Earned, not bought
Advertising buys space and controls the message. PR earns coverage because an editor, creator or stakeholder finds the story relevant.
PR guide
What is public relations (PR)? A clear guide.
Public relations (PR) is the strategic management of the relationship between an organization and its public — the media, customers, employees, investors and communities. Unlike advertising, PR earns visibility and trust through news value, credibility and consistent communication rather than paid space.
Definition
Public relations, in one paragraph.
PR is short for public relations. It is the communications discipline that plans how an organization is understood and trusted by the people who matter to it. PR covers media relations, corporate communications, reputation and crisis management, internal communications, events and leadership communications. The goal is not a single announcement but a lasting relationship built on credibility.
In Turkey, the terms PR and “halkla ilişkiler” are used interchangeably. Today both describe a broader field that also includes digital PR and corporate communications.
PR vs advertising
How PR differs from advertising.
Credibility
Third-party coverage and endorsements are perceived as more credible than paid messages, which is why PR builds trust.
Long-term reputation
Advertising campaigns start and stop. PR builds a reputation that accumulates over time and protects the brand in difficult moments.
Stakeholders, not only customers
PR speaks to journalists, employees, investors, regulators and communities as well as customers.
What PR includes
The main areas of public relations.
- Media relations: press releases, interviews and relationships with journalists
- Corporate communications: one narrative and message architecture for the whole organization
- Crisis communications: preparing for and responding to reputation risks
- Internal communications: engaging employees and strengthening culture
- Events and launches: creating news value through experiences
- Leadership communications: building executives’ credible public voice
- Digital PR: visibility in online media, search and AI answer engines
What a PR agency does
The role of a PR agency.
A PR agency listens to the organization and its stakeholders, defines what the brand should stand for, builds a message architecture and turns it into stories that earn attention. It then manages media relations, content, events and spokesperson visibility, and measures the impact.
A good PR agency also prepares the organization for crises before they happen, with risk maps, scenarios, pre-approved statements and trained spokespeople.
Measurement
How PR results are measured.
Modern PR measurement goes beyond counting clippings. It looks at media performance (reach, quality of coverage, share of voice and sentiment), digital performance (engagement, organic growth and search visibility) and perception and reputation indicators over time.
Because PR builds cumulative trust, meaningful results usually become visible over a period of months rather than days. Transparent monthly reporting keeps progress visible and helps refine the strategy.
The Brandworks approach
Analysis, diagnosis, strategy, execution.
Analysis
We take a deep dive into your brand, your competitors and market dynamics, using data to set a clear starting point.
Diagnosis
We define the results we want to achieve, clarify needs and map out the road ahead.
Strategy
We develop creative, actionable plans to reach your goals.
Execution
We put the plan into action, track performance in real time and continuously improve results.
Transparent reportingEvery engagement is measured across media, digital and reputation indicators and shared in monthly reports. See how we work ↗
Frequently asked questions
Questions and answers
What is public relations in simple terms?
Public relations is the work of building and protecting an organization’s reputation by communicating with the media, customers, employees and other stakeholders in a planned, credible and consistent way.
What is the difference between PR and advertising?
Advertising pays for space and controls the message; PR earns visibility through news value and credibility, usually via third parties such as journalists. Advertising drives short-term reach, while PR builds long-term trust and reputation.
What does a PR agency do?
A PR agency develops communications strategy, writes and distributes press releases, builds media relationships, organizes events and interviews, prepares spokespeople, manages crises and measures the impact on media coverage and reputation.
How long does PR take to show results?
Some results, such as coverage from a launch, can appear within weeks, but PR’s impact on awareness and reputation is cumulative. Meaningful results usually become visible over a quarter or longer.
Is PR the same as “halkla ilişkiler”?
Yes. In Turkish, public relations is called “halkla ilişkiler”, and the abbreviation PR is used interchangeably.
Keep reading
Related guides
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