This was because using search engine marketing keyword strategies was the only method of making sure that a website could be found.
But now, there are other methods of attracting attention to a website or to a blog. These methods include using social media networking websites, and reputation management. Even within the realm of SEO, there are more marketing methods available besides adding keywords to website content. There is PPC advertising, and link building.
Because SEO professionals have all of these strategies in their arsenal to use besides the simple implementation of keywords, the industry has had to rename the product that they offer. No longer are companies simply referring to SEO as the only method of marketing an online entity. Now, the new term for marketing an online entity is called internet marketing. There are simply too many combined strategies that professionals can use for marketing their clients, above and beyond using SEO keywords.
For example, social networking websites can be used to generate traffic that can lead to one's website. Not only this, but social networking websites are so prevalent, and are so far reaching, that it has been predicted that in the near future, social media optimization, or SMO will overtake SEO as the go-to method of getting found online.
And again, online marketing professionals know about other methods to make sure that their clients can get found online. They can use reputation management strategies. They can create lots of great press on the behalf of their client on various internet entities. These post, comments, and blurbs will lead online visitors to the client's website. By using this method, SEO strategies weren't used, but traffic was still generated.
Some are currently debating if SEO, or search engine optimization is still relevant. The fact is that SEO isn't dead; it's very much still relevant. However, SEO is no longer the only method of ensuring that an online client can generate traffic to their website. SEO is still an important piece of the online marketing puzzle. However, the whole marketing puzzle doesn't equate to SEO anymore.
Therefore, it would be remiss of online marketing companies to simply refer to online marketing as SEO. The industry had to change their product name to internet marketing, because there are now several aspects to online marketing that all work together to bring online clients the best results possible.