Definition: SEM is an acronym for Search Engine Marketing. The main purpose of SEM is to attract attention, new customers, and inbound links to your website.
SEM involves using different strategies, techniques, resources, networks, and applications to help a website achieve greater visibility online. Think of SEM as "PR" for your business' website.
There is some crossover between search engine optimization (SEO) and SEM, but the focus of SEM is geared towards attracting people more directly to your website (unlike SEO which largely targets search engine robots as a means of helping people find your website.)
SEM includes everything from submitting a site to directories, search engines, creating content that encourages organic links, and promoting the website through newsletters, to using social networks, videos, and article publication.
