These three subjects are closely related and can overlap and intermingle with each other. They can also be separated into three distinct subjects with a hierarchy and sequence.
Many business owners and marketers do not have a concrete grasp of the definition and inter-relation of these subjects.
They are all vital to your business success. Your business will operate much smoother and more efficiently when you understand the differences and how they relate to each other.
Public Relations
What is public relations? It is the action and practice of maintaining a positive public image for a company, organization, or individual.
Maintaining a positive image in the minds of your customers and the general public makes your marketing and sales efforts more effective. An audience that is disposed to think well of you as an individual or organization will be much more receptive to receiving and listening to your advertising pitch.
If you, your organization or company is involved in doing something good in the community. If your product provides positive benefits. If you can show that you are a positive influence and contribute to the community, you want to make it broadly known. How you do that is the essence of public relations.
Marketing
Marketing involves offering something to your customers that they might be interested in buying or consuming. In a nutshell, marketing is making lists of people and offering them something to buy.
The method and practice of how to do that is the technology of marketing. You can use traditional marketing methods such as cold calling, direct mailing top portal, print media advertising, radio, television, etc. Digital marketing has dominated marketing over the last few years. Search engine optimization, social media advertising, and influencer marketing are some of the methods employed in digital marketing.
There are so many avenues of marketing that many companies choose to work with a digital marketing agency to develop comprehensive strategies.
Sales
Sales is where interest is converted into action and commitment. A prospect can be interested and never take any action. If they don’t take any action, or make any commitment, they never become a customer.
Sales have traditionally involved some form of personal interaction. Meeting with customers, explaining the features and benefits of your product or service overcoming their fears and objections and convincing them to act
These fields are closely related and when they are done correctly and properly aligned your business will prosper.