PR vs Marketing: What's the Difference and Why Does It Matter?
- Empica
- Aug 11
- 5 min read
Updated: Sep 11
“PR and marketing, aren’t they basically the same thing?”
It’s one of the most common questions we hear from business leaders, CEOs, marketing teams, and clients looking for top public relations (PR) agencies like Empica. While PR and marketing work best together, they serve distinct purposes and deliver different value.
Understanding the difference can help your business grow faster, build trust, and make smarter decisions about where to invest your time and budget.
What is Marketing?
Imagine you’re an entrepreneur and have opened a new restaurant. Marketing is you shouting about it, running ads, handing out menus, posting eye-catching food pics on Instagram. You’re in full control of the message and want customers through the door now.
Marketing is direct, targeted, and often paid. Its goal? To get people buying, and fast.
Marketing’s core goals:
o Raise brand awareness
o Drive conversions
o Deliver measurable ROI
o Promote offers and time-sensitive campaigns
Common marketing channels
Google Ads, SEO, social media ads, email campaigns, landing pages.
Marketing is designed for quick wins, bringing in business, tracking performance, and showing tangible results.
What is Public Relations?
If marketing gets people noticing you, PR – including digital PR – makes sure people trust what they see. It builds your reputation through others, journalists covering your launch, influencers praising your chef, social media buzz, and digital PR strategies that amplify your brand online. This kind of earned media, whether a news article, review, or influencer post, carries more trust than traditional advertising.
PR shapes how people feel about your business, building trust, loyalty, and long-term value. It’s the difference between seeing an ad and hearing a recommendation. It’s rooted in brand storytelling, the narratives that show who you are and why you matter.
Want a deeper dive into how PR works, the different types, and when to use it? Read our comprehensive guide to public relations.
Key Differences Summarised: PR vs Marketing in Detail
Knowing how PR and marketing differ can help you get the best out of both. Here’s how they compare, and why they’re stronger together.
Control vs Credibility
Marketing hands you the controls. You decide what to say, where to say it, and how it looks; whether that’s through ads, emails, or social media. You're in charge from start to finish.
PR works differently. Instead of telling people how great you are, someone else does: journalists, influencers, customers. That earned attention feels more authentic.
Goals & Outcomes
Marketing is focused on quick, measurable results: clicks, sales, sign-ups.
PR firms like Empica build reputation and trust. It’s not always about instant action, but it lays the foundation for long-term loyalty. By combining your PR services with targeted marketing, you get stronger outcomes from both. One builds awareness, the other deepens credibility.
Tools & Tactics
Marketing uses what you pay for or own: ads, sponsored posts, email campaigns, SEO. It’s built to convert.
PR leans on what’s earned or shared: media coverage, press releases, media relations, influencer mentions, digital PR campaigns, and social engagement. Public relations boosts online visibility by earning placements in high-authority publications, gaining influencer mentions, and sparking conversations on social media.
Many public relations companies specialise in digital PR, influencer relations, and media outreach to help businesses stand out and stay relevant.
Agencies like Empica, use earned and shared media strategies to build trust, manage reputation, and increase brand credibility over time. While not always focused on immediate action, these efforts lay the foundation for lasting loyalty.
Timeframe
Marketing moves quickly. Launch today, see results tomorrow. Ideal for promotions and lead generation.
PR builds over time. However, when needed, PR also acts fast, especially in times of crisis, making it an essential tool for reputation management to protect or boost your brand.
Why Understanding the Difference Matters for Your Business
Smarter Planning, Better Spending
Whether you’re working with top public relations companies or managing in-house teams, knowing what each discipline does best helps you allocate time and budget more effectively.
For CEOs, and business leaders, understanding the distinction between PR and marketing ensures clearer strategic decisions, better resource allocation, and stronger overall brand impact.
PR provides a foundation of trust and reputation management that marketing alone can’t always offer.
Clearer Roles, Stronger Teams
Confusing the two leads to mixed messages. When you understand the difference, your team communicates better, and your brand messaging becomes more consistent.
A Joined-Up Strategy
Knowing when to use PR and when to market saves time, money, and stress. Get it right, and the two work hand in hand to boost your profile and profits.
Brand-Controlled Messaging vs Third-Party Validation
Marketing puts you in control: your message, your voice, your way. Think ads, emails, social media.
PR is someone else telling your story, journalists, influencers, customers. That kind of earned media has more influence and trust.
What Success Looks Like
Marketing is about measurable outcomes, sales, leads, clicks. It delivers short-term wins.
PR is about perception. It helps people believe in your brand and stick with you. You may not see instant sales, but you’re building long-term loyalty.
How You Reach People
Marketing uses owned or paid channels: ads, sponsored posts, email campaigns, SEO.
PR uses earned or shared channels: media coverage, influencer endorsements, digital PR, and online conversations. It sparks conversations and keeps your name in the mix.
When You See Results
Marketing often delivers fast. Run a campaign today, see traffic tomorrow.
PR is a slower burn, but builds reputation, not just reach. And when it hits (eg. a major press story), the value can be huge.
How PR and Marketing Work Together: The Power of Synergy
PR and marketing are a business dream team. Different strengths, but unstoppable together.
Marketing spreads your message with speed, ads and content that drive sales.
PR builds trust, through journalists, influencers, digital PR, and real-world buzz.
They reinforce each other:
PR gets media attention while marketing boosts it
Marketing reveals what’s hot then PR amplifies those stories
PR builds trust and marketing turns that into conversions
Smart brands use both for fast wins and long-term growth.
Conclusion
If you want your business to grow and last, you need both PR and marketing; they’re a team, not rivals.
Marketing grabs attention and drives sales. PR builds trust and credibility.
In short: marketing gets people through the door; PR makes sure they stay and spread the word. Together, they boost visibility, trust, and profits.
Get both right, and you’re not just seen; you’re believed.
Connect with Empica PR experts now!
Find out how our PR experts can support your business. Get in touch with our PR specialists to arrange a free, no-obligation consultation.
