Different Types of PR: Your Ultimate Guide

This article will provide an overview of the different types of PR, their purpose, and how they can benefit your business. It will also discuss the importance of setting goals and creating a strategy when it comes to PR. Finally, it will provide tips on how to choose the right type of PR for your business.

What are the different types of PR? There are many types of PR services to help create awareness, manage reputation, and build relationships with stakeholders, including: 

• Crisis management

• Media relations

• Corporate social responsibility

• Award consultancy

• Media training

• Internal communications

• Crisis communications

• Social media

and many more. 

Each has its unique approach and benefits, so it's essential to understand which type of PR would be most effective for your goals. Any PR techniques can help you achieve successful results with the right strategy and implementation.

What Are The Different Types Of PR?

Public Relations (PR) is a critical component in building a company's reputation and improving its visibility in today's competitive business environment. With many different types of PR strategies, each playing an essential role, it can be challenging to navigate the PR landscape. At Altitude, we have the expertise to help you determine the best PR approach for your business needs. Below, we have outlined the different types of PR and the services we offer to help you achieve your business goals.

Crisis Management

Crisis management is a crucial component of PR that focuses on addressing sudden and unforeseen events that could damage a company's reputation, finances, or operations. The primary objective of crisis management is to minimise the  crisis and preserve the trust and confidence of stakeholders. 

By effectively managing a crisis, a company can limit the damage, maintain the trust of stakeholders, and enhance its reputation. Given the potential for crises in virtually all industries, crisis management is a relevant consideration for all businesses. It involves developing a crisis management plan, establishing clear communication protocols, providing regular updates, and learning from the crisis to implement improvements and prevent similar incidents in the future.

Altitude can help organisations effectively manage crises by providing analysis, strategy, and execution plans. We identify risks, develop strategies, provide ongoing support and training, and ensure a prompt and effective response to protect against disruptions and keep stakeholders informed. Our crisis management services can benefit your business by improving crisis preparedness, communication, and reputation. 

Find out more in our recent blogs - ‘What is Crisis Management in PR? + Your Free Crisis Plan’

Media Relations

Media relations is a type of public relations that focuses on building relationships between a company and the media. It aims to create positive coverage of an organisation in the media, which can help to make an impactful reputation, increase brand recognition, and generate more trust. 

The main benefit of media relations is that it helps to create a company's credibility and increase its visibility. It can also help to improve customer loyalty and attract new customers. It can make positive news stories and help shape public opinion about a business. Media relations are best for companies that are looking to build their reputation and increase their visibility in the public eye. 

Altitude has extensive experience in media relations, managing a company's interactions and relationships with the media. With our established list of media contacts and expertise in content creation and distribution, we can help your company achieve its goals, such as:

• Increase brand awareness.

• Maintain a positive reputation.

• Communicate with your target audience.

By partnering with Altitude, you can effectively engage with the media to reach a wider audience and enhance your credibility with stakeholders.

Editorial & Thought Leadership

Editorial PR focuses on creating and managing media relationships to promote a company or organisation. It is a form of earned media, which means that the media coverage is not paid for but is a result of the efforts of the PR team. The goal of editorial PR is to build a strong relationship with the media and to create a positive image for the organisation by crafting press releases, pitching stories to publications, and responding to media enquiries. 

Editorial PR also involves monitoring media coverage for accuracy and ensuring the company is portrayed positively. The benefits of editorial PR are that it can help to build trust with the public, enhance brand awareness, and boost a business's credibility. Editorial PR is best suited for companies and individuals looking to establish a strong presence in the media and build relationships with reporters and editors

Thought leadership PR is a type of public relations that focuses on positioning an individual or organisation as an expert in a particular field or industry. It aims to build trust and credibility with potential customers by providing valuable insights and advice. The goal of thought leadership PR is to establish the individual or organisation as a leading authority and go-to resource in the industry, which can help to drive more leads, sales, and brand recognition.

