posted by David Peterson on February 3, 2007 at 08:47 AM PST
I have had websites since 1996 and have been selling products in conjunction with the web since about that time.
What I have noticed is that every couple of years the Marketing Departments along with their IT counterparts come up with a brainstorm... "Let's move everything to the web and get rid of the salespeople. Just think of all the money in commissions we can save!"
Well, even though web sales are climbing through the roof the age old profession of sales rep is also still alive and kicking.
The reason why you still need salespeople is that IT people get Marketing and Sales confused. The article states that you don't want to leave your Internet Marketing to IT professionals but I want to take it a step further... Don't let your Marketing professionals try to be salespeople.
The reason companies hire specialist like IT, Marketing, and Sales is to allow the people with those skills to do what they do best. Do your company a favor, if you need marketing help call the Marketing Department, if you need sales help call the Sales Department, and if you need infrastructure help call the IT Department, don’t get these three mixed up.
