, while SEM allows you to run ads targeting “buy Python course” queries. Both should +together—SEO builds trust and evergreen traffic, SEM captures immediate demand.
Further Reading:
https://moz.com/learn/seo/what-is-seo
https://support.google.com/google-ads/answer/3129118