subject: Why Would You Need PR? [print this page] Why Would You Need PR? Why Would You Need PR?
Public relations is an area of marketing that many businesses fail to understand. By not understanding what is involved with PR and what it can achieve, many businesses are missing out of the benefits that PR exposure can bring.
There are many uses for PR and different businesses use the power of the media for different reasons.
However, PR is a very powerful tool used both by companies and individuals. For example, many celebrities use PR agencies to support them for a variety of reasons. Many companies use PR to support their image or quell any rumors that may be floating around about them.
So why would you need PR for your company/self:
Brand Exposure
Crisis Control
Company Launch
Event Marketing
Let's consider each of these areas one by one and see how PR can help in a very targeted and cost effective way.
Brand Exposure
Considering some of the top businesses we all know (BP, Direct Line, Vodafone) these companies all use PR to get their name 'out there' so that if we hear a song, see certain colours then you will think of these businesses.
Crisis Control
The classic example would be celebrities; they use PR agencies to help with quelling rumors and doing damage control. Whether this be for Posh Spice, Elton John or Jordan they all have PR companies (sometimes working round the clock) to support them. Businesses use PR agencies for crisis control to prevent things such as rumors of take over, industrial issues etc. Crisis PR is a very important type of PR and essential to many within the global media world, where news spreads within minutes.
Company Launch
New companies may decide to use PR to help them in launching their businesses. Innocent smoothies did use PR (and very successfully) in getting their brand well known by everyone in the UK
Event Marketing
If you are considering doing an event (such as a music festival for example) then a PR agency would be able to help you by finding the right publications to market in and raise awareness. From the top festivals such as Glastonbury down to the smaller ones, PR can really help to create a buzz and draw visitors in.
