SEM or SEO - What is the best solution?

Discussion in 'General Marketing' started by Lastbutnotleast, Jun 26, 2008.

  1. #1
    SEO or SEM? This is a basic newbie question for people who wants to face the challenge of internet marketing

    SEM: Search Engine Marketing
    Basically it will be Google Adwords

    SEO: Search Engine Optimization
    The process of improving the ranking of your site(s) in search results for targeted keywords

    Learn how to master Google Adwords with affiliate programs and the return on investment OR build and market a network of sites (even powered by Wordpress) and sales pages (without any SEM)...

    What would you suggest a newbie to do?

    What takes more time? What takes less time? What is better in the long run? What are the best short/medium/long term strategies?

    In the long run is it better to master SEO or SEM?
     
    Lastbutnotleast, Jun 26, 2008 IP
  2. MarketExpert

    MarketExpert Well-Known Member

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    #2

    The best thing for a newbie is to get as much SEO experience as possible.

    - Setup a site in a particular niche and add a buttload of unique content.

    - Get detailed statistics to determine which keywords from the search engines bring visitors to the order page.

    - Make a list of the quality keywords that are bringing visitors that click through to the order page.

    - Take that list of keywords and use SEM aka PPC marketing in Adwords, YSM, and Miva.

    - Then send me a thankyou letter with a nice check in it. :D
     
    MarketExpert, Jun 26, 2008 IP
  3. recon16

    recon16 Peon

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    #3
    Personally I think if it depends if you have money to spend on SEM. If you have money SEM will bring in a lot of traffic quickly.
     
    recon16, Jun 26, 2008 IP
  4. MarketExpert

    MarketExpert Well-Known Member

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    #4
    Yes, but "for a newbie" That large sum of money will go to $0 in no time. Trust me.
     
    MarketExpert, Jun 26, 2008 IP
  5. tjn

    tjn Peon

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    #5
    The company I work for offers both and it seems that most people want SEO.
     
    tjn, Jun 26, 2008 IP
  6. Lastbutnotleast

    Lastbutnotleast Peon

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    #6
    PPC is very serious because you can lose money very quickly - Fine

    Where is the 10 years experienced guy with experience in both building a network of sites in profitable niches and PPC in profitable niches too?
     
    Lastbutnotleast, Jun 26, 2008 IP
  7. MarketExpert

    MarketExpert Well-Known Member

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    #7
    Well I only have 8 yrs experience with over 5k pages indexed in Google and a solid PPC campaign. I'm not sure what you meant by that.
     
    MarketExpert, Jun 26, 2008 IP
  8. Lastbutnotleast

    Lastbutnotleast Peon

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    #8
    Well I just started 7 years ago ;) - Maybe a 10 years experience guy is not surfing so much on webmasters forums ;)

    I mean I'm not really waiting for comments like PPC is difficult and expensive and you can lose a lot of money very quickly and buy Perry Marshall's book and register to Wealthy Affiliate and learn through DP and so on...

    Given that a newbie can quickly and easily build sales pages and assuming that he has money to invest, he can quickly start to learn SEM and...

    Is building a network of sites and being profitable without SEM possible?

    Maybe running an online business in the long run WITHOUT marketing/advertsing expenses such as SEM is not possible...

    What is more difficult? What takes more time to master? What is better to master in the long run? SEO or SEM?
     
    Lastbutnotleast, Jun 26, 2008 IP
  9. MoneyMoose

    MoneyMoose Peon

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    #9
    SEO > SEM in the long term. Why buy ads when you can simply rank #1 for your keyword?
     
    MoneyMoose, Jun 26, 2008 IP
  10. MarketExpert

    MarketExpert Well-Known Member

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    #10

    I was replying to the comment from recon16.


    In the long run is it better to master SEO or SEM? SEO!!! .

    SEO takes more time, and the competition will grow for both. Both are profitable if done right.


    The best thing for a newbie is to get as much SEO experience as possible.

    - Setup a site in a particular niche and add a buttload of unique content.

    - Get detailed statistics to determine which keywords from the search engines bring visitors to the order page.

    - Make a list of the quality keywords that are bringing visitors that click through to the order page.

    - Take that list of keywords and use SEM aka PPC marketing in Adwords, YSM, and Miva.

    - Then send me a thankyou letter with a nice check in it. :D
     
    MarketExpert, Jun 26, 2008 IP
  11. Lastbutnotleast

    Lastbutnotleast Peon

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    #11
    Fine - In your first post you were talking about doing quickly both

    Investing on PPC is not a problem as long as the ROI is good

    Well, is it possible to master PPC with affiliate programs and focus only on this activity?

    And is it possible to build a network of sites and be profitable without SEM/advertising expenses?
     
    Lastbutnotleast, Jun 26, 2008 IP
  12. songchai

    songchai Well-Known Member

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    #12
    Go ahead with SEO, and SEO is a part of SEM Search Engine MArketing
     
    songchai, Jun 26, 2008 IP
  13. MarketExpert

    MarketExpert Well-Known Member

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    #13
    I market affiliate programs in over 50 seperate niches and I use organic SEO to get traffic building to every category. Then I find the niches that are profitable and setup keyword list to use in PPC.

    Almost all of these niche markets are matched with affiliate programs.:)
     
    MarketExpert, Jun 26, 2008 IP
  14. Lastbutnotleast

    Lastbutnotleast Peon

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    #14
    Let's rename the thread: PPC or SEO - What's the best option?

    ;)
     
    Lastbutnotleast, Jun 26, 2008 IP
  15. Lastbutnotleast

    Lastbutnotleast Peon

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    #15
    Well done - 8 years of work - Fine :)
     
    Lastbutnotleast, Jun 26, 2008 IP
  16. MarketExpert

    MarketExpert Well-Known Member

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    #16
    Thank you! I know its hard to take me seriously with this avatar. hehe
     
    MarketExpert, Jun 26, 2008 IP