What is Difference Between SEO, SMO, SEM, SMM & ORM?
In a Digital world some of our clients dosn't get the real difference between SEO, SMO, SEM, SMM & ORM. So this blog will make you clear and easy to understand.
First let’s look at the basic meanings of the acronyms and then how each applies to a basic website.
SEO - search engine optimization; following some of the Google rules in order to increase the chances of the Google search engine listing your site near the beginning of a list for particular keyword searches.
SEM– search engine marketing; in addition to doing SEO to get to the “top” a website owner can now buy advertising or pay to have an ad at the top of a search engine results list; these can be things like pay per click or Yahoo or Bing ads.
SMO– social media optimization; basically when using social media ( Facebook, Twitter, etc.) you are making your profile more visible, your social network activity and published content can then be found more easily by people searching for resources and information that matches your content.
SMM– social media marketing; in addition to the SMO, you guessed it, you pay to have an ad on the social media. This is how the Facebook ads show up on your page.
ORM - Online reputation management (ORM) is the practice of crafting strategies that shape or influence the public perception of an organization, individual or other entity on the Internet. It helps drive public opinion about a business and its products and services.
As you can see from these definitions, the acronyms work in tandem. Every website marketing plan is going to have an SEO component. It is the granddaddy of all of them and without a solid SEO plan, your business website will most likely get lost and never show up on page one for any search other than a specific search for your business name and location.
Ask yourself, when you do a search, how deep do you go to find a business that you are going to contact. Most of us will never go past the first 10 listings, so showing up on page one is important. A good SEO team can help improve your rankings by making your website more visible. Google openly states several things you can do and a really great SEO team spends time and energy doing all of them. It is definitely worth your marketing money to hire the experts and let them do what they are good at so that you can run your business and do what you are good at.
Since I have such good SEO, why would I need to add SEM? As you can see from the definition, this is a definite way to budget advertising dollars into a system that has measurable results- namely you can see when your advertising is on page one and measure the internet traffic going to your sight from that ad. How many conversions do you have from those visitors? On the other hand, once again talk to yourself, and ask, how many times do I click on one of those ads and go to those sights? Ask your friends and enemies the same question and decide whether that is a good place for your marketing money. It works well for some businesses and not at all for others.
SMO will definitely increase the visibility of your social media profile. You want that to happen. It is a great way to network and meet potential customers without putting forth a great deal of money or effort. By driving others to your website or blog through SMO, it will be easier to share in their circles of influence, which helps build community around your brand. Once again there are specialized marketing companies, like CI Web Group who specialize in handling this while they handle your SEO, freeing you up to manage your business.
Do I really need to pay to advertise on social media? SMM broadens your customer reach and allows you to build your brand like you used to with bulk mail outs. SMM is the digital version of the old neighborhood shopper’s guide, only better. Notice that you get an ad right after you searched for an item on the internet. That is because the internet keeps no secrets and what you are looking for lines up with what someone else is advertising. It works out for both parties. You can easily “window shop” for items you want or need and the seller builds his client base within the designated area of his business.
ORM - What are the benefits to a great business reputation?
Higher trust. People trust a brand or person with a good reputation more.
More profitable. Companies with high star-ratings and reviews get more business.
Better talent. Brands with a positive reputation earn better employees.
Less risk. People move with crowds. Call the "broken window theory" of reputation management
Reputation affects the bottom line
In today’s highly competitive business environment, the way people perceive a brand has a direct impact on its sales and revenue numbers.
The rise of social media and the shift from conventional advertising means modern-day businesses need to actively engage consumers and focus on building a strong online reputation.
Reputation management on the web is not just about countering negative content and generating positive reviews. It’s about building a reputation that makes a brand synonymous with its core values and the primary needs of its target market. This is precisely why businesses need to have a comprehensive online reputation management strategy in place.
How a solid reputation helps
A solid reputation has several direct and indirect benefits for a business.
A strong and well-managed online reputation ensures that businesses have a great first impression on their prospects. It focuses on building a positive brand image by identifying the key customer touchpoints and using them to build positive first impressions.
A comprehensive online reputation management (ORM) strategy not only highlights the strengths of a business, but also effectively counters any negative propaganda by its competitors.
A strong online reputation that increases trust means that there’s a higher chance of cold visitors turning into prospects and customers.
A good online reputation helps businesses establish themselves as thought leaders and the go-to source for all industry-related problems. This helps businesses earn free media coverage and elevates them above the competition.
Online reputation statistics help illustrate
To further clarify any doubts about the importance of having a strong online reputation, take a look at these eye-opening stats.
90% of consumers say their positive reviews have influenced their purchase decisions.
65% of internet users see online search as the most trusted source of information about people and companies
85% of consumers use the internet for research before making a purchasing decision
79% of consumers place equal weight on both online reviews and personal recommendations
58% of Fortune 500 executives believe reputation management should be a core part of every organization’s marketing and branding strategy
84% of marketers believe that building trust will be the primary focus of future marketing campaigns
Google is the new business card online
When it comes to reputation management on the web, Google’s first page is the new business card. Customers and prospects judge brands based on what Google’s search results say about them.
In fact, a recent study showed that more than 45% of consumers discovered information via a Google search that changed their minds about doing business with a company.
It is, therefore, crucial for every business to have an online reputation management strategy that highlights its strengths and makes it look good on Google’s first page.
If you want your business to grow, you must broaden your internet marketing base. To broaden your base you must increase your SEO and SMO strategies and then decide which advertising strategies really work for you, SEM, SMM or both. Team SEO Chandigarh (Best Digital Marketing Agency in Tricity) can help you analyze your internet presence and offer expert solutions that meet your goals and budget. Contact them today to schedule a free consultation.
Blog Credit:
>> Ciwebgroup.com
>> Techopedia.com
>> .Reputationx.com
