Have you heard of social PR? If you haven’t, what would you guess it is? When most people hear of social public relations, they think of digital integrated marketing. Social PR is all about using social media content and tools to connect with potential customers and nurture leads with brand ambassadors. It’s all about integrating social outputs like content, messaging, strategy, and omnichannel marketing into one cohesive marketing plan. And doing so in a shareable and engaging way, like in these brilliant social PR campaign examples.
Social PR utilizes citizen journalism, digital TV channels, ever-growing influencer marketing, celebrities, and other online personalities to spread a certain PR message. Social PR depends on non-traditional media channels such as Facebook Live, podcasts, Instagram Live and YouTube. This is a type of integrated marketing that relies on digital platforms and the viral spread of information online to amplify a brand’s campaign.
Here are some examples of social PR tactics that you can use to promote your brand, raise awareness, and increase engagement:
- Influencer partnerships
- Social media contests and giveaways
- Social media newsjacking
- Taking part in social media challenges
- Collaboration with other brands or businesses
- Employee advocacy
- Ambassador programs
But, it’s critical to acknowledge that likes do not always equal sales. On a foundational level, any marketing project has the same end goal in mind: sales. Your marketing strategy’s purpose may include increasing likes and followers, but when all is said and done, likes, followers, and retweets hold little monetary value if they don’t translate into sales and revenue.
In this day and age, there are numerous ways to communicate with an audience online. Historically, PR professionals relied on traditional media outlets to spread their brand message. Social media marketing is one way a PR professional can start to communicate a specific campaign; yet social media marketing must focus on conversions, rather than views.
If “getting likes” isn’t a sound social media strategy, neither is “having influencers.” Influencer marketing is only successful if it’s backed by a good social PR plan. Social PR depends on creative marketing strategies and using influencers to amplify a specific message. Integrated marketing plans need authentic and engaged likes, as well as an active online community. But, brands must always remember that sales are the inevitable goal of all marketing strategies. A project must always be evaluated on its potential to meet a sales goal. The benchmarks for success in a social PR campaign need to tie directly to revenue, conversion, and other quantifiable metrics related to sales.
A company’s capacity to execute a marketing project must also be clear from conception. Any company, no matter the size, has limitations in terms of what resources can be dedicated to a marketing campaign. It is critical to first know how much a company can allot in terms of budget, talent, and hours and strategize accordingly.
In the end, a strong PR and marketing plan relies on the success of the strategy which will result in lead generation and revenue. This includes having a solid and creative foundation that can be amplified by online channels, influencers, and the online community.
FAQs
Enhanced brand awareness: Social media platforms allow your brand to connect with a wide audience. Businesses get the opportunity to contact a whole range of prospective customers, even those outside their immediate geographic region, thanks to the billions of active users across several platforms.
What does social PR do? ›
Social PR combines traditional PR methods with social media marketing. Social PR helps companies and individuals build their brand and develop thought leadership; engage customers, influencers, and other key stakeholders; and generate leads and ultimately sales.
How does PR help in branding? ›
PR helps brands identify their target audience and make use of the right communication channels to reach them. They gather information about your target audience by analyzing the topics they are interested in and what influences them.
What is the effect of social media in PR? ›
Social media's real-time nature allows PR professionals to deliver timely information, respond to crises swiftly, and leverage trending topics to gain visibility. This immediacy can be particularly advantageous during crisis management, where quick and transparent communication is crucial.
What is a social impact brand? ›
It's a container for your reputation. A successful social impact brand acts as a banner under which your supporters gather and rally. It connects them with your organization and each other. A strong brand becomes the symbol of the movement you build and the change you work to achieve.
How does social media impact creating brand awareness? ›
A single viral post or campaign can significantly boost brand awareness and visibility, driving organic growth and engagement. Data-driven Insights: Social media platforms offer powerful analytics tools that provide valuable insights into audience demographics, engagement metrics, and content performance.
What does social media PR do? ›
It's a quick way to tell your brand story and reach your audience on the social platforms they love. Think about this. You no longer have to wait for the media to write your story. With social media PR, you can write your story and reach your target audience in an instant.
What does PR mean in social? ›
When most people hear of social public relations, they think of digital integrated marketing. Social PR is all about using social media content and tools to connect with potential customers and nurture leads with brand ambassadors.
What is the purpose of a PR? ›
Public relations often boils down to maintaining the image of a company, individual, or brand. Public relations creates media, connects with external media, crafts public opinion, and ensures customers have a positive disposition toward the company's brand.
Why do brands need PR? ›
PR helps businesses establish credibility with their target audience by creating positive exposure and managing their reputation. A strong reputation can lead to increased customer loyalty and attract new customers who are more likely to trust the brand.
PR is used in marketing mostly to maintain good media relations and public image, build brand awareness, and engage with potential brand promoters – from sponsors to influencers.
How can PR improve the brand image of a company? ›
Through activities such as organising events, collaborations with influencers and social media engagement, PR can increase brand visibility and improve brand recognition among target audiences.
What is PR impact? ›
Successful PR can drive sales, boost your site's search ranking, increase awareness, improve social sentiment, and enhance engagement. After putting time and effort into PR campaigns, measuring their impact on these metrics is essential.
What is a major advantage of using social media for PR activities? ›
Conversations about your brand can be tracked, allowing you to comprehend sentiment trends and create a feedback loop that informs all your future efforts. Social media PR gives you incredible reach, highly personalised engagement and priceless insight for your campaigns.
What is the future of social media in PR? ›
The future of PR lies in our ability to adapt and innovate, embracing the platforms and voices that shape today's digital landscape. In conclusion, the data is clear: Our audiences are on social media, using their mobile devices, and influenced by authentic voices they trust. It is time for us to meet them there.
How important is social media for your brand? ›
Social media is a tool, that as well as building brand recognition and awareness, will increase leads and boost sales if done correctly. The two are intertwined - increased brand awareness will support your whole business.
What is the value of social media for brands? ›
Social media is an easy, affordable and effective way to promote your business and connect with customers. Use social media to: attract new customers. grow your market, including overseas.
How does social media impact a business? ›
Establishing relationships with your existing and potential customers makes them feel valued, which increases brand loyalty and evangelism. Brand communities on social media are especially powerful business tools because they allow companies to hear from and engage with their biggest advocates in real time.
What does social media mean for brands? ›
Social media marketing (also known as digital marketing and e-marketing) is the use of social media—the platforms on which users build social networks and share information—to build a company's brand, increase sales, and drive website traffic.
