If you’ve ever heard about – or even participated in – a campaign, been to press conference or attended a fundraising event for an NPO, you probably didn’t realise it at the time, but PR had a big part to play in all three of those things.

These professionals need to receive the recognition they deserve because the role they have to play in a brand’s communications is BIG.

With that in mind, here are four reasons why PR is vital for your brand:

1. PR builds strong brand credibility

Consumers want to trust a brand before they will purchase a product or service from them. A recent survey done by SurveyMonkey reports that 65% of consumers care “a great deal” about having trust in a brand.

This is where the PR pro comes in; they can improve a brand’s credibility by dealing with questions from the press and public. Not only do they provide you with information about possible new promotional opportunities, but they also work on networking strategies and make use of their connection with influencers. This ensures that your brand receives good exposure, ensuring that consumers get to know your brand.

2. PR pros focus on crisis management

On social media, it only takes one negative comment on a post in order for things to escalate into a huge problem for your brand. People piggyback on negative comments, and the results of this could lead to some serious damage to your reputation.

PR pros that work specifically in crisis management are the best people for the job because they know how to handle any situation that has gone wrong — whether it’s a video on Facebook, a press conference or a simple tweet.

These pros also tend to make use of tools that assist them in knowing when something about your brand is said. Take, for example, a tool like amaSocial, which tracks what is happening with your brand on social media. As soon as a crisis arises, your brand will be notified immediately, allowing you to attend to it asap.

3. PR pros get the community involved

When your brand appeals to a certain community, there is no better way to communicate with them than with the help of a PR pro. In a previous article by media update, we talk about different types of PRs.

One type is a person who works in community relations; this person specialises in getting the community involved and interested in the product or brand that your company sells. This particular type of professional is also a beneficial investment for your brand when you want to reach certain communities.

4. PR pros promote your brand on credible sites

Not only do PR pros write press releases about various topics surrounding your brand (whether it’s a new product launch, company appointment or event), they also ensure that these press releases are sent to relevant, credible publishers. This means that brands can be certain that their message will be sent out to their target audiences and that they’re garnering valuable traffic from that online publication.

In addition to nabbing audiences’ attention from other websites, brands can also rest assured that these press releases always make them look good.

Jean-Louis Gassée, an executive at Apple Computer, says, “Advertising is saying you’re good. PR is getting someone else to say you’re good.”

Do you agree that PR pros are vital for a brand’s success? Let us know in the comments section below.

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Now that you understand why PR pros are vital to your brand’s success, you know why they deserve more appreciation. Start giving them some recognition by taking a look at these Five things every PR needs to hear today.
*Image courtesy of Vecteezy