The concepts of marketing and selling are derived from 2 simple activities: marketing and selling. These two activities are very similar to a large extent similar though there are a few elements about each of them that differentiate them. Selling can be defined as a process of transferring a product or service to a buyer at a price regardless of his or her need whereas marketing is defined as a process of transferring a product or service to a buyer at a competitive price in order to satisfy his or her need1. From the stated definitions, it is quite evident that during selling, the price of the product or service and the buyer’s need are parallel and whereas during marketing, the price and the buyer’s need cross paths as the seller tries to meet the buyer’s need at a competitive price. In a nutshell, one can say that during selling, a customer’s needs aren’t considered while during buying, the customer’s needs are given consideration. Besides the difference stated above, there are many other differences that differentiate the selling concept from the marketing concept and some of them include:
(i) The selling concept aims at selling what the producer has or needs and not necessarily a product or service that the buyer wants while the marketing concept aims at marketing a product or service that meets the needs of the buyer instead of what the producer has to sell.2
(ii) Another major difference between the marketing and selling concept is that the selling concept places emphasis on the needs of the producer whereas the marketing concept emphasises the needs of the buyer. Here is a simple example to help illustrate this point. Under the selling concept, a seller will try as much as possible to sell the funds of a found house simply because they are available whereas under the marketing concept, a growth fund for child education could instead be started with the same funds
(iii) The selling
References: Helen Akers (2009)-Stages of marketing evolution-eHow.com David Ingram, Demand Media (2009)-Stages of Marketing Evolution Marketing Management-Major differences between selling concept and marketing concept.htm 5 stages of the marketing evolution process.htm