If you're reading this, chances are you work in sales. We all know that the b2b vs b2c sales difference can be confusing for newbies to the industry. 

It's hard enough figuring out what it means when b2b and b2c are used interchangeably  but now there is b2c and b2b sales? 

What does b mean, anyway? 

Well hold on to your hats! This article will break down everything from A-Z so that by the end of it all, you'll have a solid understanding of what both Bs stand for - as well as how they differ from one another.

B 2 B stands for business, as in B-to-B or B 2 B sales. It means that the business is selling their products and services to another business instead of directly to consumers (the b stands for business). 

This can get further broken down into two types - Business to Consumer (b_c) and Business To Business (b_b). 

B 2 B means that you're selling to other businesses, while B 2 C can be used in a more general sense for any business where consumers aren't directly involved.

B 2 B is a more specific term for selling to businesses who in turn sell the products they purchase from you to their customers. B 2 C , on the other hand, can be used any time that consumers aren't involved - even if it's just with another business!

Now that we've got B2B vs B2C sales out of the way, let's talk B 2 B sales. B 2 B stands for business to business, meaning that you're selling to other businesses instead of end consumers, or B 2 C . 

Sometimes this is even called b-to-b marketing, but the main thing it means is that there isn't a consumer involved in either side of the transaction.

B 2 B 2 Can be further categorized into B 2 B sales and B 2 B marketing. B 2 B sales is what most people think of when they hear the term, which means that you're selling to other businesses who will then resell your product or service to their customers.

B 2 B marketing doesn't involve any type of transactions between actual companies - instead it's just business-to-business marketing, or B 2 B marketing. 

For example, if you're advertising on LinkedIn to other businesses (but not actually trying to sell them anything), that would be B 2 B marketing.

B 2 B is the shortest definition of what b stands for in sales terms - but it's far from being the most complicated! Now let's talk about B 2 C, B 2 B sales.

B2B vs B2C sales is short for business-to-consumer B 2 B , meaning that you're selling to consumers directly but the product they buy will then be used by a company or another type of organization (most likely, anyway). 

This is most often called B 2 C and B 2 B marketing and it's what most people think of when they think B 2 B .

 B 2 B signifies that you're selling directly to consumers. 

This can be important for sales jobs because there are some companies who only hire people with experience in B 2 B , while others do not require it at all. 

If you're applying to a company, make sure that they don't have requirements beyond your skill set!

When B2B vs B2C sales are used interchangeably, it can be hard to get a clear picture of what's really going on. 

B 2 C marketing is the most common type of B 2 B , while you're more likely to see B 2 B when talking about companies who specifically do business-to-business sales (as opposed to all types).

What is the difference between B2B and B2C sales??

This is a common question for B 2 B and B 2 C job seekers. The difference between B 2 B and B 2 C sales isn't what you might think it is, though!

The biggest thing to remember about the differences between B 2 C and B 2 B (and even more specifically, B 2 C marketing vs  b-to-b marketing) is that B 2 B and B 2 B marketing is all about selling to businesses, while B 2 C means that you're not.

B 2 C sales does require more skills than B 2 B , since it typically involves a lot of cold calling (and even rejection) - but this doesn't mean that the two are mutually exclusive!

 Once you've got your foot in the door with B 2 B , you'll be able to use your experience to transition into b-to-c sales if that's what you want.

On the other hand, it's entirely possible for someone with B 2 C sales experience to make the move into B 2 B . 

This usually involves a shift in focus - instead of selling directly to consumers, you're selling to B 2 B 2 Companies who will then sell your products or services for you.

In a nutshell, B 2 B is about selling to businesses and B 2 C sales is all about reaching consumers directly! 

Of course there's a lot more going on - but this should give any job seeker the basic rundown of what they need to know in order to make better B 2 B and B 2 C sales career decisions.

While B 2 B and B 2 C sound like they mean exactly the same thing, there are some key differences between them that can be super important for your next job search. 

Of course if you already know which one fits best with your skillset , this doesn't mean anything - B 2 B and B 2 C jobs are different in terms of their sales focus, but not really on who they hire.

The biggest difference between B 2 B and B 2 C companies is the way that these businesses interact with customers. 

If you've got experience working on one side or another, this knowledge can help your job search immensely. B 2 B 2 Companies focus on the needs of businesses, while B 2 C sales is all about reaching consumers directly.

B 2 B and B 2 C can be a little bit confusing to keep track of - but if you think carefully about the main difference between the two, it makes everything much easier! 

