What Is Public Relations
Public relations (PR) is a strategic communication process from an organization to the public to maintain or cultivate an image and respond to discourse. PR encompasses influencing, engaging, and building relationships across several platforms to shape the public’s perception of who you are.
Public Relations
Managing and circulating information about an organization to influence public perception
PR revolves around protecting the reputation and integrity of an organization and anticipating and analyzing the public’s opinions and attitudes towards your organization that may impact operations or future plans.
HubSpot describes two sides to PR: positive and negative.
Positive PR
Positive PR highlights your reputation, ideas, products, position, or accomplishments. For example, your business just received an award for being “Best in Business.” This positive recognition deserves to be celebrated and announced to the community. Reaching out to a PR specialist can help spread the word about your success by putting out a press release. This exposure will, in return, generate more business for you, creating a win-win for the company and the consumer.
Positive PR includes:
- News and Press
- Media Outreach
- Social Media
- Speaking Engagements
Negative PR
It’s vital to prepare for when the unexpected happens, and you should share your side of the story if you are involved in negative publicity. However, how you respond makes all the difference. You would not want to make a situation even worse. PR helps mitigate damage and inform the public so that they have a better understanding of an issue. It’s essential to step in during a crisis to take accountability and show solidarity.
Negative PR includes:
- Crisis Communications
- Damage Control
- Response/Apology
- Reputation Restoration
The Press Release Ranks as the Most Trusted Media Source
In today’s political climate, people are skeptical of many news sources. And while social media is very popular, it too is not a place for trustworthy information. According to Cision, at 42%, press releases outrank spokespeople (29%), corporate websites (21%), blogs (4%), and social media (4%) as the most trusted media for information.
Control Perception With Peabody PR
PR isn’t just writing news after it happens but informing the public regarding upcoming projects, product launches, events, and communications before they occur. Peabody uses PR to help companies manage good and bad press and maintain relationships to provide clarity on important topics.