What is the Difference Between Sales and Marketing?

AIMC Business Solutions • February 18, 2025

How Sales & Marketing Have a Role in the Customer Journey

Sales and marketing are closely related but serve different functions in a business:


Marketing

Focus: Creates awareness and generates interest in a product or service.

Goal: Attract potential customers and nurture them into leads.

Activities: Market research, branding, advertising, content creation, social media, email campaigns, SEO, and PR.

Strategy: Long-term, focusing on building brand reputation and demand generation.


Sales

Focus: Converts leads into paying customers.

Goal: Close deals and generate revenue.

Activities: Prospecting, pitching, negotiating, handling objections, and closing sales.

Strategy: Short-term, focusing on individual customer relationships and transactions.


Key Difference:

Marketing brings people to the business, and sales takes them through the buying process. Ideally, both teams work together to ensure a smooth customer journey.


THE AIMC BLOG

By jeff August 27, 2025
A Message from the President of AMA Boston - Jeff DeSocio
By AIMC Business Solutions August 11, 2025
Why Podcasting is Hot Now.
By AIMC Business Solutions July 29, 2025
If you are out in public, you are public news.
By AIMC Business Solutions July 3, 2025
1-to-1 Marketing is Not Old School
By AIMC Business Solutons June 23, 2025
Be Different. Make An Impression!
By AIMC Business Solutions June 6, 2025
AIMC Business Solutions only like the best in business! 
By AIMC Business Solutions May 21, 2025
Networking is the #1 to get referrals today!
By AIMC Business Solutions May 9, 2025
Embrace AI as your new partner to build your business!
By AIMC Business Solutions April 23, 2025
Let's talk about our favorite professional platform!
By AIMC Business Solutions April 5, 2025
My Podcast Appearances - Leadership & Networking