SEO vs. Online Marketing – What’s the Difference?
When people are growing their web presence they often focus on SEO (search engine optimization) to the exclusion of all else. The fact is, SEO is only one component of an online marketing strategy, and often what you do in an online marketing campaign can effect your SEO results.
What is SEO (search engine optimization)?
According to Wikipedia, SEO is: the practice of maximizing the volume or quality of traffic to a web site (such as a blog) from search enginessearch results as opposed to other forms of search engine marketing (“SEM”) which may deal with paid inclusion. via “natural” or un-paid (“organic” or “algorithmic”)
In other words, SEO is what you do to come up on page 1 of Google. It is essentially the technical site of online marketing. SEO is primarily focused in 3 areas:
- Content generation on your site or other sites.
- Gaining as many links INTO your site as possible.
- Optimizing your website for keywords chosen.
What is Online Marketing?
According to YourDictionary.com: In its simplest form, the term online marketing refers to using the power of Internet advertising to generate a response from your audience.
So Online marketing ecompasses all things you do to gain customers through your website or blog. This could include:
- Social media
- SEO
- Banner advertising
- Print advertising
- Press releases
- Article marketing
- Creating a blog to compliment your website
- Affiliate marketing
- Email marketing
- Video marketing
Online marketing is the process of turning your web presence into a salesman that never sleeps. It incorporates traditional marketing as well as online marketing, and the end goal is to increase the traffic to your website.
Do I have to do both?
The short answer is yes. If you want to maximize incoming traffic to your website, then SEO and other online marketing techniques are both required. But research shows that 47% of potential customers are going to the search engines to find online businesses, and with those numbers, ranking high in the search engines is a critical component of gaining online eyeballs. So if you do nothing else, focusing on SEO will gain you incoming traffic can help you gain half the market share for your niche.
SEO Webinars
Landau Design has SEO webinars to teach you how to do SEO on your own. Join us and find out how you can create a dramatic increase in website traffic in just 3 months:
- Why is SEO Critical to Online Success?
- Do-it-Yourself SEO, Part 1 (essential tips & techniques)
- Do-it-Yourself SEO, Part 2 (more tips and techniques)
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