Distinguish between advertising and personal selling.
Advertising and personal selling are both essential components of the promotional mix used by companies to communicate with their target audiences and persuade them to purchase their products or services. However, they are different in several key aspects:
1. Nature of Communication
Advertising: This is a form of mass communication. It’s a one-to-many communication approach where a single advertisement can reach a large number of potential customers at once. Examples include TV commercials, radio spots, print ads, and online banner ads.
Personal Selling: This is a form of individualized communication. It’s a one-to-one communication approach where a salesperson interacts directly with a single potential customer or a small group.
2. Feedback
Advertising: Immediate feedback is typically limited. It’s hard to gauge the direct impact of an advertisement unless it’s linked with a specific call to action (like a promo code).
Personal Selling: The salesperson receives immediate feedback during the interaction. They can adjust their message based on the responses or concerns raised by the potential customer.
3. Cost
Advertising: It can be expensive, especially for high-profile mediums like TV or popular online platforms.
Personal Selling: While the individual act of personal selling might be less costly than a major advertising campaign, maintaining a sales team, their training, and other related expenses can add up.
4. Control
Advertising: Once an advertisement is released, it remains consistent for everyone who sees or hears it.
Personal Selling: The message can be tailored based on the customer’s needs, responses, and objections. Salespeople can adapt their pitches accordingly.
5. Scope of Influence
Advertising: Aims to create awareness and interest among a vast audience. Its messages are often more general unless targeting a specific niche.
Personal Selling: Focuses on converting interest into sales and is more detailed and persuasive. The salesperson can address specific needs or concerns of the potential customer.
6. Duration
Advertising: An advertisement might run for a specific period, and its influence lasts as long as the campaign is active and sometimes beyond that if it’s memorable.
Personal Selling: The interaction is temporary but can leave a lasting impression, especially if it results in a strong relationship between the salesperson and the customer.
7. Objective
Advertising: The primary goals are to inform, persuade, and remind a broad audience about the product or service.
Personal Selling: While the ultimate goal is often to close a sale, personal selling also focuses on building relationships, handling objections, and offering solutions tailored to individual needs.
8. Medium
Advertising: Uses mediums like television, radio, print, online platforms, billboards, etc.
Personal Selling: Uses face-to-face interactions, phone calls, video calls, etc.
Both advertising and personal selling play crucial roles in the marketing efforts of many businesses, and they often complement each other. For instance, advertising might generate awareness and interest in a product, while personal selling ensures the conversion of that interest into actual sales.