Sales vs Marketing: What’s the Difference and Why it Matters

It’s common for people to use sales and marketing interchangeably as though they mean the same thing.

In fact, they are very distinct in nature — two parts of a profitable whole. We often talk about both as if they are verbs, something you do when in reality they are a process that you and your customers participate in.

Let’s define what they are and better understand how they work together to build a profitable business:

Sales is the process of getting your product in the hands of your customers. This starts with knowing who your customers are, where to find them, and having systems in place to make the sale, including lead generation, managing and tracking leads, attending events where the emphasis is on transactions, and mastering the art of closing the deal.

Marketing is a plan that makes your product and business known, liked, and desired by your prospective customer. This includes your website, social media presence, logo, and public relations events like articles, speaking engagements, and podcast appearances.

Marketing done well results in your ideal customer recognizing your product, knowing why they need it, and looking for a way to buy it.

Marketing Drives Sales

Sales is the fulfillment of marketing because, while marketing educates and builds the desire to purchase, sales completes the transaction.

Both work in tandem to make your ideal client aware of your product or service, understand why you are better than the competition, and give them a way to buy.