As technology becomes more and more prevalent in our lives, it’s no surprise that the marketing and communications world has changed. One significant change is the emergence of digital PR, which uses social media, blogs, and other channels to promote content. This blog post will explore what exactly is meant under digital PR, how it compares to the traditional one, as well as who can use it for their business communication and marketing needs.
What Is Digital PR?
A form of public relations that uses the internet and social media to get content seen and shared by a large audience. This marketer or communicator aligns their efforts with influencers, bloggers, or other online personalities with a big following. Because they have loyal readers who will spread the word about content, this can be done through favors, personal relationships, or other means.
It has been on the rise since around 2007, when it became more widely used as companies recognized its effectiveness in reaching new customers and becoming more recognizable to those who may not have been aware of their brand.
Types of Digital PR
Digital PR is one of many forms of social media marketing, but several forms are more common than others. Unless you’re a digital marketing agency, you might not already be familiar with them all. So without further ado, let’s get into the four types and how they differ.
- Press Releases
Press releases will serve to announce a new company or product; or to announce the hiring of a new executive or other significant development within a business. Posted on a blog or website and then shared over social media channels. Press releases can also include sample images, videos, or other content to show what the product looks or does.
- Influencer Marketing
Influencer marketing is when you give an influencer, a person with a large and loyal following over social media, something in return (or not) for them to promote your content. This is often used for product launches or when companies want to build their brand awareness.
- Directory Inclusions
Attracting attention can be difficult while keeping your content visible. One way to do that is to include your company in directories, active lists of businesses created by other companies within the niche. Usually when potential customers hunt for a product or company.
- Sponsorships & Affiliations
Many companies choose to have official partnerships with organizations like Twitter or Facebook, where an influencer will feature their brand and spread the word about it. As a result, consumers may come across your brand through friends and family who are already familiar with the social media stars you are partnering with, which can help give your company some exposure on social media.
- Guest Posts
Guest posting is another form of digital marketing that offers the opportunity to gain visibility with potential influencers and others who have a large following over social media, as well as opportunities to sell yourself through your writing. This can be an excellent option for companies who want to tell their story and add a narrative to their business in case customers aren’t aware of what it is they do.
How Can It Benefit A Small Business?
Digital PR is considered one of the best practices of digital marketing nowadays. However, it must be done right. Here are a few ways this digital PR can benefit a small business:
- Builds brand
By having the PR plan, you can build your company and brand awareness with your target audience. You can get your content out there with the help of an influencer or social media personality. Who will then share that content with their followers. Or do the same on your website and social media pages. This can go a long way to making potential customers aware of your brand.
- Grows website traffic
Directing interested audiences to your website or blog can help build traffic. You’ll become more visible to people who may not have been aware of your company before.
- Improves SEO rankings
As your content is seen, read, and shared, you can increase your brand’s visibility online. This will help your website or blog rank higher in search engine results, resulting in a more significant number of visitors to your site. While there is a clear distinction between digital marketing and SEO, they work hand in hand to improve your ROI.
- Increases sales
Have the PR plan to get your company, products, and services in front of the right people. You’ll increase sales because people who are already aware of your brand or want to learn more will be able to find you in search results. You can also increase sales by making sure that people who see your brand and products through this method can easily purchase them online whenever they want.
- Generates leads
Gain the trust of your target audience. Educate and inform them about your company’s products or services. Help them discover more about what you can offer them. This will help you gain leads that you can later convert into actual customers.
- Generates brand awareness
Work on your social media marketing plan once you’ve achieved a certain amount of success and fans. Your audiences will most likely become familiar with the name of your company or brand.
Final Words
Digital PR can be a valuable addition to your business so long as you know what you’re doing. And also how to do it effectively. Whether you choose to do it on your own or hire an agency, you must develop the right strategy. As well as the techniques to get the desired results.
