SEM stands for Search Engine Marketing. It is a digital marketing strategy that involves promoting a website by increasing its visibility in search engine results pages (SERPs) through paid advertising. Unlike SEO (Search Engine Optimization), which focuses on organic traffic, SEM involves paid advertising to drive immediate and targeted traffic to a website. SEM provides businesses with a way to reach their target audience more quickly than organic methods, offering control over ad placements and budget. It complements SEO efforts by providing an immediate boost in visibility while waiting for organic rankings to improve.