As more and more companies continue to migrate to the Internet, many feel the need to increase their digital presence.  One common method to achieve this is through Search Engine Marketing (SEM).  Companies like Google make it seem relatively easy to start and run a campaign internally, but truly running an efficient campaign takes a high degree of knowledge and understanding that your internal employees might not have.  Below are five reasons why it’s better to have professionals run your SEM campaign.

1)    SEM campaigns require constant monitoring. Running a campaign is a time-consuming job.  Marketers have to constantly be on the lookout for what works and what fails, and make changes accordingly. To truly be effective, a SEM campaign has to be dynamic. Constant monitoring should include continuously bidding for keywords to market your Web site most effectively and cost-efficiently.

2)    It takes time to get the ball rolling. According to the 2009 Search Marketing Benchmarking Guide, it takes companies 4.4 months on average to get their SEM campaigns up and running.  This means you are losing out on months of acquiring new customers, so plan accordingly!

3)    You have to know how to play the game. Different search engines have different rules and guidelines that need to be understood fully.  Professionals like SnapHawk are adept at modifying your content to fit each engine individually, thus increasing your return on investment (ROI). 

4)    Being inefficient is expensive. Most Pay-Per-Click (PPC) ads cost around $1-$5 per click.  When you consider the search volume for some keywords to be over 10,000 per month, you can realize how quickly your budget can disappear.  If you are getting clicks from people you aren’t targeting, money starts to be squandered.  SEM agencies know how to specifically target the customers you are looking for, thus saving you money and increasing your conversion rates.

5)    Consumers think differently. It’s difficult to put yourself in the shoes of a consumer.  Whereas you might think people will search for “childproof pool fence” to protect their toddler, in actuality over fifteen times more people search “child safety pool fence.”  SEM professionals understand what consumers search for, and use that knowledge to make your campaign more effective.