Digital Marketing and Digital Sales are both strategies to increase revenue, but they differ in their goals, focus and time frame

Digital Marketing (also known as Online Marketing) vs Digital Sales are like two besties who hang out all the time, but have very different personalities
Let’s break it down … and imagine you’re hosting a party. (Work with me here)

Summary of what Digital Marketing & Digital Sales bring to the Party?

In business terms, here’s how they differ:

Digital Marketing = Attracting Attention

Digital Marketing is all about getting people interested in what you offer
It’s the process of raising awareness, building relationships and creating a buzz.
Think of it as the “Hey, check this out!” part of the journey.

Key focus areas include:

✅ Content creation (blogs, videos, social posts)
✅ SEO (so people can find you)
✅ Social Media campaigns (the memes, the ads, the stories)
✅ Email marketing (those clever newsletters)

Online or Digital Marketing is like planting seeds in your audience’s minds, making them think “Hmm, I might need that soon.”

Digital Sales = Closing the Deal

Things get more direct with Digital Sales
It’s about converting interest into action—guiding customers to the checkout page and making sure they hit that “Buy Now” button
The “Here’s how you get your hands on it!” part of the journey.

Key focus areas include:

✅ E-commerce (online stores)
✅ Mobile commerce (app-based sales)
✅ Chatbots and AI (answering questions and guiding purchases)
✅ CRM tools (keeping track of leads and follow-ups)
✅ Affiliate and influencer deals (bringing in the final push)

Digital Sales turns curiosity into cash.

The Main Difference? Their Role in the Customer Journey

Digital Marketing brings people to your store.
Digital Sales makes sure they buy something before they leave.

Think of it like this:
👉 Marketing says, “Hey! We’ve got amazing coffee.”
👉 Sales says, “Would you like that in a large or extra large?”

Both are essential and they work best when they’re in sync.
After all, there’s no point in having a store full of visitors if no one buys – and you can’t make sales if no one knows you exist!

So, in summary:
Marketing = Awareness
Sales = Action
Together, they make the magic happen!

On search engines like Google: A user searching for information about a product might click on an organic search result (SEO) or a paid ad (SEM) – this is digital marketing at work.
If the user then clicks on a Product Listing Ad (PLA) or proceeds to purchase the product on the website, that’s digital sales in action.
Both digital marketing and digital sales are crucial for online success.
They require different skill sets and strategies but must be aligned to achieve overall business objectives.

Semrush ..Digital marketing or online marketing, is the practice of promoting products and services using digital channels.
In contrast to traditional marketing—think billboards and print media—digital marketing mostly happens online, using internet-connected technologies and online marketing tactics.
A digital marketing strategy is the backbone of many modern businesses. Why?
Because it’s quick and cost-effective. And allows for granular targeting”

Shutterstock explains  ..”Digital sales strategies focus on the sales process, the target market and general sales goals.
Digital marketing, however, is a longer-term process that focuses more on identifying the needs of customers in general. Digital marketing focuses on a larger target audience as opposed to a single interaction”

Thought I’d throw in a couple of good quotes on this topic too:

 Marketing:

“The best marketing doesn’t feel like marketing.” — Tom Fishburne
“Ignoring online marketing is like opening a business but not telling anyone.”KB Marketing Agency

 Sales :

“Advertising brings in the customers, but it is your job to keep them buying from you.” Chet Holmes
“Our jobs as marketers are to understand how the customer wants to buy and help them to do so.”
Bryan Eisenberg

A final word of advice!?
“It doesn’t matter if sales or marketing generated the lead, what matters is closing the deal.” Cindy Zhou

Need Help?
Call the JumpStart Digital Sales Team on  02 5698 5445