The Difference Between Marketing and Sales

Marketing and sales are one of the most important elements in the survival of any business. While both
are dependent on each other many people confuse marketing with sales and vice-versa which is a big
mistake. Marketing involves designing a product according to the needs of the market and customers,
promoting the product through advertising etc. and setting up a competitive price for the product. Marketing
is the catalysis that sparks and drives sales. Marketing is the backbone of a company�s future and the
launching platform from which to initiate sales.

Sales on the other hand is what you do to successfully sell a product and fetch a contract. Sales and
marketing together is a part of selling and one cannot do without the other. They can also be called
activities. The success of a business is critical to the success of these two important activities.

While the marketing process comprises the design of the product, advertising etc. the sales process is
the execution of all the efforts which involves direct interaction with client either by in-person meeting or
cold calls or by networking. But there is always an ongoing rivalry between the two, one claiming dominance
over the other. The marketing people say they have an upper hand because they think it is they who design
the products, form the strategy and also develop tools essential for sales. They say sales are the outcome
of marketing and thus should follow its directions. The sales people might not agree to this view and may
be completely opposite in their opinion. They think that it is the sales people who actually sells a product
and bring money to the business.  

But many experts believe that marketing should play a central role among the two. A successful marketing
campaign makes sales easy and makes people believe that it is actually the sales people who are the
dominant leaders. The most important role of the marketing department is to create opportunities for the
sales department. Marketing drives sales and sales drives companies� success. Marketing is like a life
support for sales, one who is constantly backing up the sales department and enabling them to successfully
close the deal and deliver the desired product. There should not be a race to gain supremacy over another
department but work together as in a relay race to win customer favor and company growth.

Many businesses combine sales and marketing together but in reality they have different targets. While the
sales department is interested in fulfilling the requirements of what the customer asked for, the marketing
department is actually busy studying what the market demands. The goal of the marketing department is
to foresee how the market will shape up in future. They should envision their product catering to the needs
of the market for next few years and be ready to make design changes in their product accordingly.

It is very important that a company integrates their sales and marketing department in a well fashioned
manner. It is the correct integration of these two important entities that fuels the growth of a company.
The sale people should not be merely treated as the cash collectors. Each department has its own
role and should go hand in hand in selling the product of the company and should be the foremost
important criteria.

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For more information on Marketing and Sales Doyle recommend that you check out Web Promotions and All Biz Facts

and Marketing Tools

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