The difference between Sales and Marketing, tailored specifically for an entrepreneur's perspective.

The Core Analogy: The Fishing Trip

· Marketing is everything you do to get the fish to bite the hook. · Researching where the fish are (market research). · Choosing the right bait (messaging and value proposition). · Making the water look attractive (branding). · Chumming the water to create interest (content marketing, ads). · Sales is the act of reeling the fish in. · Setting the hook so it doesn't get away (handling objections). · Skillfully working the rod and reel to land it (negotiation and closing). · Getting the fish into the boat (securing the signed contract or payment).

One is useless without the other. If you have great bait but can't reel, you catch nothing. If you're a great angler but your bait is bad, the fish won't bite.