Why do I think sales is a part of marketing?

Recently I had a conversation with a friend about sales and marketing. He said they are separate and I said that sales is another part of marketing (like market research is).

I’d like to clarify my belief about that.

Draw a marketing funnel. Every marketing activity you do to get prospects is at the top or widest part of the funnel.

As you proceed down the funnel it  gets narrower and you keep marketing.

Then you get to the narrow part of the funnel which is now sales. See in my diagram that I’ve drawn a line there? You’re meeting the prospect one to one – face to face or by phone or email or video meeting.

When you “close the deal” with them, they become a client which is the bottom of the funnel.

Then you go back to the top of the funnel and repeat your marketing activities.

I know that you don’t use the same activities to sell as you do to market. I agree that they should be taught as two topics – but I still believe that sales is in the marketing funnel.

That’s my opinion. Tell me yours.

 Originally posted February 24, 2013