Difference between SEM vs SEO to promote your website?

[908]

SEM like google that charges a bunch load vs just hiring an individual SEO that will do it much cheaper. Difference between the two? I know Redbull will invest in something like SEM google because they charge $150K a year!!?? Which would be good for affiliate marketing? Also are the purpose are SEM only for larger corporations since they have all the money to spend.

[Jack]

sem and seo are different.
seo refers to search engine optimization. iit includes white hat seo, black hat seo .
sem refers to search engine marketing it is paid form of seo . u have to first deposit money to google to show ur listing.
ppc is also example of sem .

[Chad]

Sure you can hire SEO AND IT MIGHT WORK. But, if you can master SEM (paid traffic) and optimize your campaign for positive ROI, you can scale it up onto other marketing channels.
SEO may work today, but might not work tomorrow. Master paid traffic and you will win every time.