Public Relations vs Marketing

When you are trying to grow your company it is very important to understand the difference between Public Relations and Marketing.

Although they are closely related and both generate messages for the public they are distinctly different.  Many experts believe that public relations precedes marketing.

Public Relations

What is public relations? A very good definition put out by the US Chamber of Commerce.  “Public relations is the practice of maintaining a positive public image for a company, organization, or individual…”

Before you think about press campaigns or public events, take a look at the delivery of your product or service.

This is the number one way you can impact and create a positive public image for your company or organization.  Deliver an excellent product and experience to your customers.

If you make and sell pizzas, for example, what do your customers think about your pizza or the experience of eating in your restaurant?  If you deliver a great pizza, that your customers love combined with a positive dining experience you are going to create a positive public image.

It’s an old maxim that if you “take care of your customers, they will take care of you”.

There is a great deal more to public relations, and the larger your company or organization the more you will need public relations professionals. But even large organizations, when they lose sight of taking care of their customer can suffer the consequences.

Marketing

Marketing is the process of promoting and selling products or services.  It identifies and reaches out to potential customers and offers them a call to action.  Come to your shop, visit your website, place an order, etc.

Depending on your organization, King Kong can get your business on page one of Google or another reputable marketing company to help design a marketing campaign for you.

An easy way to begin is to ask your existing customers for referrals.  Since you’ve delivered such good products or services to them, they are going to be more inclined to send their friends and family to you.  They will feel that their referrals are going to receive the same great service they did.  They are more inclined to trust you.

But it’s important to remember, that you have to ask.  They may tell their friends, family and neighbours, but then again they might not.  Be creative in finding ways to ask your customers to come visit you again, and to send you their friends, family and relatives.