Sales, Advertising, Marketing – What’s the Difference

OK, I admit I’m not a marketing guru … yet. I now understand that IBM marketing reps are really sales reps but marketing rep sounds better? I’ve also learned that every small business owner is first and foremost, a sales person, and I’m learning that the first thing I’m selling is myself.

So when I read Amber’s post differentiating advertising from marketing, it really caught my attention. Amber Noble-Garland is a member of Active Rain, the best social media network for anyone involved in real estate.

Amber shared the Top 5 things I took away from the “Millionaire Maker Potato Chip Marketing” seminar. Here is the number 1 tip (you should read them all). I’ve modified the format to help emphasize what I believe is important: “The #1 mistake most real estate professionals make is they confuse advertising with marketing.

• Advertising is to generate attention and create awareness.
• Marketing is to position something to actually compel someone to buy it.

“Personally, I assumed that every real estate professional knew the difference, but looking around the room I got the sense that wasn’t the case. It was an eye-opening revelation for many to learn that while the two are related, they also have very distinctly different functions.”