Is SEP or “search engine positioning” a legitimate evolution of the more commonly known and accepted SEO or “search engine optimization”?
Or is it just another marketing buzzword designed to confuse the masses and mislead them into buying new SEO services?
There’s no denying that the term has been gaining popularity, but beneath the surface, does it offer anything truly new?
In this post, some of the experts from the BoostMyDomain community take a critical look at search engine positioning.
In some cases, they challenge the hype and examine its core principles while in others, they compare it head-to-head with traditional SEO, dissecting their similarities and differences to determine if this is a meaningful distinction or just a clever rebranding of familiar concepts.
Read on!
Tim Pelletier
Search Engine Positioning (SEP) isn’t entirely new but represents a refined approach to SEO tailored for today’s evolving search engine results pages (SERPs).
With the rise of AI-driven models and increasing usage of rich results, SEP focuses on maximizing visibility across the diverse touch points within modern SERPs. It’s no longer just about ranking #1; it’s about owning as much SERP real estate as possible to capture user attention.
AI-driven algorithms like Google’s MUM prioritize content that addresses complex, multi-faceted queries. This pushes brands to adopt strategies such as topic clustering and pillar content to establish topical authority.
SEP also accounts for zero-click searches, where providing direct answers within SERPs is essential for maintaining brand visibility. For e-commerce, keywords increasingly trigger dynamic shopping results, requiring a focus on rich results and structured data optimization.
Tim Pelletier
Owner & SEO Consultant, Tim Pelletier Consulting LLC
Arthur Valverde
“Ah, “Search Engine Positioning” sounds fancy, doesn’t it? But let’s not get too dazzled by the shiny name. At its core, it’s SEO-but with a sharper focus on the user’s interaction with the site and how that influences rankings.
Think of it as shifting from simply bringing people to the door (traditional SEO) to ensuring they stick around, explore, and actually engage.
The real innovation here is prioritizing behavioral signals-Google’s way of sniffing out whether users are truly finding your site valuable. Metrics like dwell time, click-through rates, and even pogo-sticking (when users bounce between results) are now major ranking factors.
The better your site hooks users, the higher the rankings. In other words, you don’t just want visitors-you want them to act.
Forget static blogs. Add quizzes, calculators, or interactive infographics. If your site makes visitors stop scrolling and start clicking, you’re sending “Hey, I’m relevant!” signals to search engines.
For example, a SaaS pricing page with a dynamic ROI calculator is gold-not just for conversions but for rankings, too.
Speed, simplicity, and delight: your site needs them all. Users don’t wait for slow pages, nor do they fumble through clunky layouts. A smooth, visually pleasing experience keeps people glued, which Google notices.
Tip? Use heatmaps to find where users lose interest, then fix it.
SEO 101 used to be about stuffing keywords; now it’s about addressing intent with precision. Answer every question your audience might have, and anticipate the next one. Bonus points if you do it with videos, FAQs, or interactive timelines.
Why? People stay longer when they’re getting exactly what they came for-and the algorithm loves that.
Search Engine Positioning isn’t replacing SEO-it’s elevating it. The goal isn’t just to rank, but to earn that rank by keeping visitors engaged and happy.
Think of Google as your nosy landlord, watching to see if your guests are staying, chatting, and enjoying themselves-or leaving right after walking in.
Keep them intrigued, and the rankings will follow.
Arthur Valverde
SEO Expert & CEO, Padzup
Sonu Bubna
Search Engine Positioning (SEP) can be seen as an evolution of traditional SEO, with a sharper focus on securing and maintaining top rankings for specific, high-value search queries that directly align with business goals.
While SEO traditionally aims to improve visibility across a broad range of keywords, SEP emphasizes precision targeting, aligning content with user intent and search behavior.
For instance, SEP might focus on dominating highly specific queries like “best laptops for video editing under $1,000” rather than just “best laptops.”
This approach integrates ongoing performance monitoring, competitor positioning analysis, and hyper-local optimization to ensure a sustained edge in competitive search landscapes.
What sets SEP apart is its emphasis on data-driven, adaptive strategies.
Unlike traditional SEO’s periodic updates, SEP employs real-time adjustments to address algorithm changes or competitor shifts. It also integrates advanced tools for content personalization, such as AI-driven dynamic updates and micro-targeting for niche audiences.
Additionally, SEP often blends organic optimization with paid strategies, ensuring visibility across all relevant spaces.
By combining precision targeting with continuous refinement, SEP positions itself as a strategic upgrade to traditional SEO for businesses seeking to dominate high-value digital real estate.
Sonu Bubna
Founder, Backlink Monitor
Darryl Stevens
SEO has evolved enough that it is not limited to Search Engine Positioning, and signifies a more focussed strategy for SEO to rank specifically on search results.
