What is the difference between SEO, SMO and SEM?

[Anna]

Hello! Could anyone explain the difference between SEO, SMO and SEM. The most popular method of promoting websites for everybody is SEO, but there is a list of others. The definition, however is very easy but all they have very close meaning and slight difference. Are some of them less effective, does they involve paid advertising?
Thank you in advance.

 

[Hassan]

SEO means Search Engine Optimization
SMO means Social media optimization
SEM means Search engine marketing

 

[rwsorensen]

rwsorensen

I think the OP knew this, problem she wants to know the difference between them

 

[Hassan]

SEO - The term stands for Search Engine Optimization. Optimize your Website to be in SERP's as through Organic Search by following Search Engines SEO Guidelines.

SMO - Social Media Optimization, promoting your Services or Products on Social Media Sites for being more popular about yourself marked as Social Media Optimization.

SEM - Search Engine Marketing worked under Paid Ad's which placed under Google, Bing, MSN as AD's with specific keywords and also known as Non-Organic Search.

 

[shivthaver]

I think SEO stand for search engine optimization is the process or technique through which we can optimize or incress the ranking or visibility of our website in search engine result page(serp).

SMO stand for Social Media Optimization or SMO used for increasing website traffic.

SEM stand for Search Engine marketing. SEM used for improve or increase your web site’s traffic.

 

[elcidofaguy]

Interesting in that these days I never really think about these terms... with just getting on with my day to day tasks and IM in general the exception being SEO which is to me is a much deeper subject...

Other than the definitions - I see these terms placed within a hierarchy falling under Internet Marketing as follows:

Internet Marketing -> Traffic Source: Search Engine -> Methodology -> SEO e.g. Get traffic from organic listings on SERP (search engine results page).
Internet Marketing -> Traffic Source: Search Engine -> Methodology -> SEM e.g. Get traffic from PPC (search engine ads and ads on websites e.g. adsense).
Internet Marketing -> Traffic Source: Social Media -> Methodology -> SMO e.g. Get traffic from shares,likes followers, placing ads...

... there's probably a ton of other acronyms out there too which kind of fits as a jigsaw piece e.g. email marketing (again another traffic source)...

I'm sure there will be a difference of opinion i.e. SEM encompassing SEO, PPC... In the end its all about getting traffic.... and sending traffic somewhere...

 

[DevrajKoppula]

SEO means search engine optimization. SEO is the process of affecting the visibility of a website or a web page.
SMO means search media optimization. SMO. SMO is the use of a number of social media outlets and communities to generate publicity to increase the awareness of a product, brand or event.
SEM means search engine marketing. SEM is a form of Internet marketing that involves the promotion of websites by increasing their visibility.