Difference Between Sales & Marketing: What’s better?

There has always been an ongoing debate on the difference between sales & marketing but believe it or not they’re two sides of the same coin and yet very different. Both careers require an understanding of the target audience and the decision-making process behind purchases. Traditionally, the marketing department plans the initial product launch, which involves researching target demographics, creating promotional materials and employing other forms of advertising designed to assist salespeople in their efforts. Thus, making marketing a broader concept than sales doesn’t decrease the importance of salespeople as they work directly with customers, they provide insight into what people want to see, which helps marketers adjust their future strategies.

Difference Between a Career in Sales & Marketing

Here’s a brief description of how the difference between sales & marketing generates two different career lines that are spatially intertwined.

Career in Marketing

Well, marketing includes everything from advertising, media planning, sales strategies and other methods for creating brand awareness which in turn will lead to an increase in sales of the products. In the modern era, marketing takes place in many forms right from traditional forms like radio, television and billboard advertising to digital marketing strategies that incorporate search engine optimization (SEO) and social media. It is critical for marketing professionals, responsible for interacting with customers, to develop positive customer service at all stages of making a sale. Interpersonal skills used to build positive customer relations include three main elements: empathy, honesty, communication & much more. Want to know more about where you can kick-start your career in marketing? Well, keep reading our blog to find out! 

Also Read: MSc Marketing & Technology

Career in Sales

A career in sales consists of one simple step which is selling a product or service to a potential buyer by highlighting a product’s benefits to the target customer. Salespeople can develop their careers based on their individual interests and ideal lifestyle, making sales a smart and exciting career choice for anyone entering the job market. People who are creative, knowledgeable, strategic, independent, confident and motivated have the opportunity to become top earners as salespeople. Want to know more about how you can become a successful salesperson?  Just keep reading our blog!

Also Read: Sales+Marketing 101

Difference Between Sales & Marketing Universities

Being some of the most in-demand courses with the rise in digital marketing, the difference between top universities in sales and marketing that offer world-class courses are categorised below

Best 8 Universities for Marketing Courses

• University of Michigan
• University of Pennsylvania
• Indiana University
• New York University
• University of Texas 
• University of California
• University of Virginia
• University of North Carolina

Also Read: MBA Marketing Subjects

Best 8 Universities for Sales Courses

• Princeton University
• Columbia University
• Harvard University
• Massachusetts Institute of Technology
• Yale University
• Stanford University
• University of Chicago
• University of Pennsylvania

Also Read: Jobs After 12th Pass

Sales vs. Marketing: Understanding the Real Difference

Items	Sales	Marketing
Definition	“The act of selling something; the exchange of goods for money.” – Definition by Oxford Dictionary	“The activity, set of institutions, and processes for developing, communicating, delivering, and trading value-added offerings for clients.” – Definition by American Marketing Association (AMA).
Objective	The basic goal of sales is to meet the expectations of customers.	Marketing entails a variety of tasks ranging from selling to distributing. Its primary goal is to sell a company’s goods and services.
Focus	The primary goal is to boost sales and revenues.	The basic goal of marketing is to promote consumer satisfaction. It also tries to promote goods and services, as well as prices and make them available to clients. It also emphasises after-sales services.
Duration	Short-term process.	Long-term and continuous process.
Cost	Sales require significant expenditure. Sales, interestingly, is the business process that creates income for the company.	Marketing is an expensive procedure. Every marketing function, from advertising to logistics, is expensive.

Difference Between Sales And Marketing Goals

Both sales and marketing aim to generate income for a company. However, marketing is primarily concerned with long-term objectives, whereas sales are concerned with the near term. Sales teams typically operate on strict timetables, whereas marketing objectives are frequently vague. Marketing initiatives may not have an immediate influence on a company’s revenue, but they do help the company grow over time.

