Marketing & Advertisingintermediate
SEM
Search Engine Marketing
Definition
Paying to appear at the top of Google or Bing results for specific keywords. Unlike SEO, results are instant. You pay per click.
Why it matters
SEM captures high-intent buyers at the exact moment they are searching for what you sell. Someone searching "buy soy candles near me" is ready to purchase.
Example
You bid £0.90 per click on "handmade jewellery near me." Your ad appears above organic results. 50 clicks at £0.90 = £45 spend. 3 sales at £35 = £105 revenue. ROAS = 2.3×.
Related terms
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