{"id":1300,"date":"2025-04-16T11:00:00","date_gmt":"2025-04-16T11:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.pascaller.com\/?p=1300"},"modified":"2025-04-30T11:03:11","modified_gmt":"2025-04-30T11:03:11","slug":"b2c-sales-a-comparison-with-b2b-and-how-to-do-them-right","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.pascaller.com\/index.php\/2025\/04\/16\/b2c-sales-a-comparison-with-b2b-and-how-to-do-them-right\/","title":{"rendered":"B2C Sales: A Comparison With B2B and How to Do Them Right"},"content":{"rendered":"
Throughout my career, my sales experience has been rooted in B2B SaaS. I understood, in theory, the differences between B2B vs. B2C sales, but I didn\u2019t truly<\/em> grasp the reality until I had the chance to sell directly to a customer for the first time.<\/p>\n Suddenly, I was in an entirely different arena. Gone were the long sales cycles, the decision-making committees, and the endless follow-ups. Instead, I was speaking to individuals, making split-second connections, and tapping into emotions rather than logic. What was once a strategic, process-driven approach had transformed into a fast-paced, emotionally charged interaction.<\/p>\n I was selling a subscription to a digital product, and during training, we were handed a pitch that was supposed to \u201cwork.\u201d At first, I stuck to the script. But, I quickly realized that I had far more success when I focused on sparking an emotional response rather than following a rigid formula.<\/p>\n In this article, I\u2019ll break down the key differences between B2B and B2C sales from what I have learned. More importantly, I\u2019ll show you how to succeed in B2C (because, trust me, it takes a lot more than just a great product).<\/p>\n Table of Contents<\/strong><\/p>\n B2C stands for business to consumer. B2C sales is the sale of products or services to individual consumers, through a third-party website, in-person, or online.<\/p>\n In B2C sales, you might be selling a single product or many products within a single category. Or, you might work with a brand like Amazon that sells many different kinds of products. B2C sales roles sell for direct-to-consumer (DTC) brands. They also help B2C sellers who work with other businesses before they connect with their customers.<\/p>\n B2C ecommerce is a popular sales spot. Per Statista, the estimated value of retail ecommerce is steadily increasing each year and will reach almost $1.8 trillion<\/a> by 2028.<\/p>\n Source<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n B2C sales includes:<\/p>\n There are many different ways that businesses sell to consumers. B2C businesses include:<\/p>\n Because marketing plays such a big role in B2C, sales in B2C are often overlooked. Instead, B2C sales is often defined in comparison to B2B sales.<\/p>\n <\/a> <\/p>\n There are many overlaps in B2B and B2C sales. In fact, many businesses have both B2B and B2C sales teams within the same organization.<\/p>\n For example, a hotel will have a B2C sales team that works with individual or small groups of travelers to book travel and events. At the same time, their B2B sales team will work with corporate groups to negotiate rates. This team may also develop wholesale relationships with booking agents and travel agencies.<\/p>\n There are also similarities between B2B and B2C sales. To be effective in sales, you must:<\/p>\n Though there are many ways these two approaches to sales are alike, let\u2019s talk about some key differences.<\/p>\n <\/a> <\/p>\n During my time in B2B sales for a tech company, we had a promising potential client who was highly interested in our product after a successful demo. However, despite their enthusiasm, the deal kept stalling due to a lengthy bureaucratic approval process.<\/p>\n At some point, we discovered that this client was already working with one of our technology partners. Recognizing an opportunity, we reached out to our partner, who then introduced our product to the client within their existing business relationship. This endorsement provided the credibility and push needed to finalize the sale.<\/p>\n By sharing this experience, I am trying to reinforce the power of partnerships in B2B sales. Collaborating with established partners builds trust, accelerates decision-making, and ultimately helps close deals more efficiently.<\/p>\n Unlike B2B, B2C sales mostly involve direct engagement with individual consumers. Since the decision-making process is more personal and immediate, B2C businesses focus on marketing, customer experience, and direct sales channels rather than leveraging partnerships to approach customers.<\/p>\n In B2B, especially when selling tech products, strong after-sales support is an added benefit. Businesses often require feature modifications, troubleshooting, and ongoing training to fully integrate the software into their operations. A well-supported client is more likely to continue using the product effectively and see its long-term value.<\/p>\n Even though after-sales service wasn\u2019t part of my official job description, I made it a habit to check in with my point of contact. Not only did this strengthen my relationship, but it also created opportunities for potential upselling.<\/p>\n Pro tip: <\/strong>Staying engaged post-sale ensures the business remains satisfied and reinforces trust in your company.