PR Myths That Are Holding Your Business Back!
Over the years, we at Goho have heard plenty of misconceptions about what PR is. It’s time to set the record straight!
Here’s what we wished people would stop saying when it comes to PR.
“PR and Marketing are the same thing.”
Like eyebrows, PR and marketing are sisters, not twins.
Marketing focuses on promoting products or services to drive sales. Think about bringing your customers down through the sales funnel, converting them into leads.
On the other hand, PR focuses on building a positive reputation and fostering trust. Before you turn your nose up at this, know that having a good and trusted brand recognition actually indirectly supports sales and long-term growth. Through a great strategy involving media relations, corporate communications and reputation management, you can bet all stakeholders you engage with (whether customers, employees, partners or investors) are happy to work with you.
In the best case scenario, PR and marketing work together for maximum impact. So, don’t overlook PR!
“I’m a small brand, I don’t need PR!”
Small businesses can benefit just as much (if not more) from PR. A strong PR strategy can boost visibility, establish credibility, and attract customers or investors, often at a lower cost than advertising. While building a social media following takes time and ads drain your budget, a well-timed press release could land you coverage in major media outlets, dramatically expanding your reach and reputation.
Still not convinced? Many small businesses make big headlines, for example, if they’ve got an inspirational founder who’s built their brand against huge odds, or if there’s a local spin to the story, or even if it tells a bigger story about current affairs (such as economic changes or social change).
Everyone’s got a story to share. Telling that story and making sure it gets heard is what PR does best.
“Any publicity is good publicity.”
Not all attention is positive. While controversial publicity can get people talking, it can also damage trust, alienate customers, and attract negative media coverage that’s hard to undo. Even coverage in outlets your target audience doesn’t respect can do more harm than good.. The goal should be relevant, positive stories rather than chasing headlines at any cost.
What if you do get bad publicity? PR can help as well! Crisis management is important, addressing potential concerns from stakeholders and commenting back is important.
