Introduction to Marketing, Advertising and Public Relations

An Introduction to Marketing, Advertising and Public Relations:

People often confuse marketing, advertising and public relations. While they are different by
definition, these areas work together to provide the greatest return on your marketing
investment.
In simple terms, marketing is the act or process of selling or an aggregate of functions involved
in moving goods from producer to consumer. It is the blend of various mediums and innovative
strategies working together to sell your business, products and services.
Marketing examples include market research, branding and establishing your firm’s identity,
positioning, pricing, packaging your product and or services, signage, speciality/promotional
items and sales materials such as a website to help move the product or service to market.
Advertising is the tool or vehicle used to promote a product, service or idea and usually comes
with a price (that is you pay to deliver your message into the marketplace via a specific
communication channel or media). Advertising includes yellow pages, direct mail, print ads in
newspaper and trade publications, billboard, radio, tv, internet advertising and media placement.
Public relations is the management function that establishes and maintains mutually beneficial
relationships between an organization and the clientele on whom its success or failure depends.
The basics include increasing awareness with the public, as well as internal and other external
audiences. Examples of public relations efforts include distributing news releases, pitching story
ideas and earning media coverage for your products, services and company, media kits,
holding special events, sponsoring area organizations, involvement in the community,
networking, providing speeches and presentations, newsletters and e-communications.