Communications for Dummies: PUBLIC RELATIONS

Look no further! Everything you need to know about public relations in 3 minutes.

Hello everyone and welcome to Communications for Dummies: my mini-series of all things comms!! Before taking COMMS 101 at BYU, I was just like most 18-25 year old Americans, who, upon hearing the word communications, think “that’s cool”, but have actually no idea what it means. Is this you? Don’t fret- I’m here to help.

I’ll going to explain the bones of communications in the workplace by explaining four different branches studied here at Brigham Young University. Now, this isn’t everything- there are many branches, and I definitely won’t cover them all. But think of this as a crash course in comms. You’ll know just enough to sound smart when you talk with other people abaout the basics of communicatiosn and perhaps I’ll make you curious enough to want to know more. 

Let’s get started!

Today's topic of interest is... (drumroll please)

PUBLIC RELATIONS!

Now- before you assume that it means speaking in front of a lot of people holding microphones and taking notes (which is certainly part of it), there is much more to PR than meets the eye. Let's look at the impact of PR, career options, and good examples of it found in our every day lives.

!Here's a little PR quote to get your brain going

So, what is it?

• In short, it’s all about building relationships. PR is the process of creating and maintaining a positive image for a business or individual. It’s helping them leave an impact. This is done across various platforms in many different ways. Whether it’s organizing events, managing social media, collecting data and forming strategies- anything that accomplishes the goal of getting a brand or company into someone’s mind falls under PR.

“Public relations is a strategic communication process that builds mutually beneficial relationships between organizations and their publics.” -PRSA

Why is it important?

• Ultimately, a company or public figure’s key to success is the relationship they have with the people. Having a good message and image is just as important as a good product or service because it creates connection and builds trust. If you are an entrepreneur, an influencer, an employee in a large corporation, a politician, an athlete- you name it- PR is your key to success.
  

Potential careers in public relations?

• Media coordinator

• PR manager

• Publicist

• Content creator

• Event planning/management

• Copywriter

• Brand specialist

• Investor relations director

• Fundraising manager

• Crisis management

• And MANY MORE! The sky is the limit.

What do you do in PR?

• Managing influencer/affiliate sponsorships, blogger relations

• Writing press/media releases

• Managing social media messages

• Front line of customer service

• The number one thing people check to understand your brand

• Establish relationships

• Media training

• Creating PR strategies

• Editing content

• Acting as a gatekeeper

• Website content

• Annual reports

• Speeches or newsletters

• Crisis communications

• Responding to extreme circumstances that threaten operations or reputation

• Managing events

• Exhibitions, press conferences, tours or visits

Skills needed to work in PR? 

• Creativity

• Communication skills

• Social media

• Writing

• Honesty

• Teamwork

• ... and more!!

Public Relations in our daily lives

• Can you think of something a company or public figure did that made you like them and trust them, or helped you understand their message more clearly? That’s public relations. Here are a few things that I thought of: 
  

• Costco’s free samples

• Some of my core childhood memories were built at Costco. When I would go grocery shopping with my mom, it was always my favorite place to go because of the FREE SAMPLES. Everyone loves getting a free hot pocket or smoothie from the nice old lady at the free samples stand. This is something unique that not only sells products, it builds a positive relationship with customers and makes them well-known.
  

• A meet and greet with your favorite band after a concert

• Have you ever felt a connection with a singer/celebrity that you had met? Like you just KNEW that you were special? Forget the thousands of other fans that they’ve met/performed for. That’s good PR. Public figures want people to like them. They want people to see them as real human beings, with likes and dislikes. They want their fans to feel appreciated for their devotion. A meet and greet is a perfect way to do this.

• Hosting a live Q and A on Instagram or YouTube to talk about your company and its message and interact with customers
  

• This is another way to give people a more up close and personal look at what they’re all about. It creates connection and builds loyalty to a company as people feel like their questions and concerns are answered and their needs are met.

• A journalist’s or influencer’s review on a new product

• A PR representative likely contacted this person asking them to review this product and share their thoughts. Good reviews = more trust = better image and relationship with the public.
  

• And of course... press conferences. :)

So, when you think about it, you see PR everywhere you go. It’s a pretty big deal. Being aware of these things can help you understand a company’s message and motives better. And maybe pursuing a career in public relations is something that interests you. It’s clear that you can help someone make a big difference if you wish to do so!

Stay tuned for my next article in this series: advertising!