A Quick Guide to Public Relations

· Public Relations

What is PR?

Public relations is one of the most important aspects of any business because it is how you communicate with your customers that can make or break your company.

So whether you’re just starting out in business or you’re looking for ways to improve your current PR efforts, this guide has something for you.

Public relations is the management and dissemination of information to enhance the profile of an individual or an organisation. Internal PR targets employees or shareholders, whereas external PR is for, typically, customers, clients, or other interested parties. See this Wikipedia entry for longer description about public relations.

Isn’t PR just advertising?

No, advertising is when a company pays for space in a newspaper, for example, in order to promote its product or service.

Why Is Public Relations Important?

Public relations helps to build relationships with key audiences. By creating and executing targeted communication plans, public relations practitioners can engage with various stakeholders, including customers, investors, employees, and the community.

PR adds authenticity to a brand by showcasing the values, mission, and vision of an organization.

This is increasingly important for companies nowadays since audiences have access to multiple communication channels, from traditional media to social media channels.

In times of trouble, PR is essential for crisis communications and a well-executed plan can help mitigate any damage to the brand reputation.

PR Activities

Activities can involve developing marketing materials, issuing press releases, arranging interviews and organising events. The goal is to get your company or product mentioned in the news, as this is a very effective way to build brand awareness, attract and reach new customers.

How Can PR Help My Business?

By creating positive perceptions of your company, products and services to existing and potential customers, PR can help build relationships with key audiences, which can result in increased sales and brand awareness.

The cost varies depending on what the PR programme entails and the duration. A short-term PR engagement might only last one month, whereas an annual strategy could span several years.

By having a conversation with a prospective agency, you can get a good understanding of what they can offer your company. 

PR Trends

Here are a few trends to look out for in public relations:

  • Authenticity: Consumers want to see real people and businesses who are authentic and honest.
  • Content: Above all else, content continues to be a trend leader. Businesses need to produce high quality, original and engaging written and visual content.
  • Live Streaming: Presented by a key opinion leader or key opinion consumer and hosting interactive content to trigger sales. These include tutorials, product launches, and behind-the-scenes streaming.
  • Virtual and Augmented Reality: This is becoming more popular in creating immersive experiences that engage customers.

Note: Although some trends sound best suited for consumer PR, we can gear them for all industry sectors and help organisations achieve their desired results.

About Eight PR
We help technology and legal clients enhance their profile through public relations, media relations, content writing, corporate reputation, and thought leadership programmes.

Whether you’re looking for help to develop a PR strategy or you need an agency to manage your communications, these are the basics that you need to know about public relations.

If you’re not sure where to start, contact us at eight@eightpr.com us for guidance on what activities will work best for your business and how we can help.