Public relations is a strategic communication process companies, individuals, and organizations use to build mutually beneficial relationships with the public. The main objective of public relations is to maintain a positive reputation of the brand and maintain a strategic relationship with the public, prospective customers, partners, investors, employees and other stakeholders which leads to a positive image of the brand and makes it seem honest, successful, important, and relevant. Public relations is different from advertising. Public relations agencies don't buy ads, they don't write stories for reporters, and they don't focus on attractive paid promotions. They rather promote the brand by using editorial content appearing on magazines, newspapers, news channels, websites, blogs, and TV programs. Using earned or free media for promotion has its benefits as information on these mediums aren't bought. It has a third-party validation and hence isn't viewed with skepticism by the public. According to the functions of the public relations department/agencies, public relations can be divided into seven types. These are:
Media Relations: Establishing a good relationship with the media organizations and acting as their content source. Investor Relations: Handling investors events, releasing financial reports and regulatory filings, and handling investors, analysts, and media queries and complaints. Government Relations: Representing the brand to the government about the fulfilment of policies like corporate social responsibility, fair competition, consumer protection, employee protection, etc. Community Relations: Handling the social aspect of the brand and establishing a positive reputation in the social niche like environment protection, education, etc. Internal Relations: Counselling the employees of the organization about policies, course of action, organization's responsibility and their responsibility. Cooperating with them during special product launches and events. Customer Relations: Handling relationships with the target market and lead consumers. Conducting market research to know more about interests, attitudes, and priorities of the customers and crafting strategies to influence the same using earned media. Marketing Communications: Supporting marketing efforts relating to product launch, special campaigns, brand awareness, image, and positioning.