The older and more mature public relations becomes, the more it relies on less traditional approaches to getting results. It also relies on connecting more with a younger audience through the use of social media marketing and online campaigns. These ads feature content geared towards a millennial audience.

Cision recently responded to these changes and the growing demand from PR specialists by overhauling its dashboard. The new design makes it easier for newcomers and veterans alike to get results.

More Focus on Tracking Engagements

In the past, businesses focused more on the end result of public affairs and promotions, like sales and revenue growth. More recently, public relations and marketing specialists spend more time tracking engagement.

Data from these activities show businesses not just whether or not sales grow, but what areas they need to improve. This may involve attracting more new customers, or building better repeat business. Cision currently only allows users to do this for Twitter, which is king of the social media marketing world.

More Long Term Focus

One of the main differences between marketing and public relations is PR centers on more long-term relationship building with consumers while marketing focuses more on strengthening a short-term bond. This short-term bond then translates into immediate or near-immediate sales, while a long-term bond equals repeat business.

As the competition grows, businesses begin to realize that staying ahead means growing current relationships. They must strengthen customer loyalty to keep them coming back for more every time the need for a new product or service arises. This explains why so many companies provide loyalty programs.

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Storytelling

Public relations specialists also focus on the importance of storytelling to create bonds. Storytelling may cover the history of how the founders and corporation came into existence. It may also detail what they achieved so far. In addition to this, storytelling may go on to cover customers’ experiences with the brand.

Subaru allocates a large amount of their resources on building stories for ad campaigns. They do this by letting customers show how Subaru contributes to life experiences by telling stories often shared on YouTube. As a result, Subaru is now the car of choice for many active people who need a motor companion for hiking, transporting BMX bikes, and taking part in other active parts of their life.

Building a brand gets harder as new marketing and PR campaigns begin to lose effect. This new generation steadily grows immune after a constant bombardment from ads. As a result, PR must find fresh new ways of engaging with potential buyers and existing customers. Or just find ways to remind the general public “we are here, existing, and thriving.”

This not only sends a message to the competition, but to people still looking for quality brands to take with them on their life journeys; whether it’s a pearl necklace to a cocktail party, or a skateboard to ride down the street.

 

Read more from Ronn Torossian:

Ronn Torossian on Forbes
Ronn Torossian on SoundCloud
Ronn Torossian on LinkedIn
Ronn Torossian’s Professional Profile on Muck Rack
Ronn Torossian on Business Insider

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Ronn Torossian is the Founder & Chairman of 5W Public Relations, one of the largest independently owned PR firms in the United States. Since founding 5WPR in 2003, he has led the company's growth and vision, with the agency earning accolades including being named a Top 50 Global PR Agency by PRovoke Media, a top three NYC PR agency by O'Dwyers, one of Inc. Magazine's Best Workplaces and being awarded multiple American Business Awards, including a Stevie Award for PR Agency of the Year. With over 25 years of experience crafting and executing powerful narratives, Torossian is one of America's most prolific and well-respected public relations executives. Throughout his career he has advised leading and high-growth businesses, organizations, leaders and boards across corporate, technology and consumer industries. Torossian is known as one of the country's foremost experts on crisis communications. He has lectured on crisis PR at Harvard Business School, appears regularly in the media and has authored two editions of his book, "For Immediate Release: Shape Minds, Build Brands, and Deliver Results With Game-Changing Public Relations," which is an industry best-seller. Torossian's strategic, resourceful approach has been recognized with numerous awards including being named the Stevie American Business Awards Entrepreneur of the Year, the American Business Awards PR Executive of the Year, twice over, an Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year semi-finalist, a Top Crisis Communications Professional by Business Insider, Metropolitan Magazine's Most Influential New Yorker, and a recipient of Crain's New York Most Notable in Marketing & PR. Outside of 5W, Torossian serves as a business advisor to and investor in multiple early stage businesses across the media, B2B and B2C landscape. Torossian is the proud father of two daughters. He is an active member of the Young Presidents Organization (YPO) and a board member of multiple not for profit organizations.