How can a small business effectively use search engine marketing? More importantly, what is the difference between search engine marketing (SEM) and search engine optimization (SEO)?

In its simplest form, both help you get listed and “rank” in different search engines like Google, Yahoo! and Bing (Microsoft’s latest foray into search engines). Search engine optimization is when you apply certain keywords and tags to your own Web site or blog so that you rank higher in certain searches. This is known as “organic” search.

On the other hand, search engine marketing is also known as paid search. You can actually pay to come up in various searches depending on which keywords a person uses in their search.

While they’re each important and can be used together very effectively, they both have a specific time and place where they can be used independent of one another. There are lots of questions surrounding the use of each and we’re going to try and answer them for you. On Tuesday, June 16, we will focus on search engine marketing (SEM) in our weekly Twitter chat, #smbiz. Join us from 8-9 p.m. that evening live on Twitter as we help answer all kinds of questions as they relate to the best way to use SEM. Anita Campbell of Small Business Trends and Matt McGee will join us as our guest experts that evening and will answer any questions you have.

Anita Campbell is the CEO of Small Business Trends LLC, a media and information company. In that role she closely follows trends in the small business market and trends in social media and technology. Follow her on Twitter @smallbiztrends.

Matt McGee is an independent online marketing consultant with his own small business search marketing blog. He’s been helping businesses succeed online by providing great advice and information on SEO, local search marketing, and blogging/social media. Follow him on Twitter @mattmcgee.