Loading
PR Glossary
PR vs Marketing vs Advertising: definition
The clearest way to separate them is control versus credibility. Advertising gives you full control of the message but low credibility, because audiences know it is paid. PR gives up some control but earns high credibility, because an independent source is vouching for you.
Marketing sits above both, covering product, pricing, distribution, demand generation and brand, with PR and advertising as two of its tools.
The strongest programs use all three together, so paid, earned and owned reinforce one another rather than competing for budget.
Related service
PR ServicesPublic Relations
Public relations is the practice of managing how an organisation is perceived by earning trust and coverage rather than buying it. It uses media relations, content, events and communication to build and protect reputation with the public, media, customers and other stakeholders. Unlike advertising, the attention it earns is credited to independent sources, which makes it more credible.
Earned, Paid and Owned Media
Earned media is coverage a third party chooses to give you, such as a news article. Paid media is space you buy, such as an advertisement. Owned media is the content you control, such as your website or social channels. Earned media is the most credible because an independent source, not the brand, is vouching for it.
PR (Public Relations)
PR stands for public relations. A PR agency is a firm that manages an organisation's public image and media coverage on its behalf. The team earns coverage, builds reputation, handles communication with journalists and stakeholders, and responds to issues, so a brand is understood and trusted the way it intends to be.