Benefits of thought leadership PR include establishing a reputation as an expert in the industry, creating opportunities for increasing brand recognition and building relationships with key industry stakeholders. Thought leadership PR is best for organisations with a deep understanding of their industry and the resources to create and share valuable content. It also benefits individuals looking to make their mark in their industry and establish themselves as a thought leader.

Our skilled writers can craft unique writing styles that perfectly reflect your brand's tone. We excel at creating press releases that both professionals and readers will love and opinion pieces that will engage your stakeholders. 

With Altitude, you can amplify your brand's voice and boost brand recognition. Moreover, our thought leadership content will help expand your brand's reach and earn the trust and respect of your target audience.

Corporate Social Responsibility

Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives can elevate your earned social value by helping your company achieve enthusiastic media coverage that highlights your accomplishments and resonates with your stakeholders.

One of Altitude's clients, Henry Boot Construction, has a strong commitment to high levels of CSR, and they have won the RoSPA Health and Safety Awards, showcasing their dedication to their employees’ wellbeing to stakeholders. This has had a positive impact on the company's reputation and brand image, as well as attract socially-conscious customers and investors. Find out more by reading our Henry Boot case study.

Overall, prioritising CSR can bring various benefits to a company, including enhanced reputation, financial gains, and a more engaged workforce.

Award Entries

Award entries are a type of public relations strategy that aims to increase the recognition of a company or individual by submitting them for awards or recognition in their industry or sector. 

Award entries benefit businesses as they can help build credibility, demonstrate leadership and accomplishment, drive targeted traffic and media attention, and increase brand visibility. They can also help generate positive press coverage, motivate employees, and encourage customer loyalty. 

They are best for businesses or individuals looking to promote their accomplishments, build trust and credibility, and increase their visibility in their industry.

Altitude provides professional awards consultancy services to assist your company in achieving the recognition it deserves. Our experienced team can offer guidance on selecting the most suitable awards to apply for and help you showcase the essence of your company effectively, making your entry stand out. 

Let us be the cornerstone of your success and help you achieve the recognition you deserve. Participating in awards is a valuable strategy for companies to create a competitive edge, establish credibility, and increase their visibility and Altitude can help make that happen.

Media Training

Media training programmes give you the skills and strategies to communicate effectively with the media whilst creating positive press coverage for yourself or your business. 

It is essential that every company receive media training, as they should always be prepared to speak with the media. This could be for the purpose of promoting their business or in a crisis situation. The level of training required depends on the situation. Altitude's typical media training lasts one day; however, this can vary depending on individual media needs.

Our experienced team will provide the tools you need to excel in media interviews and confidently handle any press situation. With media training, you can be prepared for any crisis your company may encounter, making it an invaluable skill for any business.

Media training is important for a number of businesses. Find out more in our recent blog - ‘What is Media Training and Why is it Important?’

Internal & Staff Communications

Internal and staff communications in public relations plays a crucial role, as they involve the distribution of information and messaging throughout an organisation. 

By providing effective internal communication strategies, we can enhance employee engagement, productivity, and job satisfaction, while ensuring they align with the company's values and objectives. These efforts can improve the organisation's external reputation and communications. 

PR professionals are adept at developing and executing internal and staff communication plans, which may involve a range of tactics such as town hall meetings, social media updates, regular newsletters, and more.

Strategic Communications

Strategic communications is a type of PR that aligns communication activities with business goals and objectives to create positive associations with the brand and drive positive business outcomes. Benefits include increased brand awareness, customer loyalty and engagement, improved reputation, and efficient communication processes. It's best for organisations seeking alignment of their communication, which is in tune with their mission and brand. This will help their messaging be clear and consistent. 

At Altitude, we specialise in Strategic Communications PR. We focus on creating and executing plans to meet specific communication objectives. We help businesses develop relationships with key stakeholders and influencers, create awareness, and shape public opinion. 

Our services include developing key messages, identifying stakeholders, and coordinating communication. Let us help make your communication strategies effective and efficient.

