Question

Define marketing. How is it different from selling? Discuss

Answer 1

Marketing refers to the process wherein the buyers and sellers interact with each other for purchase and sale of goods and services. It comprises of a range of activities such as planning, designing the product, packaging and labelling of the product, pricing and distribution and also after sale services such as maintaining customer relations and collecting feedback. Selling, on the other hand, refers to the promotion activities undertaken for the sale of goods and services. Such promotion activities can be in the form of advertising, publicity, etc. Through the process of selling the product is converted into cash. In this sense, selling can be regarded as a part of marketing.

The following points highlight the difference between marketing and selling.

Basis of Difference	Marketing	Selling
Scope of the Term	Marketing is a wider time and involves a number of activities such as planning, designing, after sale services, etc.	Selling is a narrower term and is confined just to the promotion activities and the transfer of ownership of the product from the seller to the purchaser. Selling is just a part of marketing.
Means of profit Maximisation	Marketing lays emphasis on enhancing customer satisfaction for maximising profits.	Selling lays emphasis on maximising the sales for maximising profits.
Emphasis	All marketing activities emphasise on customer satisfaction	Selling activities emphasise on sale of goods and the transfer of ownership of product from the seller to the purchaser.
Scope of Activities	Marketing activities start before production and continues even after the sale of the product.	Selling activities start only after the production of the product.
Strategies and Efforts	It involves strategies related to production, planning, designing, feedback services, etc.	It involves strategies related just to the promotion and sale of the product.