Acronyms are a favorite tool of those fluent in technobabble. Search Engine Marketing sounds better and more digestible as the three letter term, SEM. Likewise for Search Engine Optimization, or SEO. In reality, these shortened terms do little more than confuse industry outsiders, leaving them drowning in what we call Acronym Soup. Here at SnapHawk, we have sworn off the Soup.

Sure, it’s cool and trendy to toss around these pithy nuggets of tech knowledge, unless of course you don’t know what they mean. Then what’s the point? Thankfully, we’re here to help. The SnapHawk Internet Marketing Glossary offers definitions of the industry’s most commonly used lingo to help users swim, not sink in the Soup.

We also want to take the time to clarify two of the most commonly confused terms: Search Engine Marketing (SEO) and Search Engine Optimization (SEM). Our glossary provides the following definitions for these related, but very different tools:

Search Engine Marketing (SEM)

A type of Internet marketing that specializes in increasing a Website's visibility in search engine result pages (SERPs) through the use of Search Engine Optimization (SEO), Pay-Per-Click Advertising (PPC), and Web Analytics.

Search Engine Optimization (SEO)

The process of editing a web site’s content and code in order to improve visibility within one or more search engines. Search Engine Optimization (SEO) attempts to position pages higher within the “organic” listings on search engines, as opposed to the sponsored listings (paid ads). Organic listings from search engine optimization are also referred to as “natural”, “algorithmic”, or “unpaid” searches. However, the term “unpaid” is not completely accurate because while you do not pay a search engine to increase your website’s visibility, resources are needed to improve your page, whether you do it yourself or pay someone else to do it.

In other words, if your company invests in Search Engine Marketing (SEM), it is hoping to have its website appear along the top and right side of a Google search page where the paid ads are located.  Alternatively, engaging in Search Engine Optimization (SEO) means that your company wants to appear higher in the list located in the center of a Google search page where the organic listings appear. It’s more or less a matter of location and where on the search page you want your site to end up.

These terms are used interchangeably and incorrectly all the time. Even search engine professionals are guilty of this, especially since this industry is young and in the midst of establishing a standard vocabulary.

Here is the lesson: If you are a client, do not be afraid to ask for clarification on certain terms. If you are a search engine professional, you should commit to using client-friendly language in your marketing materials.

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Edited by: Thu Dang