Examples of Marketing Goals

• Investigate the requirements and interests of your customers.
• Create a brand
• Increase client happiness by increasing product awareness.
• Maintain client relationships
• Establish the company as an industry leader
• Obtain qualified leads
• Introduce a new product
• Repositioning a company or a product

Examples of Sales Goals

• Boost monthly revenue
• Complete sales
• Retain current customers
• Increase your profit margins
• Reduced customer acquisition costs

Difference Between Sales & Marketing Job Profiles

Here are some of the most popular job designations that aspirants aim for in the sales and marketing sector. The difference between sales & marketing job prospects is more evident from these designations.

Sales Job Profiles

1. Retail Sales Associate

Retail Sales Associates perform many roles including maintaining inventory, stocking shelves, assisting customers, cashiering etc. They are required in various retail businesses such as departmental stores, hardware stores, electronic stores, grocery shops etc. They also assist in changing the price labels & promoting promotions and offers from time to time. Some also work in return & exchange departments of various clothing stores etc. 

2. Telemarketer

Telemarketers deliver sales pitches and encourage customers to make a purchase. They call and promote the products over the phone from an existing database. The key to selling the product depends upon how effectively a salesperson can communicate and persuade a customer using various sales techniques. Telemarketers also attend the incoming calls and make sales using the best means possible.

3. Sales Representative

Sales representatives possess excellent communication and customer service skills that help them sell products and services. They may have formal training and special certifications that increase their earning potential. Sales representatives work with customers to help them understand the benefits of a product or service. They work to meet sales goals, negotiate prices, close transactions and complete sales reports. 

4. Insurance Agent

The role of an insurance agent is to sell various insurance such as health insurance, life insurance, fire insurance, auto insurance and others and complete various formalities related to it. Once policies go into effect, agents assist with insurance claims and policy adjustments. They may also perform inspections on properties and vehicles. Insurance agents communicate with their clients on a regular basis to ensure they understand their plans.

5. Sales Manager

The Sales Manager oversees a team of sales representatives or sales associates and ensures that company sales targets are met on a regular basis and the company is able to achieve the pre-defined KYI (Key Predictive Indicators) and quotas. They are also responsible for the training and development of the sales representatives of their team. They also create sales reports and work to ensure total customer satisfaction.

Also Read: How to Become a Visual Merchandiser?

Marketing Job Profiles

1. Marketing Manager

Marketing managers create marketing campaigns, strategies and policies according to variables like customer demand, market trends and organizational goals. They lead their teams in developing new advertising techniques and promotional material. Marketing managers monitor the progress of their efforts and make decisions regarding budget and time constraints.

2. Market Analyst

Market analysts are responsible for examining data related to marketing and sales efforts. They track the analytics of campaigns, identify market trends and watch competitors’ activity closely. Market analysts most commonly work for marketing firms and businesses that employ active marketing strategies, though they may also work as consultants.

3. Marketing Specialist

Marketing specialists may work in many roles within the marketing department related to campaign development and execution. They often manage company websites and social media accounts and perform lead generation. Marketing specialists frequently collaborate with members of the sales team to brainstorm new advertising techniques and develop effective campaigns.

4. Social Media Marketer

A social media marketer posts content informed by a brand’s style guide, but it’s important to note that they aren’t simply writing copy all day. They’re engaging with a brand’s audience in real time, preparing an analysis of engagement data, planning future campaigns and approaches based on that analysis, and collaborating with other marketers to determine how a social strategy can support a brand’s other work. And they’ll often have ambitious KPIs (key performance indicators) to reach for.

5. SEO Specialist

SEO specialists analyze, review and implement SEO techniques for client and company websites in order to generate increased site traffic and revenue. They have extensive training in digital marketing strategies related to SEO. In addition, they work to make web pages rank higher on the search engine results page (SERP). They understand that quality content drives online visibility and are always looking for ways to improve their overall web presence.

Also Read: Marketing Management Class 12 Notes

FAQs

If you are planning to pursue a sales or marketing course abroad and want to know more about the difference between sales & marketing, then Leverage Edu can provide all the exclusive services to make your study abroad journey smoother. To know more about our services, call us anytime at 1800 572 000 for a free consultancy session.