Does the function of social media and public relations overlap?
In my opinion, they do. So how are they similar and how are they different?
The difference lies, I believe, in two areas:
- Public relations is, in some ways, more proactive than social media.....making statements and announcements about things that you assume and hope will be of intrest to the public thereby generating 'buzz' for your business that will result in more and better business.
- In social media a big part of the objective is to create conversations and/or enter into existing conversations. And there's more dialog, albeit initially it's in a short, few sentences.
But I think there is some overlap.
These two specialties are similar in that they both deal with the public and that neither of them involve making a sale right there on the spot. They are both intermediate to long term strategies for building a business.
There's also a big difference in the tools used. For the most part, the public relations businesses doesn't used any particularly sophisticated tools. It's pretty much just basic internetk, email and knowing certain formats.
Social media management, on the other hand, can and usually does involve some pretty leading edge tools(if you're doing it efficiently).
You will do some things in public relations prorams that normally are not in the realm of social media.......such as press releases, creating media kits, creating online press rooms, and perhaps even appearing at events of various sorts.
Public relations often involves actual 'face to face public dealing with customers, potential customers, and the general public. In that sense it's very different from social media management. In social media management you very rarely get involved in face to face public contact.
But my point is that there is a connection and it's important to have some idea of what's generally done in each area. By having that understanding you can do a better job in either or both functions.
How much public relations or social media management do you do?
Do it all yourself?
I'd appreciate your comments.
