{"id":7968,"date":"2020-07-03T07:05:55","date_gmt":"2020-07-03T05:05:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/digitalschoolofmarketing.co.za\/?p=7968"},"modified":"2025-06-18T10:38:11","modified_gmt":"2025-06-18T08:38:11","slug":"how-do-you-close-the-gap-between-sales-and-marketing","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/digitalschoolofmarketing.co.za\/sales-blog\/how-do-you-close-the-gap-between-sales-and-marketing\/","title":{"rendered":"How do you close the gap between sales and marketing?"},"content":{"rendered":"<section class=\"l-section wpb_row height_medium\"><div class=\"l-section-h i-cf\"><div class=\"g-cols vc_row via_grid cols_3-1 laptops-cols_inherit tablets-cols_inherit mobiles-cols_1 valign_top type_default stacking_default\"><div class=\"wpb_column vc_column_container\"><div class=\"vc_column-inner\"><div class=\"w-image align_center\"><div class=\"w-image-h\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"680\" height=\"374\" src=\"https:\/\/digitalschoolofmarketing.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/shutterstock_444135124-e1593609565438.png\" class=\"attachment-full size-full\" alt=\"DSM Digital School of Marketing - close the gap between sales and marketing\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/digitalschoolofmarketing.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/shutterstock_444135124-e1593609565438.png 680w, https:\/\/digitalschoolofmarketing.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/shutterstock_444135124-e1593609565438-600x330.png 600w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 680px) 100vw, 680px\" \/><\/div><\/div><div class=\"wpb_text_column\"><div class=\"wpb_wrapper\"><p>Businesses use marketing to increase<span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/digitalschoolofmarketing.co.za\/blog\/the-marriage-of-sales-and-marketing\/\">sales<\/a><\/strong><\/span> in the long term. While marketing and sales are associated with companies, they are not the same thing because they both play a crucial part in the success of most companies. This means that it\u2019s important for a business owner to understand how they work together.<\/p>\n<h2><strong>What is marketing?<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>Marketing is all about attracting individuals to your store, website or chatting to them on the phone. This exercise involves capturing the attention of your customers and then getting them to act.<\/p>\n<p>The process of marketing is about reaching a target audience and then promoting your brand or Closing the Gap between Sales and Marketing products. Marketing does not really sell any products however it gets the process started of getting your business message out to the public.<\/p>\n<h2><strong>What is sales?<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>The sales process entails closing the transaction after marketing starts the process. With many organisations, this part of the process involves a highly trained sales staff who may work with customers who visit or, alternatively, who contact you telephonically.<\/p>\n<p>The sales process could also be automated if you are dealing with a purely online business. The sales process involves getting the customer to actually part with their money in exchange for a product or service.<\/p>\n<h2><strong>What happened in the past<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>In the past, marketing and sales had different processes. Now, with modern computing and digital marketing, the two processes have become closer and more similar than ever before.<\/p>\n<p>The coming together of marketing and sales is potentially the biggest opportunity for enhancing business performance today. When marketing and sales teams come together around a single revenue cycle, they dramatically improve marketing ROI, sales productivity and &#8211; most importantly &#8211; top-line growth.<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/digitalschoolofmarketing.co.za\/sales-blog\/why-do-sales-and-marketing-need-to-be-the-best-of-friends\/?utm_source=chatgpt.com\">Marketing and sales alignment<\/a><\/strong><\/span> is actually about the customer. View everything through the eyes of the customer. Most organisations are still of the belief that sales and marketing need to be perfectly delineated. This is where marketing produces leads for sales and the sales development reps qualify these leads in order to create opportunities that salespeople will, hopefully, turn into revenue.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><div class=\"w-video align_none ratio_16x9 has_iframe\"><div class=\"w-video-h\"><iframe title=\"Vimeo video player\" src=\"https:\/\/player.vimeo.com\/video\/338688133?autoplay=0&loop=0&autopause=0&color=00adef&portrait=0&byline=1&title=1&controls=1&muted=0\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"autoplay; fullscreen\" allowfullscreen loading=\"lazy\"><\/iframe><\/div><div class=\"w-video-icon\" style=\"font-size:1.5rem;background:rgba(0,0,0,0.5);color:#fff\"><\/div><\/div><div class=\"w-separator size_medium\"><\/div><div class=\"wpb_text_column\"><div class=\"wpb_wrapper\"><h2><strong>The role of the buyer<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>In the last decade, the buyer has changed more than in the past 100. They are in control. In addition, the modern buyer is digitally driven, socially connected, mobile and empowered with almost unlimited access to information as well as people.