Difference between Marketing and Selling

An important functional area of management that involves activities undertaken by an organisation for the promotion of buying and selling of a good or service, is known as Marketing. The meaning of marketing is different in the traditional sense and modern sense. In the traditional sense, it means the performance of business activities directing the flow of goods and services from manufacturers to consumers. In simple terms, the traditional meaning of marketing focuses on selling a good after it has been manufactured. In the modern sense, marketing means a social process through which an individual gets what he/she wants by creating offerings and the free exchange of products and services with others. 

According to Philip Kotler, Marketing is defined as the science and art of exploring, creating, and delivering value to satisfy the needs of a target market at a profit. 

A part of the marketing process which involves all the personal and impersonal activities that are involved in finding, securing, and developing a demand for a good or service is known as Selling. The basic purpose of selling is to transfer the ownership of the goods by means of aggressive promotion. 

According to William J. Stanton, Selling is informing and persuading a market about a product or service. It is a function of promotion. 

According to Still, Cundiff and Govoni, Selling in its broad sense, is not only the making of sales, that is, effecting ownership transfers; but, also identifying prospective consumers, stimulating demands and providing information and services to buyers. 

Difference between Marketing and Selling 

Basis	Marketing	Selling
Meaning	An important functional area of management that involves activities undertaken by an organisation for the promotion of buying and selling of a good or service is known as Marketing.	A part of the marketing process which involves all the personal and impersonal activities that are involved in finding, securing, and developing a demand for a good or service is known as Selling.
Scope	As marketing also includes selling, it has a wide scope. All the activities concerned with the identification and satisfaction of the wants of consumers are covered in marketing.	As selling is only a part of the marketing process, it has a narrow scope and is limited to increasing the sales volume of an organisation.
Focus	The main focus of marketing is to achieve maximum satisfaction of the needs and wants of consumers.	Selling focuses on the transfer of title and possession of products to the users or consumers.
Objective	Marketing aims at earning profits with the help of consumer satisfaction.	Selling aims to maximise the profits of an organisation through an increase in the volume of sales.
Emphasis	The main emphasis of marketing is on the development of the product according to the needs of the consumer.	The main emphasis of selling is on the bending or moulding of the consumer according to the product.
Strategy	Integrated marketing efforts are used in this area of management and involve strategies relates to product, price, promotion, and physical distribution/place.	Strategies such as promotion and persuasion for selling the product are used in it.
Start and End	The marketing activities start way before the product is manufactured and does not end after the sale of the product. It continues even after the sale of the product by way of after-sales services, etc.	The selling activities of an organisation start after the product is manufactured or developed and end after it is sold.
Demand	Demand is created and maintained in the marketing process.	The organisation supposes from the beginning that there is a demand for the product in the market.

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