Where traditional SEO is more about optimizing for rankings and visibility broadly, positioning specifically targets high-value, intent-driven placements crafted to meet the needs of your target audience. This is so not about random traffic, rather it is capturing the correct audience at the right point in time.
Its unique methodologies also include intent segmentation, hyper-local targeting, and using rich snippets or featured results.
Search Engine Positioning, for example, highlights the importance of identifying user intent in order to rank for long-tail keywords or using an AI approach in researching how competitors are stepping up their game by studying them and filling content gaps.
What sets this method apart is that it intertwines SEO practice with a hyper-focused user experience, ultimately making certain the content is consistent precisely with what your audience wants and as the search engine bots continue to learn.
It is SEO with a keen and targeted approach to create real outcomes.
Paul Chow
Search engine positioning (SEP) isn’t so much a new chapter in SEO as it is a more targeted spin on it.
Instead of focusing on your site as a whole, SEP homes in on individual pages that need a boost.
It’s like SEO, but fine-tuning specific content, metadata, and internal links to push those pages higher in the rankings.
The goal is to get more eyeballs (and clicks) on pages that might otherwise fly under the radar.
Paul Chow
CEO, Design Dynamics
Simon Lee
While SEO was about mastering techniques to win rankings, Search Engine Positioning (SEP) is about understanding and anticipating user intent on a deeper level.
SEP pushes the envelope, moving beyond traditional tactics like backlinks or keyword density, and focusing on delivering highly relevant content that answers user needs in real-time.
Think of it as SEO that is constantly learning and evolving—thanks to advances in artificial intelligence and machine learning.
What separates SEP from SEO is its ability to interpret the shifting behaviors of users and search engines alike.
Traditional SEO was about ranking based on rules; SEP is about anticipating changes and delivering value before your competitors even realize what’s coming.
This forward-thinking approach is powered by data analysis, predictive models, and constant feedback loops. The innovation in SEP doesn’t lie in the tools, but in the mindset: it’s about agility, relevance, and user-centric strategies.
If SEO was a race, SEP is a marathon where brands that can anticipate the finish line will always have the edge.
Casey Meraz
Search Engine Positioning isn’t just rebranding; it’s about honing the focus on visibility in specific search outcomes.
Traditional SEO often aimed broadly at increasing rankings, but positioning zeroes in on securing a top spot for particular queries that convert.
One lesser-known technique is leveraging “long-tail keywords” specific to niche areas. Instead of chasing high-competition keywords, position your content to target precise phrases that potential clients use.
This can drive quality leads directly to you. Mixing this with user-focused content tailored to these search terms enhances your visibility exactly where it counts.
The key is combining traditional SEO elements with an acute focus on relevance and intent. This dictates not just being found but being chosen by the searcher because your content specifically addresses their needs.
Casey Meraz
CEO, Juris Digital
Marcus Clarke
Search Engine Positioning (SEP) goes beyond traditional SEO by focusing on sustained visibility and relevance for specific target audiences at every stage of their journey.
While conventional SEO emphasizes rankings for keywords, SEP is more strategic, targeting the ideal “position” in search results that aligns with user intent, content relevance, and competitive advantage.
I see SEP as an evolution, not a rebranding. It integrates advanced methodologies like entity-based optimization, leveraging semantic search, and prioritizing user behavior analysis over raw keyword rankings.
We’ve used SEP to tailor content clusters that address specific audience queries while optimizing for featured snippets and local search packs.
Innovative SEP strategies include using AI to predict search trends and enhancing CTR with dynamic meta-tags based on search intent.
It’s about carving out a niche where your brand consistently meets users’ needs rather than just chasing the top spot.
Marcus Clarke
Owner, Searchant
Lisamarie Monaco
Search Engine Positioning (SEP) isn’t new.
It’s more like a refined approach to traditional SEO. SEO focuses directly on optimizing for search engines, SEP is more direct and will hone in on the core of SEO with a sharper focus. It emphasizes understanding user intent, using AI-driven keyword analysis. In addition, tailored to your specific goals.
What makes SEP stand out is how targeted and precise it is, It can and will achieve top rankings for the most relevant searches.
Lisamarie Monaco
Co-Owner of InsuranceForBurial.com
Megan Spicer
From what I’ve seen of Search Engine Positioning, I don’t see it as anything really “new” but perhaps a more strategic approach to SEO.
We have always focused on SEO to get higher in results, but making it more focused on specific keywords that you know will resonate with your target market is really where you want to be anyway.
One of the most important elements of SEO positioning that I am still shocked to see lag is mobile responsiveness.
We know that most individuals are searching for things on their phone and yet this is an afterthought many times, so I think that is something we need to see change when it comes to the importance of positioning and how it relates to the overall user experience.
The BoostMyDomain team thanks these experts and leaders for taking the time to share their valuable insights on the key differences (and similarities) between SEP and SEO!
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