Difference Between Sales and Marketing - Sales Vs Marketing

Sales and Marketing are two interconnected terms generally aimed at boosting revenue systems. As both terms are close to each other, it is hard to figure out the Difference Between Sales and Marketing.

In small-scale organizations, the same individual performs both sales and marketing tasks interchangeably. But as the organizations grow to high scales and standards, each of the roles becomes more specialized and bigger. Such organizations hire different people to handle their roles independently.

Well, we know that you are still perplexed between these two different terms. To give you a clear understanding of the Difference Between Sales and Marketing, we have this detailed article for you. The article features key differences between these two interchangeable terms based on various business aspects. Let's quickly dive into this interesting comparison between the two.

Difference Between Sales and Marketing

A sale is a simple act of transfer of possession of a product between two parties where the buyer receives goods (tangible or intangible), and services from the sellers in exchange for money. Sales are the business chain that involves transferring products and services from the manufacturer to a distributor, distributor to the wholesaler, wholesaler to retailer, and retailer to the consumer in exchange for some money or any other similar asset.

A business owner may follow various sales strategies to attract their customers towards their products, and offering special discounts and deals is one of them.

Listed Below are Some Basic activities that aim at Increasing Sales of Products and Services:

1. Product demonstration on social channels
2. Collaboration with big companies
3. Seeking Customer Satisfaction
4. Building Tie-ups and Connects
5. Speeding and spreading through eCommerce

Marketing is figuring out the customer's requirements and completing them to their satisfaction. Marketing involves analyzing products and services until they become perfect for customer use. This majorly begins with systematic planning, implementation, and control of business activities to bring together buyers and sellers.

The term Marketing evolved from the term ‘market’, which means ‘to analyze’ and evolve the products according to the requirements of the customers. For this, companies lookup for new metrics that help in identifying the interests likes, and dislikes of the individuals or a group. Marketing is a sales-oriented approach that equally serves in uplifting the brand image in business markets.

Certainly, Marketing is not just limited to discounts, it also brings special and appealing offers for the customers, and the activities that contribute to marketing a product or service include:

• Identifying the needs of the customer
• Product Development
• Promotion of product
• Advertisement for Product
• Creating awareness about the Product
• Generating Leads
• Providing customer services

Sales vs Marketing

Both have a relation like hard work and success, to get the answer of Marketing vs Sales to have a look at the below points:

1. Process: Sales involve the transfer of ownership of a product from one person to another in exchange for some value while Marketing is all about analyzing market variations and understanding the customer needs.
2. Relationship: Sales is one to one relationship between buyer and seller while marketing is a one-to-many relationship.
3. Objective: Sales directly focus on selling all that is produced in bulk or small amounts while marketing integrates all the aspects that cover customer requirements and market standards.
4. Duration: Sales is a short-term process with just an objective of conversion while marketing is a long-term process that is continuous in nature, evaluating the market demands.
5. Orientation: The selling process is the exchange of goods and services in change for money. Whereas marketing involves providing quality services in exchange for customer satisfaction.
6. Activity Associated with: Sales is a people-oriented approach on the other hand marketing is a media-driven approach.
7. Focus: Marketing stresses market requirements and standards while sales work for the growth of the company.
8. Customer Priority: In sales, the product is made and then sold to the customers whereas in marketing customers are the highest priority as their needs are identified and then the product is created and sold to the customers.
9. Target: Sales involve direct interaction with the customers, forcing the individuals to buy the product. While marketing concentrates on the general public that is upgrading the product value to increase overall sales for the business.
10. Strategy Used: Sales use a push strategy as the customer is compelled to purchase the product or services. Whereas marketing works on a pull strategy as the strategy focuses on improving product value so the customers are compelled to buy the product.
11. Rule: In sales, the caveat emptor rule is followed which means "let the buyer beware". In marketing, the caveat vendor rule is applicable which means "let the seller beware".

Similarities Between Sales and Marketing

Despite the very fine sales vs marketing difference, both are prerequisites for running any business in the long run. The two terms converge at the same point and hold a primary purpose to build revenues and brand reputation by delivering products and services to the customers.

The job of Sales requires a salesperson who focuses on selling the products and services to the customers while marketing laydowns a wide channel which requires a good marketing team who creates a proper market for a product to achieve the required sales volume.

So we find that Sales is the last phase of Marketing which converts potential customers into paying leads. Hence it can be settled that both the terms are close and dependent on each other.

Which is Better Sales or Marketing

If you are the one who wants to open a small store or are willing to run a large business shortly, then you should be clear about the sales and marketing difference. Both the streams are different yet dependent so the steps should be focussed on leading both these aspects for the survival of the business.

Sales is a human-oriented role so the sales personnel who commits sales activity should be well trained and offered incentives that boost their morale to gain higher revenues in return. Whereas Marketing is media-oriented, so the best channels of advertising and promotion should be adapted to ensure increased sales along with an enhanced brand image.