Is there any difference between "to drive sales" and "to boost sales"?

Solution 1:

Is there any difference between “to drive sales” and “to boost sales”?

There are very, very few true synonyms in English. The guidance is, "If it is a different word, it has a different meaning. Each word and phrase carries its own nuance."

To drive = to propel, and describes a motive force behind something that pushes it in a reasonably consistent manner in a given direction - positive or negative. "Health fears drove down the sale of cigarettes." / "Stories of a madman with a gun drove people from the area."

A boost (and hence the verb) is something that is additional. It is solely concerned with increasing a force - often suddenly and forcefully. "Sales had been going well, but well-placed advertising boosted them to record levels."

The clearest idea of "boost" is probably in aeronautics where supplementary rockets are attached to a plane boost the speed.

Solution 2:

The verb drive often refers to the force/reason behind/pushing sales in one direction or the other. We find boost used for stimulate/make something increase, for instance, in "What can we do to boost sales?" Drive is often used with up or down, whereas boost can be used with up (boost up something/boost something up) but not down— you can only boost upwards.

drive (v.)

to press or force into an activity, course, or direction
The drug habit drives addicts to steal.

To give shape or impulse to
factors that drive the business cycle m-w

The original meaning of drive was move by force hence impel:

To force (people or animals) to move on before one, or flee away from one, by blows or intimidation; to urge on or impel with violence (OED)

boost (v.)

INCREASE, RAISE

plans to boost production
an extra holiday to boost morale m-w

Drive up can be used with the meaning of increase/raise/boost, but drive alone usually can't.

But there is obviously little competition involved when both buyer and sellers have every incentive to drive prices upward. "Oil Prices and Phase II"

The storing of corn in the short - crop areas would drive prices higher than they would have been if the high loan had not been in effect, so that ... G. S. Shepard; Controlling Corn and Hog Supplies and Prices

Farm prices for corn fell to $ 57 a ton in September as a record - high corn crop in 1986 and poor export prospects continued to drive prices lower. ref [See this search for examples with "drive lower"]
See ref. for "drive down."

This essential guide will teach you how to use voice over effectively to connect with your target audience, boost sales and give your brand a personality S. Brogden; Boost Your Sales With a Professional Voice Over

The permanent clerks had, through an informal understanding, agreed not to boost up sales. V.S.P. Rao and V Hari Krishna; Management: Text and Cases