What’s A Search Engine?
Think of a search engine like a huge library filled with information from the internet. When you search for something online by typing a word or question, the search engine uses special algorithms to find and show you the best answers.
For example, if you type “buy shoes online,” the search engine shows you a page with different things: some are ads (like billboards), and others are regular results. It’s a mix of ads and helpful information.
Understanding Search Engine Marketing (SEM)
SEM is like a big toolbox for making sure people find what you offer online. It has two main tools: SEO and paid search.
SEO (Search Engine Optimization):
SEO means making changes to your website to help it show up more on search engines. It takes time and work, and even then, it’s not guaranteed your site will be at the top.
New websites might find it hard to compete with others that have been around longer.
New websites struggle to compete for top spots in search results.
You can’t completely control where your site shows up for different areas or groups of people.
Paid Search (PPC – Pay-Per-Click):
This is a different tool where you pay only when someone clicks on your ad. You tell the system what words or phrases you want your ad to show up for.
You start getting people visiting your site very quickly after setting up your ads.
You get to choose where people land on your website after clicking your ad, and you can pick where your ad shows up for different places.
You can get your ad on the first page of search results by setting how much money you want to spend.
Explaining SERP
When you search for something, the page you see with all the results is called the SERP (Search Engine Results Page). It has different things on it:
Organic Results:
These are the helpful links the search engine thinks are best for your question. They’re not ads and show up because they’re relevant to what you’re looking for.
Paid Ads:
Some results at the top or bottom of the page are ads that people paid for. They’re marked as ads. Advertisers pay to show their links when certain words are searched.
Quick Info and Extras:
Sometimes, you’ll see quick answers or more info directly on the search page. This helps without needing to click through to a website.
Pictures, Videos, News:
Depending on what you search for, you might see pictures, videos, or news related to your question.
The SERP is like a map that shows you lots of information in different ways, trying to help you find what you need without too much trouble.
Conclusion
SEM helps websites stand out online using tools like SEO and PPC. The SERP is like a helpful map, showing ads and good info. It quickly guides you to what you need in the big internet world, making finding things easier for everyone.