Crisis Communications

Crisis communications in PR manages and reduces the negative effects of a crisis on a business's reputation, financial stability, and operations. Benefits of crisis communication PR include limiting reputation and economic damage while maintaining stakeholder trust and loyalty. 

It is relevant for all organisations, especially high-risk industries and those with diverse stakeholders. A crisis management plan with clear communication protocols and spokespeople and a thorough understanding of stakeholders is crucial for effective crisis communications.

Altitude provides crisis communications PR services to help clients manage situations that might negatively affect their company or organisation. Our team develops a strategy to address the issue, communicates with stakeholders and the public, and takes action to safeguard the organisation's credibility and reputation. 

Crisis communications PR is an essential element of any organisation's PR plan and should be implemented before, during, and after any potential crisis.

Social Media and Online Communications

Social media and online communications are essential parts of public relations. This type of PR uses digital media platforms like websites, blogs, and social media networks to communicate with audiences. 

It aims to build relationships with audiences, create a positive image of the organisation, and promote products and services. The benefits of social media and online communications are numerous. It is an effective and cost-efficient way to reach a large global audience. It also allows organisations to interact quickly and easily with their audiences, providing timely updates and engaging them in conversations.

Social media enables companies to encourage a two-way conversation with their audience, making it a business area where you don't have to outspend your rivals to triumph.

 Other benefits associated with social media communication from a PR are:

• Increased brand awareness  

• Improves customer relations  

• Ability to access a wider audience 

• Facilitates two-way communication 

• Opportunity for strategic partnerships 

• Direct access to an audience 

• Connectivity on a global bases 

Additionally, it can measure a campaign’s success and track consumer sentiment. Social media and online communications are best suited to organisations with an established online presence and an active audience on social media networks. It is also ideal for organisations that have an understanding of digital media and the ability to use it effectively.

At Altitude, we recognise the significance of businesses enhancing their social media presence and refining their brand voice. Our team is committed to assisting your business in bolstering its online communication. 

How Do the Different Types Of PR Work Together For Results?

The various types of PR, such as media relations, public relations events, and crisis management, can work together to develop a comprehensive PR strategy that maximises positive impact and minimises risks. 

For example, media relations can be leveraged during a crisis to disseminate accurate and timely information to the public and can be used in tandem with internal communications to ensure conversations with your employees recognise the bigger picture. In contrast, crisis management can mitigate the adverse impact and restore the company's reputation. 

By utilising a combination of PR tactics, businesses can attain their objectives, such as enhancing brand awareness, managing their reputation, promoting their products or services, and effectively communicating with their target audience.

Which Type Of PR Should You Choose?

When a business undertakes public relations (PR) activities, it's essential to identify its specific needs and goals to develop an effective strategy. Here are some questions a business can ask itself to identify its PR needs:

• What specific goals do we want to achieve?

• Who is our target audience, and what media channels do they use?

• What unique selling points or key messages do we want to communicate?

• What are our strengths and weaknesses regarding our brand image, reputation, and public perception?

Why Should You Do PR?

PR is essential for any business as it: 

• Increases visibility and brand awareness

• Builds credibility and trust 

• Manages reputation 

• Attracts customers and investors 

• Creates a competitive advantage

Book Your Free PR Consultation with Altitude PR

At Altitude, we understand that every company's PR needs are different, and we provide specialised consultations to determine the specific PR services required. Depending on your goals and requirements, we can help you select the most effective types of PR, such as media relations for generating press coverage or crisis management to prepare for an event of a crisis. 

Working with a specialised PR team can ensure that your company's PR strategy is tailored to your unique requirements and objectives.

Looking to enhance your company's PR strategy? Book your free consultation with our Sheffield PR agency today. Our team of PR experts can help you identify the best services for your unique needs and goals. 

Contact us through our website, call us on 0114 252 1172 or email us at info@altitudepr.co.uk to schedule your consultation and take the first step towards achieving your PR objectives.