FAQ: PR vs Advertising — Are They Different?

Public relations (PR) and advertising are both incredibly useful components to any growing or established business. Both titles focus on consumer outreach and brand recognition. However, there can be some confusion between what the duties of the two aspects entail.

What is the main difference between PR and advertising?

Most people in the PR and advertising realm think of it this way: advertising is paid media while PR is an earned relationship. Advertisements are meant to make consumers act on their wants/needs, while PR is used to give the consumer a good impression of the brand to choose their product over a competitor’s. It is kind of in the name: your public relations team helps you create a relationship with the public. So, they will choose their product over a competitor’s.

On a day-to-day basis, you can expect your advertising team to create easy to digest and primarily visual messages that call your audience to act. Your PR team focuses more on language and relationship building. Their day-to-day is contingent on what your business’s current goals and ventures are.

How can advertising help my business?

In recent years, advertising has become highly advanced. While businesses were once paying for billboards or a spot in the newspaper and hoping their target audience would see it, companies can now place digital ads in front of their exact audience at the most convenient times of the day. They are more accurate and cost-effective than ever.

An advertising team will segment your audience, create advertisements that appeal to the needs and wants of those segments, and then launch them on platforms that those segments are using most often. A good ad will make people want to act on your message, resulting in a high return of investment for your business.

How can PR help my business?

A public relations team or agent is crucial in creating and maintaining a positive brand image. Their day-to-day duties are dependent on what is going on inside and outside of the business. For example, if your business plans to launch a new product, your PR team might write a press release and present the information to the media. They oversee almost all of the language your brand uses before it is posted to your social media or website. They also help with donor outreach and fundraising events.

As previously mentioned, the depth of their duties is contingent on your type of business. The main thing to takeaway is that your PR team is there to cultivate all potential and existing relationships you have with consumers and other organizations. This is extremely important as you cannot have a successful business without good relationships.

Do I need both a PR team and an advertising team to have a successful business?

At the end of the day, the decision to have one or both is determined by the needs of your specific business. If you have the budget to hire both, it is recommended that you do it. If your budget is a little tighter, you might consider training some current staff members on the foundations of digital advertising and allocate your money towards a good PR team. However, most successful businesses would advise that you at least make it a goal to have both eventually.

We hope you found this FAQ helpful in moving forward with your business. If you are looking for a great PR team in Iraq, contact our team today to see how we can help you.