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What is public relations?

What is public relations?
21.04.2020

Public relations is a process of strategic communication aimed at reaching particular target audiences and establishing positive relationships with both the media and the public at large. Essentially, PR is a communication process that builds a bridge between an individual or business and certain segments of the public based on several demographic factors, with the ultimate aim of generating publicity and positive public perception.

Public relations activities are also aimed at promoting brand recognition, fostering customer loyalty, and influencing consumer behavior and purchasing decisions. The field of public relations includes several strategic communication activities, which various organizations employ to both enhance and sustain their market presence.

Public relations: How does it work?

Public relations can be described as a set of strategies – typically employed by individuals, institutions, or NGOs – aimed at creating value and communicating effectively with particular target audiences and the media. PR strategy involves analyzing brand identities and emphasizing their positive attributes, along with those of the various products and/or services that they are associated with.

After all, it is the behavior and perception of target audiences that will ultimately determine a brand’s value in the eyes of the public. Therefore, the primary objective of a good PR professional is to positively influence the perception of a target audience regarding a particular brand, product, or service.

A good PR campaign aims to communicate with, and build positive relationships with, a target audience, with the primary goal of influencing the public perception of a particular brand, product, or service. If a PR campaign is effective, this will also lead the target audience to share its positive impression of a brand with third parties.

PR professionals strive to forge long-term relationships between brands and the pubic based on the concept of mutual benefit. This, in turn, enhances the brand’s value and overall competitiveness by fostering public trust in the brand and its associated products and services. Through the use of a good PR campaign, brands are able to overcome any negative impressions or misperceptions that the public may have about them.

Communication is key

Above all else, the core aspect of public relations is strategic communication. PR professionals have a range of tools at their disposal through which they can communicate their messages. These include the distribution of press releases, targeted media campaigns, organizing events, and partnerships with media platforms to ensure maximum media coverage.

At the end of the day, however, the success or failure of a PR campaign will ultimately depend on the media, which allows individuals, companies, and institutions to disseminate important information about themselves. In this regard, it is vital to remember that the public tends to recognize – and trust – those brands that maintain high visibility in the media.

Journalists: Gatekeepers of public opinion

In order to raise a brand’s media profile, it is essential to build strong relationships with journalists, who will ultimately decide whether or not a particular message is newsworthy. Therefore, a major component of a PR strategy is managing relations with media personnel, including both journalists and editors. A good PR professional will strive to keep the media informed of their clients’ activities through the distribution of press releases.

An experienced online PR agency understands the importance of maintaining solid relationships with journalists and editors, which can determine whether or not an online press release receives the media coverage it deserves.

Public relations vs. advertising

It must be stressed, however, that the field of public relations is distinct from that of advertising. How are they different?
With advertising, clients must pay to have their brand promoted. Public relations, by contrast, represents an organic process by which public perceptions are positively influenced by means of effective PR campaigns. Through the use of PR, brands – and the goods and services they are associated with – can generate valuable publicity, on which a price-tag cannot be placed.

Generating publicity is a process that requires close interaction with both the media and specific target audiences. In this context, online PR agencies can support and guide their clients’ brands and help them come up with effective communication strategies.

What does an online PR agency do?

Online PR agencies come up with communication strategies specifically tailored to their clients’ brands, products, and services. With a team of experienced PR professionals, they also manage customer and media relations. Along with meeting the needs of their corporate clients, online PR agencies employ a range of marketing tools, including online press releases, PR campaigns, and organized events, among others.

In today’s digital age, online PR agencies rely largely on digital media platforms to convey their messages to the wider public.

It’s time to go online

Over the course of the last 20 years, the proliferation of the internet has drastically reduced the reach and influence of traditional media platforms, such as radio, television, and printed publications. In the 21st century, such outmoded platforms have been largely replaced by websites, online forums, blogs, and social media.

As a result of this digital transformation, communications are now carried out primarily on digital channels. Within this context, online visibility is now crucial to ensuring a brand’s survival. Online PR agencies, therefore, specialize in coming up with – and implementing – viable strategies for marketing their clients’ brands on influential digital platforms, thus solidifying their image and reputation. This approach, referred to as ‘online PR,’ provides clients with a host of advantages, in terms of both overall efficiency and cost-effectiveness.

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