The world of communications, which includes public relations, marketing, content management, SEO, social media and a myriad of other related disciplines, is merging, crossing over and blending into one arena in this day and age. Understand the difference between marketing and public relations may still be important in some respects, but in reality, your business needs to embrace both as well as supporting technologies and skills to succeed.
Marketing: The Product Side
Traditionally, marketing has been thought of as a close partner of sales. It’s typically focused on customers, products, and services and helps to cast a wide net to bring in quality leads for sales to follow-up on and nail down.
However, as technology has changed and made relationships more transparent than ever, the marketing silo is breaking down. Information, shares, likes and formal marketing programs all melt into one another. Leads and sales conversions are harder to pin down to one particular communication or program.
Public Relations: The Relationship Side
Public Relations is usually viewed as the discipline that manages important relationships, perceptions, and influencers. Although public relations may have an impact on bottom line sales, it can be even harder to tie public relations activities to leads and conversions. However, in many cases, companies see the value of managing the company image within the media, with customers, and in their communities.
Like in marketing, technology and the speed and fluidity of communications has changed traditional public relations to incorporate many more factors that are out of the control of companies such as organic social media activity.
Working Together to Tell the Story
The bottom line for businesses looking to succeed has to do with aligning both marketing and public relations goals with overall business strategy. Both of these disciplines overlap with one another as well as many other related areas. They should all work together to help tell your company’s unique story to your most important audiences.
Whether that story falls into your marketing or public relations strategies is really irrelevant. The important question is whether your story is told in a compelling and captivating way that engages your most important stakeholders. If it is, more sales, more inquiries, and more respect will naturally come your way over time, helping to shape your company’s overall image and reputation in your particular industry.
Turn to a Las Vegas public relations firm for more ideas on how to merge public relations and marketing activities for the success of your business. GYC Vegas is a PR agency Las Vegas that has years of experience in the technology, hospitality, tourism, gaming, food & beverage, entertainment, retail and non-profit industries. GYC Vegas is prepared to work with any sized company, whether you are a small, start-up with a great idea, or a Fortune 500 company.