Public Relations or PR has become a necessary factor in any company’s success. Earlier companies didn’t invest in Public Relations, but in today’s extremely fast world, investing in PR has become a necessity for all corporations.
Public Relations (PR) has long been an essential component of effective communication and brand management for businesses and organizations. This particular practice has turned into a fully-fledged profession, but even then, people have a ton of misconceptions about it.
PR professionals have gotten tired of clearing out these misconceptions for the common people. Here are the 5 debunked myths about Public Relations so that you won’t get confused and ask your friends.
1. Public Relations Equals Media Coverage
Most people believe that PR just has media coverage and if an agency manages to get media coverage, they have done PR for their client. However, as important part media coverage plays in PR, it is in no way the sole focus of it.
PR involves building and maintaining relationships with various stakeholders, including customers, employees, investors, partners, and the general public. It encompasses a broader range of activities, such as reputation management, crisis communication, community engagement, and internal communications.
Effective PR aims to create a positive image of an organization across multiple channels, not just in the media. Creating a positive image of a company does not just mean getting good media coverage and not focusing on the rest. Good PR means focusing on each aspect carefully and meticulously to deliver the best possible result to your client.
2. PR is More Expensive than Advertising
Many people confuse advertising with PR and consider them to be the same thing. However, these two are very different things. The people who don’t confuse the two practices believe that PR is very expensive, even more so than advertising.
While both practices help build the relationship between brands and their target audiences, there’s still a difference between the costs and techniques involved in promoting a business. Advertising is paid visibility, while PR is earned visibility.
That does not mean that advertising is easy or simple, it is just as challenging as PR, but it involves more paid services. Fortunately, PR doesn’t have to be as expensive as advertising.
There are many PR strategies that an agency can use which are not paid. You can choose which PR strategies work best with your brand. Plenty of incredible and talented freelancers and PR agencies in India are out there and offer good deals without breaking your budget.
3. PR and Marketing are the Same Thing
Many people seem to believe that PR and marketing are the same thing and the two terms can be used interchangeably. While PR and marketing share some common goals, they are distinct disciplines with different objectives and strategies.
Marketing focuses on promoting products or services to drive sales, while PR focuses on building and managing relationships, shaping public perception, and maintaining a favorable brand image.
PR often supports digital marketing efforts by enhancing credibility and trust, which in turn can lead to improved marketing outcomes. In short, marketing focuses on sales, whilst PR focuses on creating a positive image of the brand. Collaborative efforts between PR and marketing can yield powerful results, but it’s important to recognize their unique contributions.
4. Bad News Should Be Kept Under Wraps
Earlier, many corporations used to hide bad or negative news and facts from their consumers. This often backfired on them when the truth was revealed and they lost a fair share of consumers.
The age-old approach of avoiding or hiding bad news is not aligned with modern PR practices. In today’s world, honesty and transparency from a company are valued more than anything and it is what people expect from them.
When an organization faces challenges or crises, addressing the issues openly and promptly can help maintain trust and credibility. Skillful crisis communication involves acknowledging the problem, taking responsibility, and outlining the steps being taken to rectify the situation.
Sweeping problems under the rug can lead to greater damage in the long run. It is imperative to choose the top Public Relations agency to help in times of such crises.
5. Public Relations is Only for Large Companies
When public relations myths are concerned, some may believe that PR is only relevant for large corporations with big budgets. However, public relations can benefit organizations of all sizes, including startups and small businesses. On the contrary, PR is more necessary for startups or small businesses as it can be a cost-effective way to gain visibility, establish credibility, and connect with their target audiences.
Even before a product is launched, collaborating with an experienced Public Relation Company can help with increasing its popularity. There are many small companies that gained a huge following by using appropriate Public Relations strategies. With the rise of digital platforms and social media, even simple PR efforts can have a significant impact on brand recognition and reputation.
Bottom Line:
In conclusion, understanding the reality of public relations is essential for any organization aiming to effectively manage its brand and reputation. By dispelling these common myths, businesses can approach PR with a more informed and strategic mindset.
Remember that Public Relations encompasses diverse activities, supports marketing efforts, requires patience, benefits organizations of all sizes, and values transparency.
Whilst there are still many public relations myths regarding the profession, debunking the most common and widely asked myths ought to help not only the people who are curious, but also people who wish to get into this industry, or want to leverage PR services for their companies.