Marketing is why they walk into your shop.

Sales is why they leave with a receipt.

If you can’t tell the difference, keep reading!Hey Small Business Owners, please gather around.

You’ve heard “Marketing” and “Sales” thrown around like confetti at a wedding.

But let’s be real, if you still think they’re the same thing, you’re leaking money… and possibly sanity.

Let me break it down for you in the simplest way possible.Ready? Let’s roll.

☑️ Marketing

Making Friends Before You Need Them.Imagine you’re at Owino Market, not shouting like a crazy person. Instead, you:

Display your what you do/have – That’s like your content. It says, “Hey, this is what I do. Isn’t it awesome?”

✅ Start small talk

That’s your brand story. Why you do what you do. Why you care.

✅ Hang out where your buyers hang out

If you sell baby stuff, why are you advertising at a car wash?

Get yourself to that mum’s WhatsApp group! That’s marketing.

It’s long game stuff. You’re creating awareness, trust, and top-of-mind real estate.

When your “new friend” finally needs what you sell – guess what? You’re the one they remember.

But let me be spicy for a second:

❎ Posting random stuff online is not marketing.

❎ Posting 47 flyers on your status every day without a strategy is just… visual noise.

So, as someone looking to make new friends (aka customers), every piece of content must be intentional.

Otherwise, you’re just vibing, not making friends.

Now let’s talk about sales, the moment of truth.

☑️ Sales = Turning Friends Into Customer.

You’ve made a good impression. Think of sales as the “Yes” after a great first date.

Now it’s about turning “Hey, I like what you do” into “Here’s my money.

If you’re constantly marketing but not selling, you’re a content creator – not a business owner.

And if you’re trying to sell without marketing, you’re just a stranger yelling into the void.

Marketing without sales is like dating someone’s daughter for 3 years without saying your intentions.

You’re walking her, feeding her, texting her every morning… and still haven’t said, “Will you be mine?”Tiring. Emotionally. Financially. Spiritually.

So yes, you have amazing products and services.

But here’s the real question:

✅ How do we buy from you?

✅ Where’s your price list?

✅ Where’s your website or order form?

Why must we DM you like we’re asking for classified information from State House?

You’re making it hard for people to give you their money. No one wants to go on a digital treasure hunt just to find out how to buy your makeup bundles.

This is not a spy mission.It’s business. Not a high school telenovela.

Stop playing hard to get.Buying should be effortless.

You ask how?

✔️ Put your prices where we can see them.

✔️ Share your location clearly (not just “we deliver countrywide” 🙄).

✔️ If you do deliveries, explain how and how much.Make it easy, make it clear & watch the money come in.