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Inside product specialist vs marketing/sales representative

The differences between inside product specialists and marketing/sales representatives can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 2-4 years to become both an inside product specialist and a marketing/sales representative. Additionally, a marketing/sales representative has an average salary of $62,917, which is higher than the $34,230 average annual salary of an inside product specialist.

The top three skills for an inside product specialist include sales process, service offerings and customer relationships. The most important skills for a marketing/sales representative are customer relations, business relationships, and sales rep.

Inside product specialist vs marketing/sales representative overview

Inside Product SpecialistMarketing/Sales Representative
Yearly salary$34,230$62,917
Hourly rate$16.46$30.25
Growth rate4%4%
Number of jobs79,599274,768
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 72%Bachelor's Degree, 66%
Average age4747
Years of experience44

What does an inside product specialist do?

An Inside Product Specialist is typically in charge of securing product sales by reaching out to potential customers and businesses through calls and correspondence, building positive client relationships along the way. They offer products and services, discuss product specifications, introduce promotions, answer inquiries, arrange payment plans, and even process payments. Their responsibilities also include conducting research and analysis to find client and business opportunities, generating leads, and maintaining transaction records. Inside Product Specialists may perform follow-up calls, negotiate contracts, and address issues and concerns, resolving them promptly and efficiently.

What does a marketing/sales representative do?

The job of marketing/sales representatives is to pitch a company's products and services to potential customers. They work to drive brand awareness through face-to-face consumer interaction. They are often considered as a liaison between sellers and buyers, providing information about products and services. They promote human relationships through marketing collateral distribution and communication. Other responsibilities include planning and implementing marketing campaigns, maintaining good relationships with vendors and venues, and promoting business expansion opportunities. This role requires a bachelor's degree in business administration, communications and marketing experience, excellent communication skills, and time management skills.

Inside product specialist vs marketing/sales representative salary

Inside product specialists and marketing/sales representatives have different pay scales, as shown below.

Inside Product SpecialistMarketing/Sales Representative
Average salary$34,230$62,917
Salary rangeBetween $23,000 And $49,000Between $42,000 And $92,000
Highest paying City-Seattle, WA
Highest paying state-New Hampshire
Best paying company-Bosch USA
Best paying industry-Finance

Differences between inside product specialist and marketing/sales representative education

There are a few differences between an inside product specialist and a marketing/sales representative in terms of educational background:

Inside Product SpecialistMarketing/Sales Representative
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 72%Bachelor's Degree, 66%
Most common majorBusinessBusiness
Most common collegeUniversity of PennsylvaniaUniversity of Pennsylvania

Inside product specialist vs marketing/sales representative demographics

Here are the differences between inside product specialists' and marketing/sales representatives' demographics:

Inside Product SpecialistMarketing/Sales Representative
Average age4747
Gender ratioMale, 72.7% Female, 27.3%Male, 53.1% Female, 46.9%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 3.9% Unknown, 3.7% Hispanic or Latino, 14.6% Asian, 5.2% White, 72.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2%Black or African American, 3.9% Unknown, 3.7% Hispanic or Latino, 14.6% Asian, 5.2% White, 72.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2%
LGBT Percentage6%6%

Differences between inside product specialist and marketing/sales representative duties and responsibilities

Inside product specialist example responsibilities.

  • Manage telephone relationships with senior management of client companies to troubleshoot and develop product.
  • Log all communications with customers in CRM contact database.
  • Account analysis and preparation, assessing customer needs, and preparation of professional sales recommendations tailor to each customer s business.
  • Full cycle from interest generation to close and track all activity via Salesforce.com.
  • Experience in Salesforce.com, deal registering and forecasting pipelines.
  • Analyze customer current/project electrical usage and ROI.

Marketing/sales representative example responsibilities.

  • Track all leads activity, leads/opportunities and manage reports using Salesforce.com.
  • Utilize CRM database to manage and track prospect interaction to ensure accurate documentation of window requirements and ongoing communication.
  • Serve as a product specialist to sales team for web design, paid search, SEO and social media services.
  • Develop working knowledge of Salesforce, customer relationship management software.
  • Incorporate videos, PowerPoint presentations and interactive tools in both comprehensive courses.
  • Plan, organize and execute informational seminars and luncheons incorporating PowerPoint presentations.
  • Show more

Inside product specialist vs marketing/sales representative skills

Common inside product specialist skills
  • Sales Process, 22%
  • Service Offerings, 12%
  • Customer Relationships, 9%
  • Technical Support, 9%
  • Strategic Product, 9%
  • Sales Organization, 8%
Common marketing/sales representative skills
  • Customer Relations, 16%
  • Business Relationships, 15%
  • Sales REP, 11%
  • Product Knowledge, 11%
  • Customer Service, 8%
  • Sales Territory, 3%