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 AIMC Business Solutions February 2, 2026
It is about Authenticity, Patience and Follow-up
By AIMC Business Solutions January 17, 2026
There are alternatives to Networking!
By AIMC Business Solutions January 7, 2026
It is all about business outcome, not just a pretty website!
By AIMC Business Solutions December 30, 2025
And 2026 will be even better!
By AIMC Business Solutions December 27, 2025
Marketing vs. Public Relations: The Core Difference 
By AIMC Business Solutions December 9, 2025
Do like to rent your property or OWN it?
By AIMC Business Solutions December 6, 2025
It is not the number of followers. It is the $$$
By AIMC Business Solutions November 17, 2025
Some tips to get your business ready for more business!
By AIMC Business Solutions November 10, 2025
The difference between success and failure
By AIMC Business Solutions November 6, 2025
How to be Successful at Networking Events