Public Relations

Objectives of Public Relations

Like other aspects of marketing promotion, public relations is used to address several broad objectives including:

• Building Product Awareness – When introducing a new product or relaunching an existing product, marketers can use a PR element that generates consumer attention and awareness through media placements and special events. 
• Creating Interest – Whether a PR placement is a short product article or is included with other products in “round up” article, stories in the media can help entice a targeted audience to try the product.  For example, around the holiday season, a special holiday food may be promoted with PR through promotional releases sent to the food media or through special events that sample the product.
• Providing Information – PR can be used to provide customers with more in depth information about products and services.  Through articles, collateral materials, newsletters and websites, PR delivers information to customers that can help them gain understanding of the product.
• Stimulating Demand – A positive article in a newspaper, on a TV news show or mentioned on the Internet, often results in a discernable increase in product sales.
• Reinforcing the Brand – In many companies the public relations function is also involved with brand reinforcement by maintaining positive relationships with key audiences, and thereby aiding in building a strong image.  Today it is ever more important for companies and brands to build a good image.  A strong image helps the company build its business and it can help the company in times of crises as well.