Just like Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson, Ren and Stimpy, and Batman and Robin, sales and marketing are an iconic duo that should never be separated. When working in unison, sales and marketing can be an unstoppable force. They can bring a more cohesive company culture, shorter sales cycles, better-qualified leads, happier customers, an increase in revenue, and a more streamlined sales process. At least, that's the hope.

Unfortunately for most companies, however, this reasonable fantasy is far from a reality. For small companies and billion-dollar enterprises alike, the struggle between sales and marketing is real.

It doesn't have to be such an epic struggle, though. And fortunately, it's a common obstacle many companies are working to overcome. Getting the two teams to work in unison can be easy if you know what to do.