Difference between SEO and PPC

[rsalan]

I know this might be a little elementary, but what is the main difference between SEO and PPC? Do you consider PPC to be part of SEO?

[mshah]

Main difference...You can pay SE for your ad spot (PPC), but you can't pay SE for your organic SERP position (SEO).

However, SEO and PPC both come with monetary costs - PPC cost is just much easier to quantify due to its nature.

[irahat]

Pay-Per-Click Marketing is more like traditional advertising � you pay to be shown in the search engine listings for specific keyword phrases. But unlike traditional media, you don't pay for impressions, you only pay when someone actually clicks on your ad � hence the term "pay-per-click." When you make a 'keyword buy', your listings are shown in the blue area below. These are also known as the paid listings or sponsored links, but are referred to in the SEM industry as pay-per-click (PPC) ads.

Search Engine Optimization � or SEO for short � is more like public relations. You cannot buy 'publicity' for your site, you have to work for it by undertaking specific techniques and strategies. Generally, these activities include making changes to your website to included targeted keyword phrases and increasing the quality and number of incoming links to your website. When you conduct SEO, you are attempting to get your site listed in the red area below � the unpaid or organic listings.