It’s the age-old query: what’s the distinction between PR and advertising? They work collectively to maneuver a model ahead and are very important to a musician’s profession, however aren’t the identical factor. To be a profitable musician in at the moment’s fast-moving business, it’s essential to have a fundamental understanding of those two fields. Therefore, we’ve compiled a starter information that will help you differentiate between them!
In principle, each PR and advertising will work in tandem to advertise a model with velocity and consistency. However the reality is, these complimentary items of the puzzle are very totally different. And but, each are essential for a musician’s burgeoning profession. Properly, what precisely is the distinction between them? First, let’s take a look at what every particular person position does:
Public Relations (PR)
A publicist wears many hats – relying on the business, their shopper’s wants, and so forth. For this text, we’ll be specializing in the music business. PR helps your model holistically – from model messaging and sustaining a optimistic public notion to securing press. In a nutshell, public relations is how the world sees you.
You’d rent a publicist to:
- Coordinate alternatives to attach with the press (interviews, critiques, and so forth.)
- Construct your model and keep a optimistic picture
- Write your bio and press releases
- Handle a disaster
That is the best approach to consider PR. It’s typically the primary position you have interaction in rising your profession. Efficient PR will show you how to refine your messaging and bolster your general status, which can show you how to safe extra alternatives.
Advertising and marketing
Advertising and marketing, alternatively, is concentrated on selling a model’s merchandise with the aim of promoting. When it’s executed properly, it’s nuanced and concerned. Whereas PR focuses on model picture, persona, and messaging – advertising takes that and pushes it to the plenty.
It will possibly imply so many alternative issues relying on who you communicate to, however a few of the choices you’re sure to see with regards to advertising are social media advertising, launch technique, promoting, creating launch supplies, researching new gross sales alternatives, and extra!
You’d rent a advertising company for:
- Adverts
- Graphics creation
- Writing your weekly publication
- Forming a social media technique
As with PR, that is only a starter record, however ought to provide you with an concept of what advertising is. When you want one other option to bear in mind it: PR builds the model, so advertising can promote it.
Which one do you want?
That is the true query—which one do you want? The quick reply is: it depends upon your targets, your funds, and your wants as a musician.
Ideally, you’ll work with a publicist to construct your model, tailor your messaging, and develop public consciousness by means of a press push. This might embrace working together with your publicist to craft a compelling message and constructing out a launch plan in your tune or album. Your publicist would then coordinate alternatives to attach with the press, and show you how to rating interviews, critiques, and highlight options to construct consciousness round your model – that’s, you and your music!
Then, you’ll take the wonderful materials you’ve constructed and put it to use in your advertising. Utilizing the business consideration and curiosity garnered from the press, a advertising crew would show you how to open doorways to new alternatives. For instance, the branding that your publicist has helped craft might in flip get you higher social media engagement, as a result of the messaging is in tune together with your viewers and resonates with them.
When you’re on the early phases of your profession and attempting to determine on one, right here’s my suggestion — take into consideration what will transfer the needle probably the most for you, and put your cash there. It may be tempting to leap straight into advertising because it correlates to gross sales, however for those who don’t have already got a stable model and followers ready to listen to your subsequent single, you may be leaping the gun a bit.
Ask your self – do I have already got a thriving fan base? If the reply is not any, you may want PR first. When you haven’t constructed a following on social media, you might not need to sink a big sum into attempting to go viral. Attempt tightening up your messaging and constructing your affect to succeed in the appropriate individuals.
Nonetheless, for those who’ve constructed robust branding and a monitor file of engaged followers – you may be able to take that up one other notch! Advertising and marketing could be an important place to place your cash and begin pushing a message that you understand works.
Bear in mind, neither of those is a one-and-done service. All through your profession, you’ll need to implement them over the long run, time and time once more for each new launch, tour, album, and so forth. They’re part of your musician toolbox now, so don’t be afraid to make use of them.
Angela Tyler is the founding father of MP Co. (previously Muddy Paw PR) securing placements on Forbes, Enterprise Insider, American Songwriter, PopWrapped, & extra. She loves dessert, her rescue canine Sawyer, and discovering new music.