Difference Between Advertising And Public Relations

Difference Between Advertising And Public Relations

The main dissimilarities or difference between advertising and public relations (PR) can be highlighted as follows:

1. Introduction

Advertising: A communication tool used by manufacturers or sellers to promote their products or services by convincing the potential customers

Public Relations: A management tool to establish good relationship and positive image between the company and audience or stakeholders or customers

2. What Is It ?

Advertising: It is a promotion of company's product or service

Public Relation: It is image building tool

3. Nature

Advertising: Convincing in nature

Public Relations: Influencing in nature

4. Reliability And Credibility

Advertising: It is less reliable and credible than public relations

Public Relations: It is more credible and reliable form of promotional tool

5. Investment

Advertising: It requires large amount of money to advertise products

Public Relations: It provides free publicity

6. Control

Advertising: It is under full control of company or sponsor

Public Relations: It is not completely under control of company

7. Proactive Or Reactive

Advertising: It is a proactive method of promotion

Public Relations: It uses both proactive and reactive methods of publicity

8. Placement Guarantee

Advertising: Yes

Public Relations: No

   Also Read: 

Difference Between Advertising And Publicity

9. Form

Advertising: Advertisements are mostly in the form of audio and visual

Public Relations: Messages are mostly in the form of language

10. Helpful In

Advertising: It is helpful in building exposure

Public Relations: It is helpful in building trust

Advertising Vs Public Relations (Comparison Chart)

Basis For Difference	Advertising	Public Relation
Introduction	Communication tool used to convince and attract customers	Management tool used to maintain good relationship and image between company and customers
It Is	Promotion strategy	Image building tool
Nature	Convincing	Influencing
Reliability/Credibility	Less	More
Investment Required	More	Negligible
Control Of Company	Full control	Less control
Proactive/Reactive	Proactive	Both proactive and reactive
Placement Guarantee	Yes	No
Form Of Message	Audio and visual	Language
Helpful In	Building exposure	Building trust

I hope this post is helpful to understand the difference between advertising and public relations and to make comparison between them.