Stop 01 · Digital Marketing FoundationsTopics · 6/9

Common Industries & Business Models

In short

Selling ₹99 phone covers and selling ₹5 lakh software to companies are both marketing, but almost nothing about the playbook is the same. The business model decides the tactics.

Marketing tactics differ a lot between B2B and B2C, subscription and one-time-purchase, and low-cost and high-consideration products — the same channel can be a top priority in one context and irrelevant in another.

The blob stands between a pani puri cart and a family admiring a big wedding catering tray.

Think of it like this

Pani puri cart vs wedding caterer

The pani puri wala needs people walking past to stop right now. The wedding caterer needs trust, tastings, references and weeks of talks before one big booking. Different customers, different selling.

Watch it happen

Selling to people vs selling to companies

B2C

One buyer decides, often quickly
Instagram, YouTube, marketplaces
Lower price, many customers

B2B

Several people approve the purchase
LinkedIn, search, webinars, sales calls
Higher price, fewer customers

Neither is better. Learn which one your company is, then pick channels and messages that fit that buyer.

The big ideas

What you need to know

Subscription vs one-time

Subscriptions like Netflix care about keeping users each month. One-time sellers focus on the first sale and repeat orders.

Low vs high consideration

Cheap snacks are impulse buys. Laptops, courses and insurance need research, comparisons and trust.

D2C brands

Direct-to-consumer brands sell on their own site and rely heavily on social ads and repeat customers.

Marketplaces and local

Selling on Amazon or a local shop needs listing quality, reviews and Google Business Profile, not just ads.

Save yourself the pain

Common mistakes

Oops

Copying a D2C brand's Instagram tactics for a B2B software company.

Do this instead

B2B buyers research on search and LinkedIn and need proof like case studies. Fit the tactic to the buyer.

Oops

Ignoring how the business makes money.

Do this instead

Ask first: who pays, how often, and how much. That shapes every marketing decision.

Your mission

Compare two companies

~20 min

Quick check

Why does a B2B software company often ask you to 'Book a demo' instead of 'Buy now'?

Go deeper

1Pick one industry you're interested in and research its typical marketing mix.
2Compare how a B2B SaaS company and a B2C e-commerce brand likely allocate marketing spend differently.
3Consider how your prior work or interests map to a specific industry or business model.