Broadly speaking, public relations is about how organisations communicate with a specific audience, but the exact format can vary depending on the nature of the company, its target demographic and a range of other factors.
Crisis Management
In an emergency, public relations can be particularly important to try and preserve your brand. If there is an accident, or a faulty product or something else harmful, you need to act swiftly to counter any negative coverage. Many potential crises can be planned for in advance.
Media Relations
Good relationships with journalists and broadcasters help a company control public narratives about their business by highlighting the positives whilst downplaying the negatives. As well as sharing potential stories, companies may also offer to provide comments or expert opinions on other headlines.
Public Affairs
Many companies seek to influence government policy. Public affairs is a form of public relations that focuses on persuading legislators and the executive to take a certain stance or pass or repeal certain laws, often through commissioning research and providing relevant reports.
Community Relations
This is particularly important for companies that are based in a certain area, whether a supermarket or a state body such as the police. Community relations builds relationships with local people, encouraging their trust so they make use of your services and do not protest about your actions.
Internal Communications
Not all public relations activity is with the public. Management needs to communicate with employees and respond to their concerns. Changes can be introduced in a way that minimises backlash. This should lead to a happier and more productive workforce.
Online/Social Media Messaging
In the modern world, a strong online presence is often one of the most effective ways to spread your message quickly without the expenditure needed with more traditional media markets. A Cheltenham PR agency such as https://headonpr.co.uk may have specialists just for dealing with digital PR and social media.
Public relations is important to any company that wants to connect with its target audience. That means identifying which type of public relations work is most appropriate to your situation.