Definition
Paid advertising on search engines to drive traffic. It's what you do when SEO is taking too long.
Example Usage
We're doing SEM on Google Ads for our high-intent keywords while our SEO efforts take 6-12 months to pay off.
Origin
Search advertising terminology, emerged in early 2000s
Fun Fact
Google Ads generates a 3:1 return on average, making it one of the most consistently profitable advertising channels.
Source: Search marketing terminology
Related Terms
Translate This Term
See “Search Engine Marketing (SEM)” in Corporate Speak, Gen-Z Slang, Pirate Speak, and more.
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