It's the practice of creating a positive image in your audience's mind so that your advertising and marketing and sales are more readily accepted. Public relations is the building of positive relationships with your audiences. It's the seduction before the sale. It's Not Marketing Public relations is not marketing. Marketing manages demand while public relations manages image and awareness.
Public relations is usually more subtle, gently nudging audiences and influencing their attitudes.
Public relations practitioners know that if there's constant negative news stories about your company or your industry, government leaders may be influenced by that and vote unfavorably in local, state or national legislation. Microsoft is currently experiencing what happens when you don't continually nurture an ongoing PR effort. Hard-pressed to compensate for years of bad consumer publicity in the face of rising stock prices and a recent Department of Justice investigation, any positive steps they now take are perceived as conspiracies to dupe the public. Public relations practicioners also know that if you don't maintain a strong positive identity in the community, your neighbors might not let you expand your warehouse. The good news is that you can build a positive image of your company on the Internet and in the real world.