Marketing/sales representative vs direct sales representative

The differences between marketing/sales representatives and direct 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 a marketing/sales representative and a direct sales representative. Additionally, a marketing/sales representative has an average salary of $62,917, which is higher than the $43,527 average annual salary of a direct sales representative.

The top three skills for a marketing/sales representative include customer relations, business relationships and sales rep. The most important skills for a direct sales representative are customer service, direct sales, and TV.

Marketing/sales representative vs direct sales representative overview

	Marketing/Sales Representative	Direct Sales Representative
Yearly salary	$62,917	$43,527
Hourly rate	$30.25	$20.93
Growth rate	4%	4%
Number of jobs	274,768	159,668
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 66%	Bachelor's Degree, 53%
Average age	47	47
Years of experience	4	4

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.

What does a direct sales representative do?

As a direct sales representative, you are responsible for creating customer awareness of a company's products and services and closing sales. You will perform varied tasks that include assisting in developing and executing marketing and sales plans, conducting research on competing products, and identifying opportunities to improve sales. Additionally, you are expected to answer inquiries about product features, availability, benefits, and pricing. Other tasks that you are likely to perform include attending trade shows, preparing sales proposals for prospective buyers, and preparing sales reports.

Marketing/sales representative vs direct sales representative salary

Marketing/sales representatives and direct sales representatives have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Marketing/Sales Representative	Direct Sales Representative
Average salary	$62,917	$43,527
Salary range	Between $42,000 And $92,000	Between $27,000 And $69,000
Highest paying City	Seattle, WA	Salem, OR
Highest paying state	New Hampshire	Maine
Best paying company	Bosch USA	Google
Best paying industry	Finance	-

Differences between marketing/sales representative and direct sales representative education

There are a few differences between a marketing/sales representative and a direct sales representative in terms of educational background:

	Marketing/Sales Representative	Direct Sales Representative
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 66%	Bachelor's Degree, 53%
Most common major	Business	Business
Most common college	University of Pennsylvania	SUNY College of Technology at Alfred

Marketing/sales representative vs direct sales representative demographics

Here are the differences between marketing/sales representatives' and direct sales representatives' demographics:

	Marketing/Sales Representative	Direct Sales Representative
Average age	47	47
Gender ratio	Male, 53.1% Female, 46.9%	Male, 68.4% Female, 31.6%
Race ratio	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%	Black or African American, 3.8% Unknown, 3.7% Hispanic or Latino, 14.2% Asian, 5.1% White, 72.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2%
LGBT Percentage	6%	6%

Differences between marketing/sales representative and direct sales representative duties and responsibilities

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.

Direct sales representative example responsibilities.

Manage accounts and create invoices via QuickBooks.
Achieve and maintain high-volume sales output, for cell phones and broadband products to stay employ with company.
Contact medicare eligible recipients to sell medicare advantage plans through in-home meetings, community seminars and direct telesales.
Canvass assigned sales territory and solicit orders for new or upgrade cable, broadband and digital phone services.
Generate revenue by selling and upselling services while developing client base throughout territory.
Prospect and generate sales revenue by adding new program residential customers and cross selling and upselling current residential customers.

Marketing/sales representative vs direct sales representative skills

Common marketing/sales representative skills

Customer Relations, 16%
Business Relationships, 15%
Sales REP, 11%
Product Knowledge, 11%
Customer Service, 8%
Sales Territory, 3%

Common direct sales representative skills

Customer Service, 33%
Direct Sales, 20%
TV, 15%
Work Ethic, 4%
Technical Troubleshooting, 3%
Door-To-Door Sales, 3%

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Marketing/Sales Representative
Marketing/Sales Representative vs Direct Sales Representative

Updated January 8, 2025

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