Public relations is an effective way to get your business in front of the public, but there are some misconceptions about what it is and how it works. Public relations uses communication to build mutually beneficial relationships between companies and their audiences. Public relations specialists help companies build strong relationships with the media, investors, employees, distributors and other important stakeholders.
Public relations is not just about communicating to the media. It's also about engaging employees, customers, investors and other stakeholders through internal and external communications efforts.
Here are some common myths about public relations:
Public Relations is Just Distributing Press Releases
This might have been true back in the day, but today public relations is much more than that. Press releases are important, but they don't always reach the right people or get results. A good public relations firm can help you get your message out so that it reaches exactly who you want to reach.
Public Relations is Just Advertising
Advertising is one part of an effective public relations strategy, but it's not the only thing that matters. The best PR firms understand that there are other ways to get your message across besides advertising - such as social media, events, and even word-of-mouth marketing - so they'll put together a plan that includes all of these things instead of just relying on ads alone.
Public Relations is Too Expensive
The cost of hiring a Public Relations firm can seem prohibitive, but when you really compare it to the cost of hiring an employee who doesn't know what he or she is doing, it's actually quite affordable.
Public Relations is Only About the Media
While public relations pros spend much of their time working with the media, they also engage in proactive communications with internal audiences such as employees, customers and investors. Public relations professionals also work with social networks like Twitter and Facebook to promote their clients' brands.
Public Relations Will Fix All Your Marketing Problems
Many new business owners think they can solve all their marketing problems by hiring a PR firm. This isn't true! Public relations can only help you if you have already established solid marketing strategies in place before you hire a PR agency. Otherwise, the agency won't know what kind of messaging will resonate with your target audience or how best to communicate those messages in different channels like social media or other media outlets like online news channels or magazines.
To learn more about how our public relations services can elevate your business, contact us today.