Wednesday, 15 January 2014

Public Relations vs. Advertising

Advertising is one of the most common ways of promoting a business, and companies often allocate large portions of their budget for this. Those with a limited budget, however, may still resort to other effective promotions practices, including public relations (PR).

When people see an advertisement, whether in print, broadcast, or online, they may be influenced into trying a product or service if the ad is effective enough. However, customers are generally aware that advertising is largely self-promotion, and are thus wary about its truthfulness.
This is where PR can be more effective. Public relations promotes a business using similar media but does it in a subtler way, making the promotion more credible with customers.
This is similar to a customer testimonial or recommendation, or a referral where a third-party is vouching for the services offered by a business. Many potential customers will find it easier to trust a third party’s opinion more than paid advertising, as the former comes from a known neutral source.

Therefore, businesses that wish to improve their image or gain more clients may ask PR companies for help in promoting their company. PR companies can help businesses draw in customers by disseminating positive messages about the business, without appearing hard-sell.



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