Which One is Recommended: SEO or SEM?

[Cathy Duncan]

As we know that both SEM and its part SEO are quite important for the optimization of our websites, still, which one of these two options is highly recommended for quality and quick optimized results?

[The Old Sarge]

Depends on your reasons for optimizing. If you want to get good SERPs, go with SEO.

[HostColor]

Site optimization starts with coding. If anyone wants to get instant traffic it is obvious that they'd do marketing not just to implement search engine optimization techniques.

[roban]

A site should be designed with SEO in mind and therefor it should be unecessary to perform SEO on a well designed site. SEM is an ongoing ritual just like marketing a brick and mortar store.

[Alfred23]

I guess there's no SEM campaign is complete without SEO. The advantages of SEO over the other aspects of SEM make it clear that, even if you are going to spend additional money on advertising and paid placement, SEO must be your first step in promoting your site.

[davemorkal]

IT totally depends on your requirement. if you want much traffic without getting high ranking in google and all other search engine, you must go with SEM(like PPC) but if want organic traffic by getting good keyword ranking in search engine, you should go with SEO. SEO is all about ranking but SEM is about ranking and Traffic both.

[Wistipouf]

SEO and SEM serve two distinct purposes. SEO allows you to generate descent amount of traffic and allow visitors to get to know your offer and generate buzz about your site and hopefully convert this buzz into some sales. SEM is used to sell stuff. With SEM you need a clear goal (say, sell 25 phones). You create a SEM campaign with the specific goal of selling 25 phones. You don’t do it for the traffic, you don’t do it for the buzz, you do it to sell 25 phones. It’s easy to generate traffic with SEM but it’ll cost you a lot of money and if you don’t sell anything it’s money you will never see again. SEO and SEM are complementary.

[jamith]

I do agree with davemorkal, its a perfect answer i think for SEM and SEO.

[The Old Sarge]

SEO is all about ranking but SEM is about ranking and Traffic both.

Seems to contradict

... but if want organic traffic by getting good keyword ranking in search engine, you should go with SEO.

[davemorkal]

Site optimization starts with coding.

i don't think it is coding...you can call it modification or optimization. coding is another thing as I think.

[aftermath1]

I think money is a crucial role in deciding to go with SEO or just search Ads.
If you have sufficient money to spend on SEM on a regular basis then you may go ahead but if you are planning for a long term presence on the internet then you should rank for the mentioned keywords.

[dannyrose12]

Site optimization beginnings with coding. If anyone needs to become instant traffic it is obvious that they'd do marketing not just to enforce search engine optimization techniques.