Publicity in marketing means making the public aware of a product, service, person, or organization. But not all publicity is good. That’s one reason why public relations firms are necessary – they help organizations and individuals mitigate bad press.

Companies with good PR have great PR firms behind them.

In this article, we list 8 essential public relations activities every firm should offer and give a PR marketing example to briefly explain what PR tactics look like in practice.

8 Essential Public Relations Activities

1. Press releases

Press releases are a classic PR tactic used to announce news or events related to a company, organization, or individual. They are typically written in a formal, objective style and follow a specific format. The goal of a press release is to provide information to the media about a particular subject so the media can use the information to create a news story or feature about the subject.

2. Media relations

Media relations is the practice of building and maintaining relationships with journalists and media outlets to secure coverage and positive media attention for a company, organization, or individual. It involves creating and distributing press releases, pitching story ideas, and offering interviews or other resources to journalists. The goal of media relations is to help shape how the public perceives a company or organization by influencing how it’s covered in the media.

3. Social media marketing

Social media marketing is the process of creating, managing, and promoting social media accounts for a company, organization, or individual. The purpose of social media marketing is to create and share engaging content that helps build an audience and maintain a positive public image. It’s an important part of PR because social media strategies help brands increase awareness, drive website traffic, and generate leads.

4. Event production

Event production in public relations includes creating and executing all of the elements that are required to make an event a success. This can include coordinating logistics, such as venue rentals, transportation, and catering; designing and creating event materials, such as invitations, signage, and promotional materials; and managing the overall execution of the event. 

5. Experiential marketing

Experiential marketing involves creating immersive and interactive experiences where consumers are active participants, not passive recipients of a marketing message. This can include creating pop-up shops, hosting events or activations, or creating interactive installations or exhibitions. It’s an effective way to engage with customers and create a positive, memorable brand experience that is enthusiastically shared.

6. Crisis management

Crisis management is when a PR firm develops and implements strategies to minimize the negative impact of crises, such as negative media coverage or public backlash, on a brand. This can mean issuing press releases or statements, holding press conferences, or implementing other PR tactics to manage the situation and protect the reputation of the company or organization. It can also be used to help a brand recover from a crisis and rebuild trust with its customers and other stakeholders.

7. Influencer relations 

Influencer relations involves building and maintaining relationships with individuals who have a large following on social media in order to support a brand’s marketing and PR efforts. Public relations firms build relationships with influencers, pitch collaborations, invite them to events or product launches, and provide them with information that will help influencers create content about a company or its products and services.

8. Executive thought leadership

Executive thought leadership is when a PR firm positions a company as experts and thought leaders in their field. This can involve creating and sharing content, such as blog posts, articles, or social media posts, that showcase the expertise and insights of the executives. It can also involve speaking at events or conferences or participating in media interviews or panel discussions as a way of building credibility.

A Public Relations Marketing Example

Here’s a simple public relations marketing example to better explain how PR tactics work in practice.

A company launches a new sustainable product line and wants to promote it to consumers, media, and other stakeholders. The company’s public relations firm will use a variety of PR campaign tactics to successfully launch the new line of sustainable products:

• Press releases: The PR team sends out press releases to relevant media outlets to announce the launch of the new product line, highlighting its sustainability features.
• Social media: The public relations firm uses social media to share engaging information about the new product line, such as the positive impact it has on the environment.
• Events: The PR firm organizes events, such as product demonstrations or press conferences, to showcase the new product line and provide opportunities for media and other stakeholders to learn more about it.
• Influencer partnerships: The company partners with influencers who are passionate about sustainability to promote the new product line and share information about its benefits with their followers.

Overall, a public relations strategy is designed to build positive relationships with the public and favorably shape the company's reputation. For more public relations marketing examples, explore our work.

Want Great PR? Work With a Grand Public Relations Firm

Pomp & Circumstance (P&C) is more than a great PR firm – we’re grand.

We challenge ourselves every day to come up with larger-than-life ideas. From a surfing class to showcase the stability of Dermalogica’s newest Vitamin C product, to a press trip in LA focused on their tagline of “making peace with exfoliation” for their new Daily Milkfoliant launch, we always take a creative approach to bringing our clients’ innovations to life. 

Every brand has a unique story, and we just so happen to be expert storytellers. If you’re ready for us to share your story with the world using PR best practices, let’s talk.

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