It is hard to escape the daily influx of advertising and constant efforts being made in public relations. Before arriving to college, I had not a clue there was a difference between the two; although, after much consideration and research, there are many differences that make each profession unique.
Overall, public relations is on a much broader scale than advertising. Advertising’s goal is to appeal to a specific target audience in order to generate sales; advertisers buy spaces to put their ad and are not concerned with good relations nor reputation upkeep. How much exposure one’s ad receives is based off of the amount of money he or she is willing to spend; in addition, the advertiser is at his or her own digression with ad content.
Conversely, the focus for those involved in public relations is geared toward building brand awareness and reputation. Any recognition and popularity gained through PR is earned via campaigning, making connections and building trust between organizations. Goals are more long-term with PR and stress the importance of remaining credible and liked. Delivering meaningful information about a brand can build a base of dedicated “fans”, including consumers.
All in all, advertising and public relations are similar, but the ultimate goal of each is completely different. When considering the two as career options, it is important to know distinct differences to ensure the right choice is made based off of qualifications. Learning about the difference between public relations and advertising has proved very beneficial, and I am excited to continue on my trek as a public relations queen!
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