Marketing vs Selling

DIFFERENCE BETWEEN SELLING AND MARKETING

In general we use ‘marketing’ and ‘selling’ as synonyms but there is a substantial difference between both the concepts. It is necessary to understand the differences between Marketing vs Selling for a successful marketing manager. Selling has a prod¬uct focus and mostly producer driven. It is the action part of marketing only and has short – term goal of achieving market share. The emphasis is on price variation for closing the sale where the objective can be stated, as “I must somehow sell the product”. This short – term focus does not consider a prudential planning for building up the brand in the market place and winning competi¬tive advantage through a high loyal set of cus¬tomers. The end means of any sales activity is maximizing profits through sales maximization.

When the focus is on selling, the businessman thinks that after production has been completed the task of the sales force starts. It is also the task of the sales department to sell whatever the production department has manufactured. Aggressive sales methods are justified to meet this goal and customer’s actual needs and satisfaction are taken for granted. Selling converts the product in to cash for the company in the short run.

Marketing as a concept and approach is much wider than selling and is also dynamic as the fo¬cus is on the customer rather than the product. While selling revolves around the needs and in¬terest of the manufacturer or marketer, market¬ing revolves around that of consumer. It is the whole process of meeting and satisfying the needs of the consumer.

Marketing consists of all those activities that are associated with product planning, pricing, promoting and distributing the product or service. The task commences with identifying consumer needs and does not end till feedback on consumer sat-isfaction from the consumption of the product is received. It is a long chain of activity, which comprises production, packing, promotion, pricing, distribution and then the selling. Consumer needs become the guiding force behind all these activities. Profits are not ignored but they are built up on a long run basis. Mind share is more important than market share in Marketing.