Client vs Customer: What is the Difference?

The mental perception of how people think of their clients or customers will have a deep impact on their relationships with those clients/customers. Here we go through the different perceptions organizations have in the people that purchase their products or services.
Marketing Help 101.
Copyright Mark Wolters 2019
Dear Marketing Student, Entrepreneur, or Interested Person, I am Dr. Mark Wolters an Associate Teaching Professor in Business Administration and I have been teaching marketing and business courses around the world since 2002. I hope that these marketing & business videos can help you learn more about business and help you succeed in class or in the business world. And yes, this is the same Mark Wolters from the YouTube travel channel Wolters World.

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[AisleorWindow]

I 100% agree with these points. I spent years in the legal field where I had "clients". I'm now in a quasi-sales/consulting position and I find that when I think more of my "clients" as opposed to my "customers", it improves my interaction with everybody. Having a client-focused mentality can greatly improve B2B relationships. Great points as always.

[bubba]

Mark, I love how you articulate to the viewers. I initially found you on your videos of your trips to Germany. I own a Roku and also found you in the Germany travel channel. I share your videos to my friends that ask for the topics you explain.

[tosht]

We discuss this all the time. Yes in general it is prudent to have a client mentality. But this automatically (subconsciously) lowers the importance of the "customer" transaction. In many industries, the one off customer is the lifeblood of a business even when said business has a mix of transactional purchases as well as long term relational sales. Customers, clients, patrons, members, guests, buyers, whatever...offer a good product and treat them all like gold.

[MagnificentGermanywithDarion]

Yes, I agree that one on one relationship is without a doubt very important. Thanks

[patricksailor]

I actually disagree with this on many levels. Customers can be hundred million dollars buyers a year. It has nothing to do with how you characterize getting to know them or not. I can’t stand it in sales when people call them clients.

[andreaslacouturedelc.]

I thought it was going to be the other way: CUSTOMer the more specific interaction/relationship...
@#$+/ English grammar!