<\/p>\n<p>The new reality is that sales, as well as marketing, are constantly and ever more integrated. Marketing needs to understand more about sales, sales needs to understand more about marketing, and one needs to know more about customers.<\/p>\n<h2><strong>The progression of sales and marketing<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>The time of the \u201cABC \u2013 always be closing\u201d style of sales &#8211; and utilising cold call \u201cspray and pray\u201d methodologies to find new prospects \u2013 are a thing of the past as sales is now part of the wider marketing mix.<\/p>\n<p>The rationale for this change is that consumer habits have evolved. The old sales techniques do not work as much of the purchase process is happening online. For example:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>92% of buyers start with an information search<\/li>\n<li>53% of buyers find that going online and researching is provides a better experience than interacting with a salesperson<\/li>\n<li>75% of buyers depend on social networks to learn about choosing the right vendor<\/li>\n<li>90% of buyers won\u2019t take a cold call<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>A divide can often exist between marketing and sales teams. One department advertises information and brings in leads, whilst the other converts them into paying customers. One attracts. One closes. But the two shouldn\u2019t sit independently of each other. They can and should work closely together.<\/p>\n<h2><a href=\"https:\/\/digitalschoolofmarketing.co.za\/contact-us\/\">Get in touch with the Digital School of Marketing<\/a><\/h2>\n<p>If you would like to get more information about how to manage the marketing and sales processes then you need to do our Sales and Digital Marketing Course. For more information, please follow this <a href=\"https:\/\/digitalschoolofmarketing.co.za\/courses\/sales-and-digital-marketing-course\/\">link<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/digitalschoolofmarketing.co.za\/courses\/sales-and-digital-marketing-course\/\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-7969 size-shop_single\" src=\"https:\/\/digitalschoolofmarketing.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/Sales-and-Digital-Marketing-600x96.jpg\" alt=\"DSM Digital School of Marketing - Sales and Digital Marketing\" width=\"600\" height=\"96\" srcset=\"https:\/\/digitalschoolofmarketing.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/Sales-and-Digital-Marketing-600x96.jpg 600w, https:\/\/digitalschoolofmarketing.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/Sales-and-Digital-Marketing-300x48.jpg 300w, https:\/\/digitalschoolofmarketing.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/Sales-and-Digital-Marketing-1024x164.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/digitalschoolofmarketing.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/Sales-and-Digital-Marketing-768x123.jpg 768w, https:\/\/digitalschoolofmarketing.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/Sales-and-Digital-Marketing.jpg 1250w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"wpb_column vc_column_container\"><div class=\"vc_column-inner\"><div class=\"w-btn-wrapper align_justify\"><a class=\"w-btn us-btn-style_2\" href=\"#enquiry\"><span class=\"w-btn-label\">Enquire Today<\/span><\/a><\/div><div class=\"w-separator size_medium\"><\/div><h3 class=\"w-text us_custom_6caa4608 has_text_color\"><span class=\"w-text-h\"><span class=\"w-text-value\">Blog Categories<\/span><\/span><\/h3><div class=\"wpb_text_column us_custom_5cd26a65\"><div class=\"wpb_wrapper\"><ul>\n<li class=\"cat-item cat-item-1\"><a href=\"\/blog\/content-marketing\/\">Content Marketing<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"cat-item cat-item-2\"><a href=\"\/blog\/digital-marketing\/\">Digital Marketing<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"cat-item cat-item-2\"><a href=\"\/blog\/cyber-security-blog\/\">Cyber Security<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"cat-item cat-item-2\"><a href=\"\/blog\/graphic-design-blog\/\">Graphic Design<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"cat-item cat-item-3\"><a href=\"\/blog\/public-relations\/\">Public Relations<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"cat-item cat-item-4\"><a href=\"\/blog\/seo\/\">SEO<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"cat-item cat-item-5\"><a href=\"\/blog\/social-media-marketing\/\">Social Media Marketing<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"cat-item cat-item-5\"><a href=\"\/blog\/web-design-blog\/\">Web Design<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div><\/div><div class=\"w-separator size_medium\"><\/div><h3 class=\"w-text us_custom_6caa4608 has_text_color\"><span class=\"w-text-h\"><span class=\"w-text-value\">You might also like<\/span><\/span><\/h3><div class=\"w-html\"><ul><li><a href=\"https:\/\/digitalschoolofmarketing.co.za\/social-media-marketing-blog\/zero-moment-of-truth-benefit-social-media-marketing\/\" rel=\"bookmark\">Use the Zero Moment of Truth to Benefit your Social Media Marketing<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/digitalschoolofmarketing.co.za\/digital-marketing-blog\/your-complete-guide-to-ppc-marketing-basic\/\" rel=\"bookmark\">Your Complete Guide to PPC Marketing Basics. Find out more.