<\/p>\n While customer service exists in B2C, it operates differently compared to B2B. After-sales support is often not directly linked to sales, and it usually serves as a separate department in the company.<\/p>\n Individual purchases tend to be lower in complexity and value (more on this in the next point). For fast-moving consumer goods, customer service is almost nonexistent, as products are designed for quick, hassle-free consumption with minimal follow-up required.<\/p>\n B2B products are often high in value. B2B consumers usually want to know the return on investment (ROI)<\/a> and lifetime value (LTV)<\/a> before deciding to take the risk or limit it.<\/p>\n B2C products and services usually have lower prices than B2B products. This is because many B2C products involve one-time quick purchases, and it doesn\u2019t always take a salesperson to close a deal.<\/p>\n B2B sales will work with a larger number of stakeholders. During the sales process, B2B sales may need to sell their products and services to many people in an organization.<\/p>\n This might include:<\/p>\n This complexity can make it challenging to stay focused during the sales process. For instance, I once participated in an online demo for a leading U.S. space agency, where over 15 people were on the call. No one had their cameras on.<\/p>\n Establishing a connection felt nearly impossible, and I later discovered that many attendees were neither decision-makers nor end users. In such scenarios, the conversation feels less impactful, and it\u2019s harder to drive the sale forward.<\/p>\n In contrast, B2C sales involve individual customers who typically navigate the buyer\u2019s journey<\/a> independently. For high-value purchases like cars or homes, they may seek input from partners, friends, or family, but the decision-making process is generally more straightforward than in B2B sales. The focus for a salesperson in B2C sales is usually always the end consumer.<\/p>\n The sales cycle in B2B is significantly longer and more involved. It often includes numerous steps such as lunches, pitches, product demos, and multiple rounds of discussions.<\/p>\n In my previous role, I was sent by the company to various cities to attend tech conferences and connect with potential customers. I recall a three-day event where, after several discussions with a prospect, he expressed interest in meeting with senior leaders from my team.<\/p>\n By the time we managed to schedule and hold that first meeting, two weeks had passed. By sharing this experience I mean to highlight how crucial patience is in B2B sales and how it\u2019s normal for things to take time to align.<\/p>\n Pro tip: <\/strong>As the sales cycle is relatively long in B2B, I suggest spending more time trying to sell directly to C-level executives and decision-makers. It\u2019s helpful to remember that 57% of C-level and VP buyers<\/a> prefer to be contacted by phone.<\/p>\n B2C sales typically feature a quicker path to purchase. While consumers may rely on reviews, their buying decisions are often faster, especially in retail. B2C sales cycles are generally more impulsive, with customers making quicker decisions compared to the extended, methodical processes in B2B.<\/p>\n Marketing plays a significant role in getting B2C customers onto lead lists, with social channels, affiliate programs, and ads contributing to brand awareness. Once the customer is engaged, the sales process tends to be much faster.<\/p>\n B2B Sales<\/strong><\/p>\n In B2B sales, success doesn\u2019t come easily. It requires a significant investment of time and effort to establish a reputation in the industry. I remember when I first started at the tech company, I was the least experienced salesperson on a team of eight.<\/p>\n My first major challenge was responding to an RFP from a large oil and gas company. The document shared by that company was hundreds of pages long, and as part of my role, I had to craft a proposal that demonstrated how our solution could meet their needs.<\/p>\n I spent a lot of my early days working on this. Naturally, I wasn\u2019t producing immediate<\/em> sales results. It was a humbling experience that reshaped my expectations of success in the B2B sales process.<\/p>\n It\u2019s easier to demonstrate your ability as a salesperson in B2C sales. From a career\u2019s point of view as well, B2C sales is more approachable and easier to enter. With shorter sales cycles and less complex decisions, sales are typically easier to achieve. So, it\u2019s simpler to showcase your effectiveness and prove you can excel in the role.<\/p>\n B2B purchases present more risk to the business. They often have the potential to disrupt systems and processes that the business relies on. To convince a range of stakeholders, facts are usually the most effective strategy.<\/p>\n Customer testimonials play a more significant role in establishing credibility. Also, certain social media platforms play a role in reaching a decision. For instance, YouTube is a key resource for B2B buyers, with around 65% relying on it for purchase insights.<\/p>\n Source<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n The buying process in B2B is more calculated and deliberate as it\u2019s likely to have an impact on their long-term decisions.<\/p>\n A B2C buyer is often resolving an urgent need. Because of this, B2C sales are often emotional or impulsive. So, B2C sales reps often need to compete with word-of-mouth, habits, cravings, and advertising to get a consumer to switch brands.