7 Ways PR differs from advertising

3. Purpose:

Advertising is single minded in its delivery in order to be effective and is predominantly a visual medium used to sell a product. PR on the other hand, takes multiple shapes and harnesses media channels to manage reputation and build relationships, often commercial, with your target audiences based on trust.

4. Independence:

The editorial team is, or should be, independent from the commercial arm of the business to ensure editorial independence and integrity. It is this independence which is so precious to you because it endows credibility on your brand by association.

5. No guarantees:

While you pay for the PR agency‘s time, there’s no guarantee that coverage will appear – it is down to the editor to decide whether the material is likely to add value to the media channel or not. For this reason, communication with the editorial contacts should be transparent and focused while managing your expectation accordingly.

6. Engagement:

Journalists are looking to get ahead of their competitors, to get a scoop, so a story offered as an exclusive is more likely to appeal. A specific magazine or TV programme can be the first to ‘break your story’ but it can then be sent to multiple journalists thereafter, in order to maximize your press coverage. Your ad, on the other hand, will appear in multiple competitive outlets at the same time, single mindedly communicating its one key message. This can be combined as part of an integrated PR and marketing campaign.

7. Cost:

Traditionally, the cost of advertising has far exceeded the cost of PR both in terms of the development and implementation. Digital media and technology are starting to change this, but there is still a very long way to go. The primary skill that your PR company needs is to be able to present your message in a way that will engage and inspire the audience of your target media, through the lens of the editor.

Advertising versus PR and the role of social media

To summarise, the table below shows how advertising differs from public relations: for example, building exposure versus building trust; securing guaranteed placement in the way you desire it versus winning a credible editorial placement within your target publication.

However, the traditional advertising and PR spaces are shifting, especially in B2B tech. 

Looking into 2024, the dividing lines between PR and advertising are blurred increasingly by the intersecting role of social media, where placement and advertisement, referral and commentary, are very closely positioned and competitively priced. It’s time to think about maximising the opportunities that executive profiling and thought leadership on social media have to offer. If not, you will miss the ability to be as tailored and targeted in your messaging as possible, whether you decide to pay for advertising on social media networks (sponsored posts), or use social as a public relations tool. When considering advertising versus PR, these are media channels that should not be ignored, as we highlight in our post ‘9 Reasons why CEOs and business leaders should be active on LinkedIn‘.