WebProNews

The last time I linked to one of Shari Thurow's articles, it was because I didn't really agree with it. The email I received from Shari, made it clear she was none too pleased.

Just like Fox News, we are "fair and balanced" (stop smirking) and always give credit, where credit is due. Not that Shari needs our help in distributing her articles, but we wanted to link to a great article she has out that discusses New Year's resolutions for search engine marketers.

I almost cheered out loud for this snippet...

If an agency primarily specializes in AdWords, Overture, or any other form of search engine advertising, it's a search engine advertising firm, not a search engine marketing firm. Likewise, if a firm primarily specializes in SEO, then it's an SEO firm, not an SEM firm.

An SEM firm delivers a wide variety of SEM services, including:

* Search engine advertising (sponsorships, etc.)

* SEO

* Search engine paid inclusion

* Directory paid inclusion

* Trusted feed optimization

* Link development

* Vertical SEO

It bugs me to hear people use SEM and SEO as if they are one and the same.

P.S. Thanks to Grant Crowell for Tomoyasu Hotei. (He'll know what I mean)

Andy Beal is an internet marketing consultant and considered one of the world's most respected and interactive search engine marketing experts. Andy has worked with many Fortune 1000 companies such as Motorola, CitiFinancial, Lowes, Alaska Air, DeWALT, NBC and Experian.

You can read his internet marketing blog at Marketing Pilgrim and reach him at andy.beal@gmail.com.