If you have ever been confused by the terms “public relations” and “communications,” you’re not alone. While these two terms are closely related, there are some key distinctions between these two domains. In this blog, we’ll uncover the mystery and show you how these two work together to build a powerful brand voice.
Art of Storytelling: PR & Content Marketing
PR is not just about press releases and media placements anymore. In the present scenario, the PR landscape embraces the power of content marketing. PR professionals use storytelling tactics to create engaging narratives that relate to the target audience. This consists of creating blog posts, infographics, and even video content that portrays a brand’s values, expertise, and impact. As per a report by Social Media Today, content marketing produces three times as many leads as traditional advertising. By closely working with content creators and communication specialists, PR pros can formulate a consistent and compelling brand narrative that is distributed across multiple social media channels. This not only develops trust with potential consumers but also establishes the brand as a thought leader in its domain.
The two sides of the same coin: Internal & External Communication
Effective communication is not a one-way street. It is necessary to foster both internal and external communication.
Internal communication: PR and communication professionals play a significant role in keeping employees informed, aligned, and engaged with the organization’s goals. This can consist of creating internal newsletters, conducting town hall meetings, and using internal communication platforms. Strong internal communication creates a positive work atmosphere and increases employee productivity.
External Communication: This form of communication is the bread and butter of PR, and focuses on building relationships with external audiences. PR pros use multiple communication channels, such as social media, influencer marketing, and media outreach, to share the brand’s story and engage with consumers, partners, and the broad community.
Crisis Communication Compass
Even the most well-known brands can face unexpected challenges. This is where a clear and precise crisis communication plan comes in handy. A well-planned crisis communication plan built by the PR and communication team working together ensures a swift and timely response to negative circumstances. This helps reduce damage to the brand’s reputation and rebuild stakeholder trust. As per PR Newswire, effective communication can significantly improve employee productivity by at least 25%.
Public Relations: Building Bridges
Public relations (PR) is a strategic discipline that comes under the communication umbrella. PR professionals mainly focus on creating and maintaining positive relationships among an organization and its audience. This can consist of consumers, employees, media outlets, investors, and the community at large. PR tactics are known to build bridges between a brand and its target audience; these tactics help elevate a brand’s presence in the eyes of the public. A study by the Institute of Public Relations found that 84% of organizations believe in strong PR, which positively impacts their business.
The key difference between PR and Communication
Communication is all about getting an organization’s message across, no matter who the audience is, whereas a PR person focuses on building relationships with specific groups of individuals who are important to the organization. Communication is a skill that is vital for everyone, from artists expressing themselves to engineers explaining their complex ideas. At the same time, PR professionals are strategic matchmakers who aim to create positive impressions and build long-term connections on behalf of an organization.
Future of PR and Communication
As technology continues to transform, the way individuals communicate also changes. PR and communication professionals need to stay ahead of the curve by embracing new platforms and tools. Social media listening tools, data analytics, and artificial intelligence are all playing an increasingly necessary role in creating targeted communication strategies and assessing their effectiveness. Understanding the unique strengths of both PR and communication and how they work together can create a powerful and strategic communication framework for an organization.