Wednesday, November 25, 2009

Sales VS Marketing Round 1

I recently attended an event as a presenter and had a chance to watch other presentations. One of these presentations was about advertising and marketing. Hey , something I should be able to learn about. I have to tell you that I was a bit confused about some of the statements that they were presenting as fact. Here is how they were presented;
Selling VS Marketing
Selling: Concentrates on the seller
Marketing: Focused on the customer

Selling: What can I get you to buy?
Marketing: What problem can I solve for you.

Selling: A deal you can’t refuse
Marketing: I’ve got something that can help you.

Selling: Selling what I have in stock
Marketing: Stocking what people want to buy

Selling: Getting rid of what you have
Marketing: Offering what people want

Maybe, just maybe they were referring to a old school used car salesman. The presentation that I sat through did not state that. Really what they were saying is that all salespeople only have their own interests at heart. More importantly, it is my opinion that Sales and Marketing go hand in hand. Creating this conflict between them would be a huge mistake.

There were some other “Quotes” that I found questionable.

“If you can’t be the best, fake it” (They must believe they can market themselves as the best even though they are not. It will catch up to them)

“If you can’t be the best, don’t try” (I am not the best at many things that I do. I am not the best writer for example, however you are reading this! According to this person, I should not try. If you do not try, how will I not get better? This is pure BS.

Don’t let others tell you what to do or how to do it. Most of the time, others will try and keep you down. IE not to be the best. Remember this. Marketing people were the one’s that told you that smoking was cool. Now they are telling you that it makes you look stupid. Integrity in marketing (Sometimes) can be bought and sold, just like salespeple

1 comment:

Andrea said...

I am extremely new to the whole "sales and marketing" thing, (my background is more project management!), and so I was searching the internet for blogs and such and stumbled across yours.

I found it hilarious that the presenters would say "fake it" and "don't try." Perhaps they are trying to give everyone else bad advice so that the competition will fail, and their "Cream" will rise to the top.