What is Public Relations & Why is it Important?

So, What is Public Relations?

Public Relations is the use of communication and strategic planning in order to create and maintain relationships between an organization and the public. Public Relations specialists work along side other specialists in Marketing, Communications, and Advertising. They all collectively work together for a corporate organization or persons to execute then maintain efficient work. Public Relations offers a range of variety and is not restricted to one specific industry.

History

Public Relations has been a way of work since the early 20th century, in which at the time was described as facilitating adaptation between an organization and their publics/stakeholders. PR is believed to have stemmed from the idea of communication; however, the modern Public Relations that we know today was first discovered by Ivy Ledbetter Lee and Edward Bernay. P.T. Barnum also influenced public relations and has led us to where we are today. Lee emphasized honesty and open communication while Bernay influenced the public by applying psychology. As I am not going in-depth in Public Relations history, it has slowly curated into what it is today. Check out further resources for more information.

Why is Public Relations Important?

Public Relations is important because it is the one of the most effective methods organizations use to market themselves and build a reputation. A company with strong Public Relations strategies often have evidence to prove for it, such as significant return-on-investments (ROI). The successful work of PR creates a brands overall success. Along with help increase sales, Public Relations also deals with crises a company may encounter. Public Relations specialists are responsible for handling the situation in an appropriate and timely manner. If there were no Public Relations, companies reputations would diminish leading to decrease in sales and revenue. So, I think that that Public Relations are super important to have for all industries and organizations.

Public Relations has slowly worked its way up the ladder and is growing rapidly. Careers in Public Relations are predicted to grow 6% by 2032. This reflects how important Public Relations has become in today's society. An influx of social media and digital media has created new brands, influencers, and circumstances that are in need of Public Relations. PR serves as the glue between a company, their publics, and their reputation. Well, how does Public Relations do that? To start off, they establish trust between the means. They create an atmosphere where they are able to increase brand visibility and nurture brand loyalty.