Though maybe that’s an old way of thinking.

Just for the record, I never intended to be misleading with the opening question.

While some consider marketing to be a part of PR (I’ve heard others say the exact opposite). Most people are still a bit confused regarding the definitions surrounding Marketing and PR as being related, yet independent of one another.

And, as the way new media continues to impact the flow of information, I think these definitions and differentiators between the different functions will continue to converge.

Thanks again for contributing!

I agree with the description of PR tasks. Though the question in the title is somehow misleading.

There is no Marketing vs PR. PR is a part of Marketing, as is Advertising, Event Organization and lots more (see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marketing).

It’s all the same business. Grabbing the unaware, getting them interested, making the sale, turning them into evangelists.

Successful brands use public relations, marketing, advertising and sales together, in an integrated fashioned to achieve results.

As my good friend Terry Bean is found of saying “All business is relationship business.”

http://networkedinc.wordpress.com/blog/

Product � the product or service offered to the customer (including packaging)
Price � pricing strategies with the goal of meeting a desired profit margin or costing structure
Place (Distribution) � distribution of the product/service to your target market
Promotion � communication and endorsement of your product/service to a customer (including instore graphics and promotions)
People � service marketing and the level of customer service you provide to your customer

Advertising usually falls under Marketing whereas PR sometimes does but often is a separate function.

Public Relations usually deals with creating and maintaining relationships, defining and promoting the organization’s image, internal and external communications (including employee communications), and issues management (including public policy).

In smaller companies, the functions can overlap and in very small companies; marketing, advertising, and PR can be the same person but it’s a rare person who can do all three well.

PR can influence direct sales by different promotional methods but in product promotion the general goal is to “soften the market” for the advertising and sales campaign to follow.

I agree that at the end of the day, it’s about building the bottom line.

You also have to be transparent because bloggers and podcasters do their homework before they interview you.

Newspapers might be horrible place to advertise but an good article will only help your company.

Magazines can be great if you company can plan long term, 4-6 onths ahead.

PR is part of marketing and can help make more sales but only if done correctly. It means taking something of interest to the media outlet’s audience and tucking your company in there as content.

Dr. Wright
The Wright Place TV Show
http://www.wrightplacetv.com
http://www.twitter.com/dright1

Actually, I don’t disagree with you — at the end of the day, marketing and PR only exist to strengthen a company’s bottom line. However, the relationship is more direct between sales and marketing.

Good PR definitely makes marketing easier since communities that understand their relationship with a company will be more receptive to that company’s marketing and more apt to buy their product/service. However, PR that aims to sell usually fails miserably while PR that aims to build relationships succeeds in aiding sales.

Right?

Done right, both marketing and pr will facilitate the sales process and strengthening relationships between the company and its stakeholders.

The only difference is the tools they use (although there can be a little bit of overlap).

At the end of the day the only reason marketing or pr exist is to strengthen a client’s bottom line.