What is PR?

Public relations is all about reputation. It's the result of what you do, what you say, and what others say about you. It is used to gain trust and understanding between an organisation and its various publics - whether that's employees, customers, investors, the local community - or all of those stakeholder groups.

  • Are you looking for a job in PR? Take a look at our PR Jobs page
  • Are you looking to hire a new PR company? Our ‘Find a PR Agency' service makes the process faster, simpler and hassle free

Want to know more about what PR is?

How is it done?the frontline guide to a career in pr.
Public relations professionals use many different techniques as part of their PR campaigns. From media relations and lobbying, to speaking at conferences, to online viral campaigns, to sponsorship - and more. PR isn't always about short-term campaigns, such as product launches. It can encompass longer-term strategic aims, such as brand building and working with local communities. 

How does it differ from advertising?
With PR, a company does not pay the newspapers and TV channels for the media exposure it secures. It's this third-party endorsement that gives PR its power and credibility.

How does PR benefit a company?
Public relations can play a critical role in achieving a competitive advantage by, for example, opening new markets, attracting high-calibre employees, giving more access to funding and investors, creating a high value for products and services, and protecting businesses in times of crisis. All organisations, whether local or international, big or small, benefit from public relations.

For further information, please see our free (exc. p+p) Best Practice Guides: Bestpracticeguides

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