Marketing is not Selling
A steering wheel and gas pedal are both necessary to operate a car but have different functions. The same can be said for marketing and sales. To operate a machine various pieces and parts are necessary; a machine will run smoothly if it has the proper maintenance and parts operating it. Similarly, the same is true with marketing and sales.
What is Marketing?
Marketing focuses on creating brand awareness and building relationships through strategies and communications. To effectively market, research and data must be utilized to create a communication plan to promote a product or company. Marketing focuses on a broad approach, creates awareness and advertises. While these efforts cannot ensure sales, they can help build brand identity and awareness. Marketing helps cultivate relationships between potential customers and your brand. When thinking of what determines marketing, think about the game plan. This game plan will inspire targeted demographics to think, feel and react. Marketing is not selling. Marketing is not a one-size-fits-all approach; it requires a specifically formatted communication plan.
What is Sales?
Sales focus on closing deals and generating revenue through transactions with customers. Sales is a process that helps prospective customers. By listening to customers, the sales team uncover their wants and needs and can help determine how best to meet them. Sales fulfills the demand.
There are distinct activities associated with sales that allow it to be different than marketing. Sales activities are exclusive to the sales process and are essential in a thriving business. There are many examples of sales activities such as negotiations, product training, and even prototyping. These activities aid the sales process and typically result in a positive experience for both buyer and seller.
Effective Use
A car can’t drive without both a steering wheel and a gas pedal. This analogy is the same for marketing and sales. While marketing and sales are both aspects of the business, using only one will not propel a business further. Just because a person has a steering wheel does not mean the car will move. Successful companies use marketing to ensure potential clients know about their business.
In essence, the marketing team paves the road for the sales team.
Like a well-oiled machine, parts that work well together contribute to the overall machine working smoothly and productively. Likewise, sales and marketing must work together. Without collaboration, misalignment ensues—leading to wasted resources and missed opportunities.
If your company lacks marketing, Web Savvy can help. We’ll create targeted messaging that will help your sales team drive home more sales.
Contact Us to learn more.