Difference Between Marketing and Branding

Branding and marketing are two vital business function that works together with the aim of increasing revenue. The activities are used to bring awareness of a product or company among people. They are so closely interconnected that people often do not realise the difference between marketing and branding. While marketing involves an array of activities carried out to sell a product or service, that starts from ascertaining the customer needs to providing them with the product required.

On the other hand, branding encompasses activities that create a name or an image of a product, by occupying a place in the consumer’s mind. It is not just about people choosing your product over the competition, but also, they are seeing your product as the ultimate solution to their problem. It helps in building long term relationship with the customers.

In this article, you may find the necessary differences between marketing and branding.

Content: Marketing Vs Branding

1. Comparison Chart
2. Definition
3. Key Differences
4. Conclusion

Comparison Chart

Basis for Comparison	Marketing	Branding
Meaning	A range of activities carried out by the company to bring together buyers and sellers to promote exchange of goods and services is Marketing.	Branding is the practice of assigning a brand name to a product, that helps consumers recognize and identify the company producing it.
For whom?	For business	For customers
What it does?	Cultivates customers	Builds customer loyalty
Influences	Customer's immediate decision to buy.	Buying decision by leaving an impact on the consumer's mind.
Showcases	Benefits	Dreams
Strategy	Push	Pull
Value	Promotes intended value	Reinforces value
Drives	Periodic sales	Enduring reputation
Creates	Needs	Relationships
Speaks to	Intended audience	Emotions

Definition of Marketing

Marketing is defined as the management process, that brings together the company and the consumers, that results in the exchange of goods and services for consideration. It encompasses a range of activities, i.e. exploring, creating, advertising, selling and delivering products or services that have value to people at a profit. It is not just telling and selling but includes all the activities done to acquire customers and build a relationship with them.

The process involves identifying the unfulfilled customer requirements, determining the size of the target market and profit aspects, ascertaining which unit of the enterprise will serve best to the customers, promoting the products or services with the aim of selling, building client and customer relationship and much more.

The basics of marketing can be understood as a combination and coordination of 4P’s i.e. product, price, place and promotion called as the marketing mix.

Definition of Branding

To understand the term branding, first of all, you need to know what is a brand? A brand is a name, logo, sign, mark, slogan or a combination of thereof, used to recognise and differentiate products or services from other sellers. Branding is a set of activities that involves creating a distinct and memorable name or an image for a product or service that occupies a place in consumer’s mind, by using advertising tools.

Branding is a marketing practice, done with the aim of setting up a remarkable presence in the market to attract customers and retain them for a long time. It establishes trust, reinforces the value and enhances the experience with the product or company.

Conclusion

Marketing is the first step taken by the company to cultivate consumer needs and a market for their product. In contrast to branding, that follows marketing and aims at creating value for customers.