You’ve got a new business. Your product is amazing, and your service is top-notch. But how will people get to know your brand? You might be thinking that just “Boosting” a few posts on Facebook will bring in a flood of customers. But at the end of the month, you notice that while the money is being spent, your brand isn’t becoming a household name, and people don’t seem to trust it yet.
So, what’s the problem? This happens because most new businesses don’t understand the core differences in Marketing vs Advertising vs PR. Many people think these three are the same thing, which is a big mistake. Today, let’s solve this puzzle and figure out which one you need for your business, when to use it, and how.
When we talk about Marketing vs Advertising vs PR, PR is always the trust-building pillar
Imagine you see a popular food blogger in Dhaka posting about how much they loved the food at your new restaurant—completely on their own. Or what if a newspaper like The Daily Star runs a feature story on your startup’s innovative idea? That’s the power of PR.
The main goal of PR isn’t to buy ad space; it’s to earn people’s trust.
How does PR work?
- Earned Media: PR focuses on what we call Earned Media. This means you “earn” attention from the media and the public through your brand’s story or actions, you don’t buy it. When journalists, bloggers, or influencers talk about your brand without being paid, it becomes much more credible to the audience.
- Building Trust: When a third party (like a journalist) praises your brand, customers are more likely to believe it than an advertisement. They know you didn’t pay for that compliment.
- Long-Term Strategy: PR won’t bring you sales overnight. It’s a long-term process that slowly builds a positive brand image and helps increase your Share of Voice in the market (i.e., how often your brand is mentioned in conversations about your industry).
- Crisis Management: If any negative news or rumors spread about your brand, it’s PR’s job to handle it. Managing the damage through clear and honest communication is a vital part of PR.
Who should use PR?
Any business can benefit from PR. However, it’s essential for new startups, companies with innovative products, or anyone looking to build strong credibility in the market.
Advertising: Welcome to the World of “Pay to Play”
When you “Boost” a product post on Facebook, run an ad before a YouTube video, or put up a billboard in the city—that’s advertising.
Advertising means spending money to get your message in front of a target audience on a specific platform. Here, you “Pay to Play.”
What are the features of Advertising?
- Paid Media: Advertising relies completely on Paid Media. You pay for space on platforms like Facebook, Google, newspapers, or television.
- Complete Control: The biggest advantage of advertising is that you have full control over the message. You decide what to show, what to say, and who sees it.
- Quick Results: Unlike PR, you don’t have to wait long. As soon as you run an ad, you can start seeing results like Reach, Impressions, or Website Traffic. It’s a fast way to drive sales.
- Lower Credibility: Since people know it’s a paid promotion, its credibility is lower than Earned Media. People often try to skip or ignore ads.
- Specific Targeting: Through Digital Advertising, you can target a very specific group of people (e.g., women aged 18-25 living in the Bashundhara area of Dhaka who are interested in online shopping).
Who should use Advertising?
Advertising is an excellent tool for businesses whose main goal is to increase sales quickly, promote a specific offer or product, or reach a large number of people in a short amount of time.
Marketing: The Big Umbrella That Covers It All
So, what is marketing then? Simply put, marketing is the big umbrella, and both advertising and PR are parts of it.
Marketing is the overall process of identifying, anticipating, and satisfying customer needs profitably. It starts with market research to understand your customers and ends with sales and after-sales service.
Marketing is a Broad Field:
Marketing includes much more than just PR and advertising. A great way to understand modern marketing is through the PESO Model:
- P – Paid Media: All forms of advertising (which we discussed above).
- E – Earned Media: Public Relations or PR (which we also discussed).
- S – Shared Media: Social media marketing. This includes sharing content on your Facebook page, Instagram profile, or YouTube channel and engaging with your audience.
- O – Owned Media: Your own platforms. This is your website, blog, or email newsletter, where you have full control over the content.
A marketing strategy determines how all these channels will work together to achieve the business’s main goals, whether that’s building Brand Awareness, generating Leads, or increasing sales.
The Differences at a Glance
| Feature | Public Relations (PR) | Advertising | Marketing |
| Main Goal | To build trust and reputation. | To drive quick sales and promote specific products. | To meet customer needs and achieve overall business growth. |
| Channel | Earned Media | Paid Media | Paid, Earned, Shared, & Owned Media. |
| Cost | Relatively low cost, but takes time. | Usually expensive. | Varies depending on the budget and strategy. |
| Control | Less control over the final message. | Full control over the message. | Full control over the overall strategy. |
| Credibility | Very high. | Relatively low. | Varies by channel. |
Which One is Right for Your Business?
Hopefully, the difference between these three concepts is now clear. No business can succeed in the long run with just advertising or just PR. A successful business needs an integrated marketing strategy that uses both PR and advertising tactically, based on its goals.
When you’re starting, you might need to focus more on PR to build trust. During a holiday season or a special campaign, you’ll need advertising to boost sales. Your overall marketing strategy is what will tie everything together.
So, the next time you’re about to spend money, ask yourself: is your goal to build trust or to drive quick sales? Once you have the answer, you’ll know exactly whether you need PR or advertising.
