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What is Sales?
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What is Marketing?
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According to The Oxford Dictionary the definition of sales is: the exchange of a commodity for money; the action of selling something.
In the simplest business terms this is said to be the closure of a transaction. I once heard a version that I have held on to throughout my career. I was told that the art of sales is simply the “transfer of confidence”. The confidence you have that your product/service solves the prospects problem or pain point is transferred to the prospect therefore the “close” is expected not coerced.
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According to the American Marketing Association the definition of marketing is: the activity, set of institutions, and processes for creating, communicating, delivering, and exchanging offerings that have value for customers, clients, partners, and society at large.
In the simplest business terms, marketing is used to educate your prospects about your company and/or offerings. The avenues in which this happens is widely variable and takes many approaches. Some of the vehicles used can be any combination of the following: Website, Public Relations (also wide in definition), Social Media, Newsletters, Advertising, or Direct Mail. I know there are several more but wanted to keep this definition short. |
When we hear the terms “sales” and “marketing” often times we forget these two business processes are mutually exclusive. By simplest definitions sales is transactional and marketing is educational. In cases of big companies these are handled by a separate set of teams & executives. Yet we still classify sales and marketing as the same business subset. I’d contest that sales and marketing can be as different as Operations and Accounts Payable. They each need specialized attention and leadership. As should there be a very clear “handoff point” where marketing stops, and sales starts, if the sale doesn’t close they can always restart the marketing process, but it is still a clear “hand off” back to marketing. However, I do admit that in small companies this can be very difficult, therefore, there is quite a bit of crossover or complicated even more by having the same person responsible for both. In these times I’d urge the responsible party to make sure you spend your time wisely and know exactly how much time, money, and effort should be put into each process individually. Time management and budget accountability are greatly in need in cases such as this…but remember closing business is of the utmost importance.
Smarketing WEEKLY
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Tuesday - Interpretation of Quote
Whenever an individual or a business decides that success has been attained, progress stops. – Thomas J. Watson Jr
Interpretation by Tom Libby: This I like, I feel like we too often stop goal setting once the first goal is achieved. You should always look for ways to raise the bar…not just for yourself, but for you employees, your company, or even your family. Keep rising to the occasions that are presented to you and you’ll successful regardless. |
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Friday - Fact or Fiction
Even though websites are an absolute, a necessity so to speak, the percentage of small businesses that have one is less than 60%.
FACT: According to Statistic Brain Research Institute only about 53% of small businesses actually have websites. Even more surprising the majority of those are under-developed. |
Welcome to the Smarketing Institute. We are glad you found us. We are a group of sales and marketing professionals. We have come together to help small business launch or revive their sales and marketing efforts to build brand awareness and increase revenue. Our Bronze level community gives you access to our private community where you get communal and peer to peer advice. In addition you will have access to white papers and ebooks along with easy to understand sales and marketing tools. Want more? You will also have access to the experts in the community when you run into obstacles and hit roadblocks.
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What Comes First, SALES or MARKETING? |
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Sales Channels
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