Did you know Lifedge has an SEM specialist? Our very own Candice Mason began her SEM career as a Google employee, so she knows her stuff when it comes to search engine marketing. 

I recently got the chance to chat with Candice about the importance of SEM for businesses. Check out our interview below!

Interview with SEM Specialist Candice Mason

Before moving into the specifics of SEM, I wanted to ask Candice about her personal role in the field and how she got to where she is today.

“What’s the difference between an SEM Specialist and an SEM Expert?”

Candice: The terms are used interchangeably, so you can call me either one!

“How did you get started in SEM?”

Candice: Before I met my husband, I spent 10 years working in retail. Then, when we got married, I moved and got a job as a Google SEM Account Advisor for small to medium-sized businesses. 

After being trained by Google and working for them for a few years, I ended up taking a position at General RV as their digital marketing specialist. I ran their email, SEM accounts, social media, all of that.

Almost 5 years later, I got pregnant and wanted something a little more flexible. That’s when I started freelancing and joined an agency that hires me out for SEM needs. 

Freelancing allowed me to quit my full-time job, and brought me to Lifedge! I love the flexibility, especially now that we have two kids. 

“For those of us who are new to SEM, what’s the difference between SEM and SEO?”

Candice: SEO is organic and non-paid. The purpose of SEO is to help your website rank higher in search results organically.

SEM is paid advertising on search engines. Not just on Google, but any search capability that will serve ads. But Google and Bing are the two major ones. 

(P.S. Did you know that Lifedge offers a free SEO assessment of your website? It helps you figure out if you need SEO services to help your website’s search engine ranking!)

“What is the importance of SEM for businesses?”

Candice: SEM helps you stay relevant in a very competitive world.

Search engines are used by so many people, and they have a strong influence on people’s purchasing decisions. SEM gives you an advantage over the competition!

“Let’s talk about Google ads: how do they work?”

Candice: It’s pretty simple. You create a Google Ads account, create campaigns based on your business goals, and use keywords that trigger your ads to show on the search engine. 

Note: Not convinced that Google ads are important for your business? Check out these helpful stats from Fit Small Business. 

“Is there a difference between SEM and pay-per-click?”

Candice: They’re the same thing. Pay-per-click just means that you pay a small fee every time your ad is clicked on.

“What else should people know about SEM?”

Candice: It’s a vital tool in a successful marketing plan! SEM is one of the best ways to reach people who are actively looking for your products and services.

Did you know that Lifedge offers SEM services?

Here at Lifedge, we know how hard it is for business owners to keep up online. It’s cut-throat out there, and when you’re trying to run a business, there’s not much time left over to spend on marketing. 

But we believe you deserve to succeed online, and we want to help you do it. That’s why Lifedge offers a full range of digital marketing services, including SEM.

Our services include SEM account creation and management, both short-term and long-term. We can help you improve your existing SEM account by doing account audits, optimization, and keyword research. Additionally, we offer remarketing campaigns, display campaigns, and YouTube advertising through Google and Bing.

Are you ready to take your marketing to the next level? Contact us today!