<\/p>\n For expensive or long-term purchases, like choosing a college or planning a wedding, B2C consumers may approach the buying process more like B2B buyers.<\/p>\n Most B2B buyers are purchasing on behalf of their business. This means that a committee makes most decisions, not the people who use the product.<\/p>\n Because of this, a B2B salesperson may need several different strategies for selling a single product.<\/p>\n B2C buyers are buying for themselves. This means that sales strategies will target the individual and the needs that they share at the moment.<\/p>\n In B2B, there is usually a smaller number of potential business leads, and salespeople spend more time with each lead. I feel that is great because they know how to focus their sales efforts.<\/p>\n But it\u2018s a challenge because the long cycle and defined lead pool give competitors more chances to break in before you close a sale.<\/p>\n B2C sales may have a base of millions of potential customers. Sales and lead volumes are high, but the leads aren\u2019t always the right fit.<\/p>\n It\u2019s often a B2C sales job to identify the right leads, and time management<\/a> is key. The more time you spend on a lead that won\u2019t close, the less likely you are to meet your sales goals.<\/p>\n Because most B2B buyers are purchasing on behalf of their company, they have a budget to work with and usually an internal approval process. This might mean a slow timeline but less interest in discounts.<\/p>\n A B2C consumer usually buys with their own money, so they tend to invest more in discounts. This is especially true in industries where discounts are the norm, like travel and hospitality.<\/p>\n The high price point and low number of quality leads in B2B sales usually demands a higher cost of acquisition. Because B2B deals involve longer sales cycles, extensive nurturing, and multiple decision-makers, companies must invest heavily in personalized outreach, account-based marketing, and sales team efforts.<\/p>\n I suggest checking out this post on the differences between B2B and B2C marketing<\/a> to learn more.<\/p>\n Most of the CAC in B2C goes toward marketing. Businesses can rely on digital marketing strategies such as social media posts and influencer collaborations to attract and convert customers at scale. B2C sales in industries like travel and education may have a higher CAC.<\/p>\n B2B salespeople are working with experts in their industries and selling complex products and services. The sales experience is derived more by the depth of industry knowledge, the ability to provide tailored solutions, and the strength of relationships built throughout the process.<\/p>\n I believe that nowadays social selling is a game-changer. Research shows that sales leaders who embrace social selling are 51% more likely<\/a> to hit their quotas than those who don\u2019t. Even more compelling, 78% of social sellers outperform<\/strong> their peers who aren\u2019t constantly active on social media.<\/p>\n I suggest going to this article if you want to learn more about rocking the B2B sales experience<\/a>.<\/p>\n B2C sales are generally simpler and more transactional. Many B2C brands have embraced meme marketing to boost engagement and build brand recognition. As there\u2019s a big overlap between B2C marketing and sales (more on this below), I think the sales process has also become more casual.<\/p>\n For example, a brand that adopts Gen Z language to connect with a younger audience instantly feels more relatable. Also, as most B2C purchases involve lower risk, there\u2019s typically less need for an in-depth sales strategy or extensive buyer nurturing.<\/p>\n The creator economy and the rise of B2B ecommerce have blurred some of the lines between B2B and B2C sales in the last several years. Consumers today have more direct access to products and services than ever before.<\/p>\n These shifts mean that both B2C and B2B salespeople need to be flexible and adapt themselves to the changing market. Many B2B companies have also started operating on the emotions of a smaller group of individual leaders. So, businesses now make quicker and more emotional investments than businesses of the past.<\/p>\n <\/a> <\/p>\n Whether you are selling cars, houses, or gym memberships, B2C engagement depends on what is being sold and who is selling it.<\/p>\n But, I think there are a few common challenges in the B2C sales process that you can tackle to improve engagement.<\/p>\n Because B2C salespeople get leads from a variety of sources, they run the risk of losing leads quicker than they can contact them.<\/p>\n For example, an online lead may be easy to convert, but a drop-in or offline lead may get lost in the shuffle of everyday tasks. Check out this resource to make the most of your sales pipeline<\/a>.<\/p>\n The high volume of incoming B2C leads makes it difficult to keep nurturing leads<\/a> who are further down the pipeline. Time management and prioritizing is essential. These skills can help you keep quality leads engaged and assess whether incoming leads can return value.<\/p>\n Keeping your notes in a single system like the HubSpot CRM<\/a> platform makes it easier to create and review notes, then quickly return customer calls.<\/p>\n I\u2019ve found that adding a CRM can also help your business collect more reliable data to update your outreach strategies.