BigMoneyJim
Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Marketing styles the wheelbarrow; sales moves it around.
If Sales is carrying out Marketing's strategy, then why do they call it a "Sales" target? Oh, right, in case Sales falls short of carrying out Marketing's strategy. (Because if they exceeded the target, that was due to Marketing's great strategy too?)Spanky said:The difference, by definition, is Marketing defines new products/services, establishes pricing, develop market strategies/campaigns/promotion, identifies target customers, provides sales training, etc. Sales carry out the strategies developed by Marketing. The focus is on making the sales target.
That's a much easier definition, although TH's is much more memorable for its poignant imagery.BigMoneyJim said:Marketing styles the wheelbarrow; sales moves it around.
Nords said:If Sales is carrying out Marketing's strategy, then why do they call it a "Sales" target? Oh, right, in case Sales falls short of carrying out Marketing's strategy. (Because if they exceeded the target, that was due to Marketing's great strategy too?)
The studs in both groups get the pay and the respect. I dont think theres any ascention between the two. There is a certain amount of fairly good natured "those useless guys over there" thing between the two groups but its rather mild. Having been in both sales and marketing, I more or less prefer sales. Two very different personalities.I'm still trying to figure out who gets more respect (and pay). Do the Sales staffs sit around dreaming of being invited to join Marketing some day? Do the Sales guys tell everyone that Marketing is for those who can't handle the Sales pressure? Does Marketing have the best career track to CEO, and do they use it to beat down the "threat" from the Sales staff's careerists?
I like the look, but...JB said:This looks like a cool surf mobile from Chevrolet.
Inexpensive, good fuel economy, and can hold all my surfboards, and windsurfing gear.
Thanks for explaining all of this, TH, it brings a lot more comprehension to my business reading. I understand the Dilbert jokes better too...th said:Sales completely ignores marketing 90% of the time.
The really fun stuff happens between marketing and engineering.
The difference between sales and marketing: the marketing guy knows when he's lying.
Engineering might swing by a few weeks before a product is ready to ship to ask you what you think about it and what should go into it. If you really know what you're doing you get a lot more integrated into the product planning and design phases, and into the sales process.I had quite a time with Engineering at that same job... but give me an engineer any day over ill-prepared Salespeople. Engineering, at the very least, knows what it doesn't know...
When I first became a product manager (first in the company) the head of Engineering told me: "We built software before you marketing people got here, and we'll still be building it when you're gone."
He was difficult like that until I delivered my first MRD. After he read it I never had another bit of trouble with him. He committed to a date and product, and delivered on his word. The product development process is a good one when all parties play together well.
Only other trouble I had from this guy was that he stopped talking to me for three days when I resigned, he was that mad at me for "leaving" him.
I took it as a compliment.
Caroline
You just don't want to be the one to tell the CEO that he really shouldn't be visiting those websites... or handing out his passwords to his "admin assistant"...Laurence said:That got old, plus I started getting afraid of what I would see. One thing I learned is just how little they think of the little guys. I don't mean they think poorly of us, just that we are ants on the sidewalk.
th said:Nords/Laurence...the good emails are the ones where you get two senior managers thoroughly interested in each other. Its especially good when one or both are married.
Nords said:I like the look, but...
I guess it has to hold the boards inside because they put the frickin' antenna top & center of the windshield. And with the rack along the sides instead of athwartships, it'd be impossible to lash down a longboard on the roof anyway!