Public relations should be an integral part of your company’s ongoing marketing plan. But the way you execute your PR campaign depends on what your goals are.
Excerpted from On Target: The Book on Marketing Plans
Public Relations involves a variety of programs designed to maintain or enhance a company’s image and the products and services it offers. Successful implementation of an effective public relations strategy can be a critical component to a marketing plan.
A public relations (PR) strategy may play a key role in an organization’s promotional strategy. A planned approach to leveraging public relations opportunities can be just as important as advertising and sales promotions. Public relations is one of the most effective methods to communicate and relate to the market. It is powerful and, once things are in motion, it is the most cost-effective of all promotional activities. In some cases, it is free.
The success of well-executed PR plans can be seen through several organizations that have made it a central focus of their promotional strategy. Paul Newman’s Salad Dressing, The Body Shop, and Ben & Jerry’s Ice Cream have positioned their organizations through effective PR strategies. Intel, Sprint and Microsoft have leveraged public relations to introduce and promote new products and services.
Similar to the foundational goals of marketing, effective public relations seeks to communicate information to:
Goals and Objectives
Good strategy begins with identifying your goals and stating your objectives. What are the goals and objectives behind your public relations strategy and can they be measured and quantified?
Each of these areas may reflect the goals your public relations campaign may seek to accomplish.
Communicating news and information of interest about organizations in the most positive light.
Sponsoring various efforts to publicize specific products or services.
Promoting a better and more attractive understanding of the organization with internal and external communications.
Communicating with key individuals to positively influence legislation and regulation.
Advising decision-makers within the organization regarding the public’s perception and advising actions to be taken to change negative opinions.