An overview of what public relations is all about, how it differs from advertising and marketing, how the industry has evolved over the years, how entrepreneurs can implement DIY PR efforts and when it's time to hire a PR professional.
Have students share words/companies/phrases that come to mind when they think of these industries.
PR, advertising and marketing are interconnected, but different
Historically, the four P’s of marketing – product, price, place, promotion with targeted public/customers at the center of the marketing mix. Now, several variations of traditional marketing – social media marketing, content marketing, email marketing, affiliate marketing, relationship marketing, etc.
Typically one-way communication, messages that get pushed out to targeted and mass audiences, motivating publics through paid media to take a specific action. Various forms of advertising – broadcast (TV, radio), print, online, product placement, billboards, mobile, in-store, street corner
“ organization” is used to encompass the various institutions that use PR – businesses, government agencies, hospitals, nonprofits, etc. “publics” reflects the need to understand the attitudes and values of various stakeholders – employees, members, customers, local communities, shareholders, etc.
Or, if you place an ad or some other type of paid media
Promotion – one of the four P’s in the marketing mix.
PR pros job to generate publicity. Find a creative way to get attention for something. Get people paying attention, listening, talking, sharing. Raise awareness.
Media coverage is earned – not paid. Maybe goal was simply to get the mayor to be amused by the spectacle. If so, you accomplished your goal. Drive some type of response, action. It’s a positive result.
Social media has brought PR back to its roots – as Brian Solis and Dierdre Breckenridge wrote about in their recent book, SM has put the “public” back in public relations. More channels, more opportunities. The Conversation Prism gives you a whole view of the social media universe, categorized and also organized by how people use each network. Brian Solis and JESS3 created the conversation prism. Version 3.0.
Social media has added a whole new dynamic to the PR industry and how individuals/companies/agencies practice public relations and conduct PR initiatives.