Public Relations, Explained (Spoiler Alert—It’s More Than Swag Bags and Social Media Posts!)
By: Marisa Akley, Director of Operations
Public Relations is not just schmoozing at parties while holding a glass of overpriced Pinot Grigio (though, yes, there may be wine involved on occasion). PR is a professional art form—think strategic storytelling meets Jedi-level persuasion.
But for the rest of us, what is PR, actually?
Imagine your company as that lovable coworker who means well. They have a good heart (great products), an interesting story (strong brand), but they tend to overshare about their label maker or the time they alphabetized their spice rack for fun.
Enter: the PR pro.
This person swoops in like a social butterfly with the right amount of wit and business savvy and says, “Let me help you tell your story in a way that doesn’t make people slowly back out of the conversation.”
In official terms: public relations is the strategic process of managing how information about a company or individual is communicated to the public, including customers, investors, employees and, of course, the media.
In unofficial terms: PR is what keeps your brand from becoming a meme for all the wrong reasons.
Wait, isn’t that just marketing?
Ah, the age-old question. If marketing is Beyoncé, then PR is the behind-the-scenes manager who books the venue, gets Beyoncé on the cover of Forbes, and ensures nobody leaks her contract rider to the press (no green M&M’s!). They’re both working toward the same goal—visibility, notoriety, sales—but they play very different instruments in the band.
Marketing says, “Look at us, we’re amazing!”
PR gets other people to say it for you.
Why does PR matter in the marketplace?
Let’s say you invented a self-cleaning yoga mat (which, by the way, I would buy in bulk). You launch it with a snazzy website, a few TikToks and a really intense Google ad campaign.
Now, imagine a glowing feature in Fast Company about how you’re revolutionizing the way people sweat stylishly. Or a customer success story gets picked up by a local news station. Or you get interviewed on a podcast called “Sweat Equity.”
Well…that’s PR. And suddenly, you’re not just selling a product—you’re building credibility, trust and buzz. These days, consumers are extra savvy, so that kind of third-party validation is priceless.
So, is PR effective?
Like a stunning outfit, good PR won’t change who you are—but it will make you look your absolute best. And in a crowded, noisy marketplace where people’s attention spans, well, don’t exist, that can be the difference between thriving and being forgotten faster than the last Bachelor.
So, the next time someone says, “What’s PR even do?” just smile and say, …
“We don’t just tell your story—we tailor it to turn heads, raise eyebrows and leave your competitors wondering when you got so effortlessly brilliant.”