Marketing vs. Public Relations (PR): What's The Difference?

Marketing and public relations (PR) are both important parts of business. Both involve reaching a specific audience and influencing the general public in some way. Often, students can earn these degrees as concentrations within a business administration degree.

However, there are also several differences between the two. They often have different audiences and use different strategies to reach those audiences. Below, we've broken down what you need to know about marketing versus public relations.

What Is Marketing?

Marketing refers to the activities involved in promoting and selling a product or service. It often includes:

• market research
• determining a target audience
• figuring out the best way to reach that target audience

The overall goal of marketing is to determine how to best draw attention to and sell a product or service. Marketing professionals often need to take a multifaceted approach to make this work.

Marketing teams may use several different marketing strategies within a marketing campaign. For example, they may use social media and influencers for digital marketing, they may make commercials, or they may take out ad space on billboards or in magazines and newspapers.

What Is Public Relations?

Public relations has some similarities to marketing, but the goal of a PR campaign is to influence public perception so that people have a positive image of a person or brand.

A PR professional may do things like:

• issue press releases
• speak to media outlets
• coordinate media coverage

These are all done to create a positive reputation for their client They want to boost brand representation with the general public.

PR agencies are known for stepping in when a client needs reputation management, such as when a celebrity says something offensive or a brand is caught using shady business practices. However, PR teams are often working quietly behind the scenes all the time to maintain a client's reputation.

Core Differences Between Marketing and PR

While there are many similarities between marketing and PR, there are also several differences. The two fields are not interchangeable, and we've broken down their core differences below.

Brand Awareness vs. Positive Reputation

Have you heard the phrase 'bad publicity is still publicity?' Marketers might be inclined to agree with this, whilepublic relations specialists may not.For marketing departments, brand awareness is a major driving factor. If you host a product launch but no one knows your brand, you aren't going to see your new product. They want to make the general public as aware of their brand as possible.Meanwhile, PR professionals are trying to build a positive brand reputation. They aren't looking for new customers, they're looking to ensure that they paint their client in the best light possible.!!Strategic Communication vs. Marketing CampaignsAnother key difference between marketing and public relations is the communication channels they use. Public relations often uses strategic communication, while marketing uses marketing campaigns.Strategic communication means carefully determining where to distribute information. A PR team may use a press conference or social media to make a statement. The communication strategy they choose needs to make sense for their client and that client's audience.Marketing campaigns, on the other hand, are often made up of several strategies to reach potential customers. Marketing teams then look at the metrics and conversions from these different strategies to see how different audiences reacted. This can influence their marketing strategies going forward.!!Target Audience Perception and Market ResearchWhile their methods and end goals vary, both marketing and public relations are invested in their target audience perception and involved in market research. Your target audience means the people and potential customers you're hoping to reach. For example, the target audience of a marketing campaign for baby diapers is usually parents of small children.To find the target audience and determine the best way to approach them, marketing teams and PR teams usually need to do some market research. This involves identifying who the target audience is and concluding the best way to sell to them or build a positive relationship.!!!Should I Go Into PR or Marketing?Whether or not you should go into PR or marketing depends on where your interests lie. Both are compelling career options that require strategic thinking and creativity, and many universities offer degrees or areas of focus in both.If helping companies or individuals cultivate and maintain a positive reputation with the public is your goal, then PR is a better option. If you want to create compelling marketing strategies that drive results, marketing is likely better for you.!!!FAQs About PR vs. MarketingBelow, we've answered some frequently asked questions about PR versus marketing.!!Are PR and Marketing the Same Thing?PR and marketing are similar, but they are not the same thing. Marketing refers to strategies used to spread the word about a product, service, or event, while PR refers to helping a client maintain a positive reputation with the general public.!!What Pays More: PR or Marketing?According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), PR and marketing pay similar amounts. However, it depends largely on:*your role*your location*your employer*the amount of experience you haveManagerial roles in PR and marketing often pay more than six figures. Lower-level roles, like that of a marketing or PR associate, usually pay about half that.!!Is PR More Important Than Marketing?PR and marketing are both important for businesses, and in general, one is not necessarily more important than the other. However, this can vary based on your client and their needs at any given time.Let's use the example of a celebrity musician. On a day-to-day basis, PR is likely going to be the most important thing for that musician. However, if the musician is releasing a new album or going on tour, marketing for those things will be very important.!!How Do Marketing and PR Strategies Differ in Reaching Target Audiences?To reach a target audience, marketing may use a variety of methods, such as:*placing ads on social media or in print media*airing commercials on television*using influencers*email marketing*using SEO on their websitesMeanwhile, PR departments use a more concentrated approach. You usually aren't going to find them sending emails or placing ads on social media. Instead, they may issue press releases, hold press conferences, or have their clients post a message on their own social media accounts.