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Paid Search Careers 101

So, you want to learn more about developing a career in SEM? This is the best place to start! We've summarized the basics of a career in SEM here so you can know more about what it takes to start your own.

Why SEM Matters

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The results you find on search engines are split into two groups: organic search results and sponsored, or “pay per click” results. The latter of these is what Search Engine Marketing (SEM) focuses on as a way to increase traffic to a website. SEM can instantly improve the visibility of a website through a process of strategic bidding on targeted keywords and keyword phrases. When done right, an SEM professional will not only boost website traffic, but the visitors will be more likely to convert once they’re there. That is the benefit of a properly executed SEM plan: increased traffic plus tracking of every dollar spent on bidding leads to highly maximized ROI.

More and more companies are integrating SEM into their online strategies because they recognize the instant results pay per click advertising can provide and appreciate how easy it is to track every dollar they spend. SEM campaigns are usually combined with ongoing search engine optimization (SEO) to create a comprehensive plan for driving more visitors to their site and maximizing their budget.

Working in SEM

SEM professionals achieve improved website traffic and visitor conversion rates by creating effective ad campaigns, all while maximizing their client’s budget. This requires careful monitoring of click bids, click through rates as well as tracking which ad copy performs the best. A successful campaign is one that solicits the greatest number of conversions for the lowest cost per click.

There exists a wide variety of SEM jobs ranging from entry level pay per click managers to Directors and Specialists of search engine marketing. Whether your career is just beginning to take shape or you are an established professional in the industry, Onward Search will match your skills and ambitions to opportunities that fit your personal experience and professional goals. Start working with Onward today to develop and fortify your Search Engine marketing career.

Check out our PPC Jobs Salary Guide!

SEM Job Responsibilities

This is a list of responsibilities commonly associated with SEM jobs. Tip: use the keywords and phrases you find in job descriptions when writing your resume to improve your chance of getting noticed.

  • Keyword Research
  • Keyword Reporting
  • Keyword Analysis
  • PPC Campaign Management
  • ROI Analysis
  • Click fraud prevention/detection
  • Landing page optimization

Have questions about starting your career in this industry? Contact a recruiter today to learn more.