There are many myths out there regarding what public relations is. People’s perception of PR tends to be based on what they’ve seen on television. But how television portrays us isn’t really a true reflection of what we actually do.
We debunk the most common misconceptions about PR.
All publicity is good publicity
It’s widely claimed that all publicity is good publicity, but this couldn’t be further from the truth. Bad press can seriously damage a business’ reputation and hurt sales in the long run. As the saying goes, mud sticks.
PR is the same as advertising
People often confuse PR with advertising as being one and the same. The easiest way to explain the difference between the two is, advertising is telling everyone how great you are, whilst PR is getting others to tell everyone how great you are. Advertising aims to sell a product or service, whilst PR is focused on making a brand desirable to its target market through building up relationships with key audiences.
PR is a form of propaganda
Some people think PR’s main job is to distort the truth, deceive the press, and control what they write about. But PR is actually all about telling the truth facilitating communication between a client and their target audience through the press. They build up trust with the media to deliver a client’s key message in a clear and concise way.
Working in PR is like being Samantha Jones in Sex and the City
TV shows would have you believe working in PR is super glamorous, where you’re constantly partying with celebrities and drinking cocktails. Although we are partial to a glass of prosecco or two, life is definitely not like it is portrayed in Sex and the City. Even when it looks like we’re out having a good time and a natter, we’re actually still working, building and maintaining relationships with current and prospective clients.
PR can help me become famous overnight
The occasional client will sometimes expect results to happen immediately overnight. However, rarely does the ‘Oprah effect’ happen for a business. The key to brand awareness is consistency which takes time to build up in a campaign. Instead, clients should expect steady growth over time.
All it takes is securing one big piece of coverage
For some clients, it’s all about securing that one big piece of coverage in the national media. However, one piece of coverage isn’t enough. It won’t keep you on your target market’s minds. It’s never good for a business to become a ‘one hit wonder’ of PR.
PR also isn’t just about getting media placement, there’s other aspects such as social media, blogging and SEO, which all help to relate a brand to their target public.
PR leads to sales
Although PR can help lead to sales, that is not the main motivation of PR. PR will not directly generate sales, but instead generate brand awareness and credibility. However, improving a business’ reputation, or increasing their presence in their industry, can help to build up trust in a brand which can convert into increased sales over time.
It’s easy to do it yourself
Some businesses may opt to handle their own PR thinking it’s easier and also cheaper, as all there is to it is writing a few press releases. However, there is a lot more to it. A PR campaign involves effective communication, creating a consistent brand, developing a sound strategy, knowing your industry inside out, and building up good relationships with the media.
A business with no prior experience in handling their PR, or one that has too many other responsibilities, simply cannot compete on the same level as professional PR companies.
We have a wealth of experience in delivering exceptional results for our clients. Get in touch to see what we could do for your brand, email Jaime@jampr.co.uk.