Think of it this way: B 2 C marketing means that your B 2 B  Company sells to consumers, while B 2 B means that you're selling directly to B 2 C companies.

What are the similarities and differences between B2C and B2B sales?

1. Regardless of their length, B2B and B2C sales each require a specific sales process with a well-defined approach.

2. Both B2B and B2C sales demand a solid marketing alignment. Sales will suffer on both sides if marketing communications are poor.

3. Regardless of the manner of selling, customer service is critical. It is critical that the consumer or organisation using your products and services be able to contact the service staff and receive prompt attention.

Is Amazon a B2B or B2C?

Amazon is best described as B 2 B , but it can also be considered B 2 C . Amazon is B 2 B in the sense that they sell to other businesses, but it can be considered B 2 C because there are a number of consumers who rely on and interact with Amazon. It provides sellers with the ability to reactivate their Amazon seller account in case they got suspended and continue grow their business."

AmazonSupply was replaced by Amazon Business in 2015, which is now the company’s dedicated channel for supporting small businesses. 

Companies can set up a store, control their pricing and fulfillment, and reach customers in several ways. 

Amazon’s B2B 2 Channel works well for dozens of industries, from construction and automotive to retail and information technology. 

Of course, Amazon is best known for their B2C capacities. Businesses of almost every kind can sell products on Amazon, from shoes and furniture to tech gadgets and food. 

Amazon Prime is a popular feature offered by the company, which offers free shipping and other benefits for a low annual fee. 

What is B 2 C Marketing?

B 2 C marketing refers directly to B 2 B 2 Companies selling products or services directly to consumers (business-to-consumer). 

In this type of B 2 B , the B 2 B 2 Company typically has a website where they advertise their products and services, which potential customers can access.

B2B and B2C consumers behave very differently and their buying processes reflect this.

Here are a few ways they differ:

Buying cycle time- B 2 B  Companies have a longer buying cycle time, but B 2 C consumers are more likely to make impulse purchases.

Decision-making process - B 2 B Buyers typically use an analytical method of decision making that takes the form of RFI’s and RFQ’s , while B 2 C customers are more likely to use intuition in their decisions.

Emotional investment- B 2 B 2 Customers tend to be more emotionally invested in the buying process, whereas B 2 C consumers focus on convenience and price.

Influencers- B 2 B  Companies have a longer list of influencers that they need to target when selling their products or services; B 2 C buyers are influenced by people closest to them (friends, family members).

For example, B 2 B Companies typically provide a more detailed product description and specifications, while B 2 C consumers are less likely to read long descriptions.

B 2 B 2 Companies tend to have longer buying cycles with multiple decision makers because the company representative needs approval from higher levels of management before moving forward on a purchase. 

B 2 C buyers may only interact with one person when making a purchase decision or may not interact with a representative at all.

How B 2 B and B 2 C companies can use each other's strengths to their advantage:

B 2 B  Companies are great at offering customer service, product information, data analysis and decision support. B 2 C sales can benefit from these skills by giving them access to this kind of support. 

B 2 B is better than B 2 C for building up brand loyalty and B 2 C is better than B 2 B for getting new customers.

What are B 2 C Sales?

Sales that come directly from consumers to B 2 B Companies (business-to-consumer) are considered B 2 C sales. 

Consumers can access this type of selling through the company’s website or retail store, if they have one available. This way, B 2 B  Companies are able to reach a wider audience.

B 2 C sales tend to be short in duration with quick decision-making times, so these types of transactions can be difficult for B 2 B  Companies because they have longer buying cycles and require more care when making decisions.

However, there is an advantage that B 2 B 2 Companies have over their B 2 C counterparts: B 2 B  Companies can offer a wider array of products that B 2 C customers may not be interested in.

What are the differences between B 2 C and B M Marketing?

Both types of marketing focus on reaching consumers directly, but they do it in different ways: B 2 B 2 Companies sell their goods or services to other businesses, while B 2 B Companies sell their goods or services directly to B 2 B  Customers.

B 2 B marketing is a good option when the company wants access to a large audience and/or they need help with decision making because B 2 B 2 Companies can support them in this area. 

However, B 2 C sales should be considered if there are time constraints on purchases (impulse buys) or B 2 B  Companies need to reach a specific target audience, such as millennials.

B 2 B marketing is great for building brand loyalty and B 2 C sales are good at getting new customers. B 2 B  Companies can benefit from utilizing both types of selling by leveraging the strengths that each has to offer.