You Asked ...

Frequently I'm asked "what is the difference between marketing and sales"? My quick answer is: marketing makes the telephone ring and sales answers the telephone and closes the sale. A broader definition is; marketing focuses on the needs and wants of the prospective purchaser (while promoting product/service features, benefits and experiences) and sales focuses on the needs and wants of the seller.

In a large company there is usually (unless outsourced) a formal marketing department and a separate formal sales department. Sometimes - and maybe because each department has a completely different focus - they have difficulty communicating with each other. And one may blame the other when a product/service doesn't sell to expectations.

Of course, in a one-person business, you as the owner must wear both the marketing and the sales hats. Therefore, it is extremely important that you create appropriate marketing strategies (focusing on the needs and wants of your prospective customer (by promoting your product/service's features, benefits and experiences). And similarly, you must create separate, appropriately focused selling strategies if you want to secure sufficient sales. Do not try to take a short cut and simply mix the two strategies because if you do, you may confuse your prospective customer and a "confused mind" will almost always say no.