Onsharp

Regardless of industry, abbreviations can be confusing. Technical abbreviations seem to create additional confusion because we fear, unless we are highly knowledgeable, we may get it wrong.

Today's the day you become an abbreviation expert for SEO, SEM, and SMO!

SEO: Search Engine Optimization

In layman's terms, improving your rank in search engine result listings on Google, Yahoo, Dogpile, etc. Often you will hear the terms "organic" or "natural" search results which refer to the areas of the results pages that are not "sponsored" or paid for advertising. Actions to improve SEO include keyword optimization, relevant content creation, creating directory listings, and much more.

SEM: Search Engine Marketing

The easiest distinction between SEO and SEM is if that the place the link shown is paid for, it's SEM. SEM refers to ads and links that are "sponsored" to be placed in designated sections of results pages. If you are participating in paid advertising on a search engine, your ad may show within the special sections of the page reserved for advertisements. Another major distinction, when you "turn off" your SEM campaign, your ads will stop showing where as SEO content is more permanent.

SMO: Social Media Optimization

Social media optimization is choosing the best options of what is available to improve your use of social media. The goals of social media optimization overlap with SEO and SEM. Different from SMM (social media marketing) which is more implementation and advertising in paid sections within the social media platforms, SMO is the analysis and strategy creation of what platforms (Facebook, Twitter, etc.) are and/or should be used and how they are being used.

As you can see, there are overlaps between the three. Keeping them straight can be a challenge but hopefully there is more clarity to what these abbreviations stand for and what they really mean.   And now you are an abbreviation expert!