<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/digitalschoolofmarketing.co.za\/blog\/you-can-convey-a-lot-of-meaning-with-just-one-graphic\/\" rel=\"bookmark\">You Can Convey a Lot Of Meaning With Just One Graphic<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/digitalschoolofmarketing.co.za\/digital-marketing-blog\/would-you-make-a-great-marketing-manager\/\" rel=\"bookmark\">Would you make a great marketing manager?<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/digitalschoolofmarketing.co.za\/in-the-press\/win-with-bona-magazine-and-the-digital-school-of-marketing\/\" rel=\"bookmark\">Win with Bona Magazine and the Digital School of Marketing<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/digitalschoolofmarketing.co.za\/in-the-press\/win-a-digital-marketing-course-valued-at-r12-000\/\" rel=\"bookmark\">Win a Digital Marketing Course Valued at  R12 000<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/div><div class=\"w-separator size_medium\"><\/div><h3 class=\"w-text us_custom_6caa4608 has_text_color\"><span class=\"w-text-h\"><span class=\"w-text-value\">Top Selling COurses<\/span><\/span><\/h3><div class=\"wpb_text_column us_custom_5cd26a65\"><div class=\"wpb_wrapper\"><ul>\n<li class=\"cat-item cat-item-1\"><a href=\"\/courses\/digital-marketing-course\/\">Intermediate Digital Marketing<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"cat-item cat-item-2\"><a href=\"\/courses\/advanced-digital-marketing-course\/\">Advanced Digital Marketing<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"cat-item cat-item-3\"><a href=\"\/courses\/social-media-marketing-course\/\">Intermediate Social media marketing<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"cat-item cat-item-4\"><a href=\"\/courses\/digital-brand-management-course\/\">Brand Management<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"cat-item cat-item-5\"><a href=\"\/courses\/graphic-design-course\/\">Basic Graphic Design<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"cat-item cat-item-6\"><a href=\"\/courses\/advanced-graphic-design-course\/\">Advanced Graphic design<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"cat-item cat-item-7\"><a href=\"\/courses\/national-certificate-of-advertising\/\">National Certificate of Advertising<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"cat-item cat-item-8\"><a href=\"\/courses\/national-diploma-of-copywriting-course\/\">National Diploma of Copyrighting<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/section><section class=\"l-section wpb_row height_medium\"><div class=\"l-section-h i-cf\"><div class=\"g-cols vc_row via_grid cols_1 laptops-cols_inherit tablets-cols_inherit mobiles-cols_1 valign_top type_default stacking_default\"><div class=\"wpb_column vc_column_container\"><div class=\"vc_column-inner\"><div class=\"w-video align_none ratio_16x9 has_iframe\"><div class=\"w-video-h\"><iframe title=\"Youtube video player\" src=\"\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/AxRRT2qM-yY?autoplay=0&controls=1&origin=https:\/\/digitalschoolofmarketing.co.za&loop=0&mute=0\" allowfullscreen=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\"><\/iframe><\/div><div class=\"w-video-icon\" style=\"font-size:1.5rem;background:rgba(0,0,0,0.5);color:#fff\"><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/section>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":7970,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[398],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-7968","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-sales-blog"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/digitalschoolofmarketing.co.za\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7968","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/digitalschoolofmarketing.co.za\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/digitalschoolofmarketing.co.za\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/digitalschoolofmarketing.co.za\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/digitalschoolofmarketing.co.za\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=7968"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/digitalschoolofmarketing.co.za\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7968\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":23659,"href":"https:\/\/digitalschoolofmarketing.co.za\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7968\/revisions\/23659"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/digitalschoolofmarketing.co.za\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/7970"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/digitalschoolofmarketing.co.za\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=7968"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/digitalschoolofmarketing.co.za\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=7968"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/digitalschoolofmarketing.co.za\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=7968"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}