What is PR

PR to some is an anomaly and to others is quite an unknown quantity. PR stands for Public Relations and there are many PR agencies who can assist you with these services. There are many definitions of Public Relations, ranging from the profound to the profane. In a phrase (courtesy of the Public relations Society of America), “Public relations helps an organisation and its public adapt mutually to each other.”

Through positive Public Relations management, PR agencies can develop beneficial relationships with key stakeholders and effectively promote your company.

Essentially PR agencies such as ours can assist you with any of the following:

Community Relations:

Enhancing your organisation’s participation and position within a community through outreach efforts for the mutual benefit of the organisation and the community. PR agencies develop these relationships and optimise opportunities to promote your company. See Public Affairs below.

Crisis Management:

Strong Public Relations management will effectively address these situations. This involves maintaining relations with the public, government agencies, news media, employees, shareholders, and other affected parties on behalf of an organisation involved in a crisis situation.

Employee Relations:

Typically representing an organisation’s management to inform and motivate the organisation’s employees through internal communications, training, awards programs, and other events.

Government Affairs:

Representing an organisation’s interests to governing bodies and regulatory agencies, often through direct “lobbying” efforts, and also through public affairs and other PR activities building issue constituencies.

Internal Communications:

Serves as a conduit for information flow between management and the ranks. Grounded in communication theory, IC taps tools of newsletters, Intranet pages, management memos, position statements, presentations and special events to disseminate information regarding company updates, management policies, Human Resources issues & benefits, business initiatives, crisis management, etc.

Investor Relations:

Developing confidence and positive relations for your organisation with investors in the financial community. Also called Financial Relations and Shareholder Relations.

Marketing Communications:

Within the four P’s of Marketing (Product, Price, Place, Promotion), PR helps meets the marketing communication needs of promotion (along with components of the other P’s) to advance sales of products and services. PR plays a role in advertising, publicity, packaging, point-of-sale display, trade shows, and special events. Also called Marcom.

Media Relations:

Conducting outreach or responding to the news media on behalf of your organisation or client. Media relations are often considered a specialised function within a public relations campaign.

Public Affairs:

Involving your organisation in the development of public policy, or helping to adapt your organisation to public expectations. Public Affairs is sometimes used synonymously to refer to public relations activities (especially in the government and military). The Public Affairs Council defines more here.

Publicity:

Furthering your organisation’s or client’s interest through target-media coverage of strategic messages and events. A good publicist knows how to work the angles for free media coverage.