Publicity vs PR: What’s the Difference

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The term “PR” (public relations) is often conflated with communications-related references like press, buzz, and publicity. However, while public relations practitioners frequently consider such ends in a PR strategy, simply garnering publicity for a client is rarely, if ever, the end goal. If you’re surprised to hear that, let us help you make the distinction. Here are four clear ways PR is different from publicity:

• Publicity considers the now; PR sees tomorrow – PR professionals develop communications strategies that are anchored on an ultimate business goal. This requires a holistic approach to planning and execution that occasionally involves publicity-generating as a tactic, if it is appropriate within the context of the organization or individual’s current story. To put it simply: sometimes a business, organization, or individual needs publicity for something one-dimensional. Alternatively, a PR strategist crafts measured steps toward a goal-oriented future that learns from the past and is thoughtful in the present.

• Publicity focuses on quantity; PR is all about quality – ‘Good publicity’ and ‘Good PR’ aren’t always interchangeable. A publicist can achieve success by securing maxed-out event attendance or high volumes of press inquiries. A PR professional, on the other hand, has succeeded in a tactic when an organization or individual achieves the intended communications objective, be it proactive or reactive. PR teams must navigate nuance and sensitive messaging with ease, and be agile when executing on a campaign. For PR campaigns, results aren’t always quantifiable.

• Publicity is one-dimensional; PR adopts many forms – A publicist’s work generally revolves around amplifying a positive turnout, announcement, or story. Conversely, PR is about setting the tone and controlling a narrative, no matter the context. Often, a PR campaign isn’t something overt or clearly visible; many can work behind the scenes, subtly influencing customers or tactfully working to shift perceptions on a hot topic. As a result, success varies widely for PR initiatives. For example, low press interest can often define a successful campaign, thanks to a PR team’s ability to keep a crisis or misstep under the radar.

• Publicity is a transaction; PR is a partnership – Where publicists can execute quick campaigns, PR teams counsel businesses, organizations, and individuals every step of their communications journey. It is often appropriate to hire a contract publicist for one-time or limited-time events or messaging campaigns. On the other hand, PR teams can best fulfill their maximum potential inside long-term partnerships. Because public relations is best practiced as a long-game, extended partnerships between PR teams and businesses are advantageous; and when PR teams truly walk alongside organizations, anything is possible.

We hope these points provide some clarity the next time you overhear someone refer to ‘Good PR’ or ‘Good publicity’. We also hope hearing ‘Good PR’ reminds you of PIVOT PR – because we can do it all.

Do you need a PR agency?

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Every organization is different. Depending on your size, industry, region, product/service, employee skill set, etc., you’ll likely find yourself with a unique set of marketing and public relations challenges. Oftentimes, it’s difficult to pinpoint your areas of need, so ask yourself these three questions when considering if you should hire a PR firm.

1. Does your marketing team need PR support? Most organizations have a modest marketing team tasked with a bevy of responsibilities- sales support, inbound marketing, advertising, design, social media, collateral, and website maintenance to name a few. They likely don’t have the time or experience to execute on public relations, which is very much a niche within the marketing umbrella. Most small to mid-sized companies don’t require a full-time person, but typically 25 – 50 hours per month.

2. Do your stakeholders truly understand your value proposition? Many organizations struggle to articulate what they do, and as a result, their customers don’t fully appreciate the product or services they offer. An outside agency, with an outside perspective, will force you to evaluate your organization’s true identity. Only then can you have the appropriate market positioning, messaging, and content to speak to your customers effectively.

3. Can you afford a public relations firm? Most companies spend 5-10% of their total revenue on marketing, and around 10% of that should be spent on public relations. Figure a few thousand dollars a month at minimum, but it really depends on how much assistance you require and how quickly you’d like to reach your goals.

If you’re interested in working with a PR agency, let’s discuss your specific needs and see if we’re a good fit. Here at PIVOT PR, we won’t lock you into a long-term agreement, which minimizes your risk exponentially. Why, you ask? Because we’re confident in the value we provide to our partners, and we know you’ll appreciate working with a local, boutique, and tenured team who loves what they do!

Online Marketing on a Budget: 4 Ways to Keep Your Brand Competitive

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By 10 am this morning, chances are you saw a digital advertisement for something you merely thought about over breakfast. Ads are everywhere; especially on the many devices that keep us connected. It’s no surprise that, as digital advertising gets more savvy, brands across the globe are spending record amounts of money to reach customers online – surpassing historical spends in more traditional mediums like TV and print.

