Debunking Myths About Public Relations
- Emily Idleman
- Jul 18
- 2 min read
Public Relations (PR) is often a misunderstood industry. While many hear the term, the details of the job seem rather obscure. Which begs the question, what is PR?
The Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) defines PR as "a strategic communication process that builds mutually beneficial relations between organizations and their publics." Simply put, PR is about building relationships between organizations and their key stakeholders. Public relations is a continuous, planned effort controlled internally to establish and maintain a positive image and strong reputation.
PR campaigns involve crafting clear messaging, managing communication channels, and proactively engaging with audiences to establish trust, credibility, and support. Through media relations, digital media engagement, community outreach, and crisis communications, public relations shapes perceptions and influences an audience in alignment with an organization's goals and values.
3 myths about public relations you should ignore
Public relations is just for press releases.
While it is conventionally true that PR campaigns issue press releases, the PR in public relations does not stand for Press Releases. PR campaigns offer a variety of strategies, typically comprising social media, internal communications, external communications, crisis management, community and business events, and more. When my clients work
with me, I develop a complete, well-rounded strategy that is in-depth and covers all our bases.
PR isn't made for small businesses.
When people think of PR, they think of celebrities, big corporations, and government agencies. However, a lot of the clients I have worked with have been small businesses. Regardless of size, all organizations need to establish brand awareness, create genuine connections with their audience, earn credibility, and lead their industries.
Good PR equals big sales.
Organizations often believe that once their PR campaign goes viral and reaches 1 million TikTok views, their sales will skyrocket overnight. But the purpose of PR is not to increase your sales, and any PR professional who promises you otherwise is likely trying to get you to contract with them. However, the increased visibility can lead to higher conversion rates, though it isn't guaranteed. Remember, correlation does not equal causation.
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To find out how Bold Communications can help you increase brand awareness, establish trust and credibility in your industry, and reach your goals, schedule a free consultation with us.
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