What’s the Difference Between Marketing and PR? (And Why Your Business Needs Both)

When it comes to promoting your business, marketing and public relations (PR) are often confused. While they share similar goals—raising brand awareness and driving growth—they play different roles in your business strategy.

Let’s break down the key differences and why your business needs both to succeed.

What Is Marketing?

Marketing focuses on promoting your product or service to a specific audience, often with the goal of driving sales. Marketing campaigns are typically paid efforts, such as social media ads, email marketing, and digital campaigns.

Marketing is a more controlled process where you decide the message and the distribution channels. It’s great for direct sales, product launches, and customer acquisition.

What Is PR?

Public relations, on the other hand, is about managing your business’s reputation and building relationships with the media, customers, and the public. PR is earned, not paid—think media coverage, word-of-mouth, and public perception.

PR builds credibility by positioning your business as a trusted voice in your industry. It’s not about pushing products; it’s about telling your brand’s story and fostering long-term goodwill.

Key Differences Between Marketing and PR

• Control: Marketing is about direct messaging, while PR is more about influencing public perception.

• Cost: Marketing usually involves a budget for ads, while PR focuses on earned media.

• Goal: Marketing drives short-term sales; PR aims for long-term credibility and trust.

Why You Need Both

To maximise growth, your business should invest in both marketing and PR. Marketing will bring in immediate leads and customers, while PR will build your brand’s reputation over time, making marketing efforts more effective in the long run.

Final Thoughts

Marketing and PR are two sides of the same coin, each playing an essential role in your business’s success. By combining the strengths of both, you can raise brand awareness, build trust, and ultimately drive growth. If you’re looking to get your PR strategy in place, check out my PR courses for small businesses at janegriffinpr.com