What exactly is public relations? Why is it so important? Many people ask these questions daily and the answer is simple; according to the PRSA website, “Public relations is a strategic communication process that builds mutually beneficial relationships between organizations and their publics.”
Keeping this definition in mind, every company has some type of PR worked into it, that being a spokesperson, representative, social media expert, etc. Relationship building is a priority and it is all about the public. Without the public, companies would not last because the people are what keeps them going. Customers are essential because they could soon turn into clients and then we are talking business.
You never know who will share one of your posts, read one of your blogs, hear your name, or know about your success stories. Having relationships builds character and gives you an opportunity to network with others. Storytelling is powerful in the PR world as it affects how the news and media are interrelated.
It is essential to have the public know about your own specific brand. Your brand is who you are because perception is reality. Always updating your Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, etc will help the public understand what your motives and goals are for your company and individual brand. PR comes in handy when there is breaking news and you have the sources of technology to get the word out and see how the public is responding. If the customer is not happy, then you are not happy. In order to please the customer, you have to make sure that you are receiving feedback and following them on social media to help run things smoothly.
The beauty of PR is that you can have several strategies and ways of communicating with your target audience. PR campaigns are crucial for reaching your goals and successfully completing your mission. Since our generation is so technology-savvy, social media is the top way to communicate and in order to reach out to the public, PR is the most beneficial way of doing so. Without public relations, our world would definitely be different and relationships would not be the same moving forward.
by Lindsy Hentschel, Junior Account Executive, KCCC
