Understanding the difference: PR vs Marketing

As a proud PR graduate, I have always been very clear that I work in PR and that I am in no way a marketing expert. This can often result in a lot of blank faces from people who just lump PR and marketing together as one!

What I always say is they are two very distinct disciplines with different goals and methods. Both are crucial for business success and, yes, they do need to work hand in hand - a strong PR strategy can enhance marketing efforts by building trust and credibility, while effective marketing can amplify PR messages and reach wider audiences.

In today's digital age it is also fair to say that the lines between PR and marketing are increasingly blurring, with social media and content marketing bridging the gap. Understanding their core differences allows businesses to leverage both disciplines effectively for maximum impact so let’s take a quick snapshot look at what those key differences are:

Goals

PR - Focuses on managing reputation and building relationships with stakeholders.

Marketing - Aims to promote products or services directly to consumers.

Target Audience

PR - Engages with a wide range of stakeholders, including media, investors, employees, and the general public.

Marketing - Primarily targets potential and existing customers.

Methods

PR – Utilises (to name a few but not all!) media relations, crisis management, corporate communications, internal comms and social responsibility or CSR initiatives.

Marketing - Employs advertising, direct marketing, social media campaigns, and sales promotions.

Messaging

PR – Uses storytelling to craft narratives to shape public perception and build credibility.

Marketing - Creates persuasive messages to highlight product benefits and encourage purchases.

Timeframe

PR - Often focuses on longer-term reputation building and maintenance.

Marketing – More of a mix as it can have both short-term promotional campaigns and long-term branding objectives.