The Truth About Marketing
Many companies have a marketing department. Most of the time it’s called the “Sales and Marketing” department. That correlation makes sense. After all marketing drives sales, right?
But sometimes, I think that the two departments should be split up.
Why? Because Sales and Marketing are two totally different things.
A salesman and a marketing man are attempting to do two different things. Sure the end result is always to cultivate a sale, but it’s the approach that is different.
A salesman usually makes a pitch and tries to close a deal by persuading the customer to make a decision on the spot.
A marketing man usually tries to build a feeling inside of a customer that will drive them to make a decision on their own, when they are ready.
It’s much like the difference between “witnessing” and “being a witness”.
Witnessing involves going out and reaching out to people to persuade them to make a decision, on the spot.
Being a Witness creates an example and a feeling, and even some brand loyalty towards Christ that persuades people to make a decision, on their own, when they are ready.
Consider this:
Everyone has been talking about the new Old Spice commercials online. People joke about the GEICO Caveman commercials as well as many other well planned marketing attempts.
But when is the last time you ever had a good laugh about the most recent sales call you had at dinner time?
Or when do you relish the opportunity to answer the door and see someone selling you a cleaning agent that is strong enough to take the tar off your driveway but safe enough for your kids to drink?
The point is, sometimes sales are necessary, sometimes you have to have someone there to “close the deal” for the customer’s own good. But most of the time, what you want is marketing.
Marketing produces brand loyalty, a positive feeling, and the opportunity for a person to make a decision on their own, when they are ready.
Historically, do you think the Church has been more sales oriented or marketing oriented?
Would you rather have someone market something to you or sell something to you?
Should the Church be in the Sales or Marketing business?