True, digital advertising is effective, and for those with the budget, it’s usually worth the spend. But as online influencing and selling increasingly become a pay-to-play game, how do businesses with smaller budgets keep up? We’ve put together 4 budget-friendly tactics to help your messages stand out between the ads:

• Keep a schedule – A sporadic approach to content-sharing never helps anyone. Followers are more likely to stick around when there’s regular, interesting content they’ve grown to appreciate. Content themes can and should change on a week-to-week basis, but the frequency and types of posts – outside of limited-time and rare major promotions or events – should stay consistent.
• Remember, it takes two – Brands should strive to establish and maintain a two-way relationship with audiences online. That means making a concerted effort to listen, not just feed content. So whether it’s opening your page for a contest asking for feedback submission, hosting Q&As, or simply breaking the “sell” cycle with a feel-good message before the weekend, be creative and always seek new ways to invite followers in.
• Keep it real – Stock images should always be a last resort. Many of the most successful paid digital ads lead the way with a compelling image that tells either a relatable or aspirational story; the same standard should apply to unpaid content on your owned channels. Whether it’s a storytelling infographic that educates and motivates action on your issue, or a photo of a real customer enjoying your product, these images convey authenticity. Keep them coming.
• Leverage suspense and surprise – Building momentum is a great way to keep current followers engaged and attract new ones. Have a big announcement to roll out, but don’t have the dollars to promote a big-splash campaign? Use your social feeds to tease the news in a series of posts that feature succinct captions and cryptic, playful images that gel with your brand. Invite followers to tag their friends on the posts so they don’t miss out, too.

The moral of the story here: Quality content can still compete with high quantities of ads paying for customers’ attention. Don’t let intimidation by the big shiny campaigns hold your brand down! Along with proper attention, listening skills, and creativity, following these guidelines over time will enable you to cultivate a loyal followership, while spending less.

Who knows? In no time, your followers might just start thinking about you over breakfast, too.

Now Hiring: PR Manager

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Four Ways to Help Your Brand Gain Consumer Trust

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As a consumer, do you feel as if you are able to trust the brands you interact with? The 2018 Edelman Trust Barometer revealed that 52% of the U.S. population does not trust businesses as an institution. Meanwhile, consumer trust has become a controversial topic that is leading brands to further discuss how they interact with their consumers. Contrary to popular belief that brands are not to be easily trusted, many brands are now working actively to establish trust with their consumers. Below are four ways your brand can enhance consumer trust and, in the process, improve the overall consumer experience:

1. Stay consistent: Every aspect of your brand should be consistent including your overall message, logo and design, and brand personality. If any of these are inconsistent, consumers may not recognize it, and you risk “losing them”. Using a brand management software like Frontify can be very helpful in staying consistent and organized across all channels. Consistency is a proven strategy that will secure a local brand following while solidifying your reputation as a trustworthy brand.

2. Above and beyond customer service: The foundation of any positive personal relationship requires reliability, honesty, and care. The same values should apply for businesses as they relate to their consumers. Showing consumers that your brand cares can come in many different tactical forms, including surveys or questionnaires. Surveys allow your consumers to feel heard and empowered while also showing that you not only value, but require, their opinion. But no matter how you choose to execute your excellent customer service, always remember that a successful and trustworthy brand relationship must be two-way. Your customer needs to see that you give, and not just see you as the only recipient “taking” something in your transactional relationship.

3. Be personal: Making your brand feel authentically personal is a great way to gain and keep consumer trust. It must start from the inside: Encouraging employees to be less scripted and “robotic” is the first step to relating in a more personal way with your consumers. To put it simply, always view your consumers as the real people they are – and less like someone you are trying to win over or sell something to. Being more personal is an easy principle to nurture and can quickly change the overall impression of your brand.

4. Always be accessible: Making your brand available across all platforms and through different forms of communication is vital. A huge miss for businesses is forcing customers to search exhaustively for contact information. A phone number, email, direct message option, or even an instant chat box should be noticeable and easy to access on any website or social media account. It is also important to remember that not everyone prefers the same line of communication. Therefore, having a phone number ready for the consumer that wants instant answers is just as important as regularly checking your direct messages on social media for the consumer that prefers to online chat. Accessibility will allow your consumers to not only trust your overall brand, but also trust you to give them the highest levels of clarity and communication.

4 Tips for Building Sound Influencer Relations Campaigns

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