Public Relations (often referred to as PR) includes activities intended to promote understanding of your company or product and to promote goodwill toward you, your company and its products. Through PR activities you may assess and influence public opinion by delivering messages without incurring direct media costs.
Public Relations is often confused with advertising. In fact, it is often considered to be "free advertising." To learn more about the differences between advertising and public relations, see How Public Relations Differs From Advertising.
Some of the tools commonly used in Public Relations are:
Community Outreach
Help build community by participating in local events, donating to non-profit organizations, networking and educating its citizens.Special Events
Build your company's reputation and influence in your industry by taking part in trade shows, conferences, training seminars, in-store demonstrations and trial offers.Marketing Communications
Keep in continuous touch with your market and community by publishing newsletters and informational booklets and brochures, inserting slip sheets in your invoices, and writing personal notes and letters.
As with all aspects of your business, public relations should not be left to random chance. It is important to think through the best ways to promote your business to help define your business image. Take time to define an appropriate media campaign and put together a press kit so you will have something to give the media when they are writing something about your business.
