Are you skeptical of what you read in advertisements? If so, you’re not alone. Most consumers ignore ads or are wary of them. So much for the effectiveness of advertising! Many great products have failed to sell simply because there was no built-up excitement or market education for consumers, so expensive ads ended up being a waste of money.
Public relations, on the other hand, is a more subtle, disciplined approach with the aim of influencing public opinion and behavior. When you read an article about a product or service, or see it covered on TV news as opposed to a print ad or TV commercial, you’re much more inclined to pay attention. PR brings credibility, knowledge and understanding of the product being promoted, so future advertising is more likely to succeed.
It is a predictable, sustainable way to affect managed growth for your company. PR is not designed to translate into thousands of immediate direct sales, however. Sales do often result from PR campaigns, but the primary goal is to help your company gradually build a national brand through strategic editorial coverage. Brand awareness and name recognition are critical to this process.
Research shows that it takes anywhere from seven to 77 impressions of a product or service before most consumers are compelled to buy non-essential items. A sustained media presence in the national press alongside content marketing (especially blogging, social media and email marketing) will help achieve this over a period of 12 to 24 months.
The Differences Between Public Relations And Advertising
There are a couple of major differences between traditional advertising and public relations campaigns: the price and the control you have as a company. Below is a short description of these differences.
- Paid Space Versus “Free” Coverage
Traditional advertising is not as cost-effective as a public relations campaign.
Advertising is paid space designed to sell your product directly to the consumer. Traditional ads are very expensive and usually not effective unless they’re extremely targeted and repeated over a long period of time. Consumers are usually wary of advertising and often ignore it.
In contrast, editorial coverage that results from PR is free, and more importantly, it’s an editorial endorsement of your product! The credibility this brings makes PR the more valuable choice for companies that can’t afford nationwide ad campaigns.
- Total Control Versus Flexibility
While you don’t have as much control over a public relations campaign as with traditional advertising, it is a very cost-effective method of getting the word out about your business.
Advertising makes you the boss as long as you’ve got the cash. You decide exactly what your ad says, how it will look and when and where it will run. Traditionally, you pay top dollar for this control. The downside? Traditional advertising, even in small publications, is anything but cheap.
With media coverage, the press decides size, length, word choice, format and which photos, if any, are used. You may not have control, but consumers pay far more attention to features and stories and put much more trust in them. Best of all, public relations campaigns are extremely cost-effective compared to traditional advertising.
Which Should You Choose, Advertising Or Public Relations?
Both advertising and public relations can be extremely effective. The most successful campaigns use both at the same time. However, the cost of a dual PR/ad campaign is out of reach for many companies. For businesses with limited budgets, we suggest building your credibility and public awareness first with a strategic PR campaign, which will then help ensure the success of your future advertising.
Let Three Girls Media Assist With Your Public Relations And Advertising Strategy
If you would prefer to focus on the business side of things and let others manage your public relations and advertising strategy, please contact us at Three Girls Media for a complimentary consultation. We have a full staff of seasoned marketing and PR professionals who are eager to help you reach your company’s goals.
Special Offer:
Sign up for a complimentary consultation during December and receive an Annual Marketing Planning Guide valued at $475! We offer a 30-minute phone consultation with our CEO, and can answer your questions and discuss your specific marketing needs - no strings attached. Call 408-218-2391 or contact us today to arrange your consultation!