<\/p>\n Many sales reps stop learning after their initial training. But, continuous training is important for salespeople to set expectations for consumers. Product knowledge is more than closing a deal \u2014 it\u2019s about delighting your customers.<\/p>\n Let\u2019s talk about how to excel at B2C sales.<\/p>\n <\/a> <\/p>\n I highly recommend having a solid picture of your target demographic when devising your B2C marketing and sales strategies. You\u2019ll waste a lot of time, effort, and money trying to indiscriminately appeal to anyone and everyone. Do some research, understand your customer base, and develop detailed buyer personas.<\/p>\n As per HubSpot\u2019s definition<\/a>, a buyer persona is \u201ca semi-fictional representation of your ideal customer based on market research and real data about your existing customers.\u201d<\/p>\n Make your buyer persona today!<\/a><\/p>\n For instance, say I knit and sell kitten sweaters. I notice that 50-to-70-year-old cat lovers from rural areas make up a significant part of my business. I use that information to develop a buyer persona specific to those qualities.<\/p>\n That base is probably going to gravitate toward a different brand of sales than young professionals in their twenties. My experience with B2C sales has made me understand who I\u2019m appealing to, so I tailor my messaging and sales pitches accordingly.<\/p>\n Pro tip:<\/strong> Use the Make My Persona<\/a> tool to create custom buyer personas for your target products and services. Using this persona, remember important details while you\u2019re working with customers.<\/p>\n If I am personally interfacing with my customers, I\u2019m going to need to put them at ease and earn their trust throughout the sales process. I do this by understanding their needs and sell on that basis.<\/p>\n B2C selling is personal. I\u2019m convincing a single consumer to spend their own money to accommodate their individual needs. That means I have to give them a personal stake in my pitch and messaging. The best way to do that is to let them know that I\u2019m invested in their best interests.<\/p>\n Offer thoughtful insights and direct your conversations without dominating them. Be authentic. And do what you can to make your customers understand that you have both the know-how and genuine desire to solve their problems with your product or service.<\/p>\n Pro tip: <\/strong>The goal is to increase the chances of building rapport and talking to the right person. For a more in-depth look at needs-based selling, check out this article<\/a>.<\/p>\n If you think most of your business will happen online, I recommend keeping track of your ecommerce conversion rate<\/a>. That figure is the most crucial metric in determining the health of your online business and the efficacy of your online messaging.<\/p>\n Having a great product or service is one thing. Making it readily accessible and attractive for purchase is another.<\/p>\n To improve your B2C sales online, you should look into taking steps like:<\/p>\n It can only help to take these kinds of strides. Giving your prospective customers a smooth, accessible user experience on your site is a great way to improve your online B2C sales.<\/p>\n Pro tip:<\/strong> Business analytics can help you add urgency to your favorite selling points. This quick, free analytics course<\/a> can help you use your consumer data for more effective selling.<\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n
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Defining B2C: How B2C Companies Sell to Consumers<\/strong><\/h2>\n
<\/p>\n
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<\/p>\n
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The Difference Between B2B and B2C Sales<\/h2>\n
<\/p>\n
Using Partners to Approach Customers<\/h3>\n
B2B Sales<\/strong><\/h4>\n
B2C Sales<\/strong><\/h4>\n
After-Sales Customer Service<\/h3>\n
B2B Sales<\/strong><\/h4>\n
B2C Sales<\/strong><\/h4>\n
Value per Customer and Purchase Risk<\/h3>\n
B2B Sales<\/strong><\/h4>\n
B2C Sales<\/strong><\/h4>\n
Focus as a Salesperson<\/h3>\n
B2B Sales<\/strong><\/h4>\n
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B2C Sales<\/strong><\/h4>\n
Sales Cycle<\/h3>\n
B2B Sales<\/strong><\/h4>\n
B2C Sales<\/strong><\/h4>\n
Success as a Salesperson<\/h3>\n
B2C Sales<\/strong><\/h4>\n
Decision-Making Differences<\/h3>\n
B2B Sales<\/strong><\/h4>\n
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B2C Sales<\/strong><\/h4>\n
Product Usage<\/h3>\n
B2B Sales<\/strong><\/h4>\n
B2C Sales<\/strong><\/h4>\n
Number of Leads per Salesperson<\/h3>\n
B2B Sales<\/strong><\/h4>\n
B2C Sales<\/strong><\/h4>\n
Influence of Discounts<\/h3>\n
B2B Sales<\/strong><\/h4>\n
B2C Sales<\/strong><\/h4>\n
Customer Acquisition Cost (CAC)<\/h3>\n
B2B Sales<\/strong><\/h4>\n
B2C Sales<\/strong><\/h4>\n
Sales Experience<\/h3>\n
B2B Sales<\/strong><\/h4>\n
B2C Sales<\/strong><\/h4>\n
How different are B2B and B2C sales really?<\/strong><\/h3>\n
B2C Engagement<\/strong><\/h2>\n
Prevent lead leakage.<\/strong><\/h3>\n
Nurture leads at every stage of the buyer\u2019s journey.<\/strong><\/h3>\n
Stay organized.<\/strong><\/h3>\n
Know your product.<\/strong><\/h3>\n
B2C Sales Tips<\/strong><\/h2>\n
1. Understand who you\u2019re selling to.<\/strong><\/h3>\n
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2. Establish rapport if you\u2019re selling face-to-face.<\/strong><\/h3>\n
3. Bolster your ecommerce presence if your business is online.<\/strong><\/h3>\n
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