Definition
Paying for ads in search results, a strategy that only works until your competitors outbid you and everyone's customer acquisition costs explode.
Example Usage
Our SEM strategy is solid until someone with a bigger budget enters the market and ruins our keyword CPCs.
Origin
Paid search advertising terminology, emerged in the 2000s
Fun Fact
SEM keyword auctions are basically arms races where the only winner is Google's revenue.
Source: Paid search advertising standards
Related Terms
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See “SEM (Search Engine Marketing)” in Corporate Speak, Gen-Z Slang, Pirate Speak, and more.
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