So, you’ve got this groundbreaking new product that could shake up the industry and solve some real problems. But here’s the thing: If no one’s talking about it, does it even exist?

Welcome to the paradox of business success in 2025, where the best ideas can still die in obscurity without the right buzz. You’re out there innovating and changing lives, but meanwhile, the market’s attention span is about as short as a viral TikTok video.

So you’re probably wondering: “How do I get my brand noticed in all this digital chaos?” That’s where public relations, commonly just called PR, comes in.

Now, we’re not talking about the old-school, cookie-cutter kind that barely scratches the surface. No, it’s something smarter, sharper, and disruptive—something that can get your brand’s name in the headlines (for the right reasons) instead of hidden at the bottom of a Google search.

Let’s take a look at what this kind of Public Relations is, how it works, and how it can be the difference between obscurity and being the talk of the town. We’ll break down the types of public relations you should care about, and give you the insider tips other agencies wish they knew.

What is PR, Anyway?

Public Relations isn’t just about getting your company’s name out there. It’s about controlling the narrative and shaping how people feel about your brand.

Think of it as reputation engineering. It’s the strategic art of making sure the right stories are being told by the right people to the right audience. But it’s also a lot more than that.

The Definition of Public Relations

So, what is PR? Simply put, public relations is the practice of managing and influencing how information about your company is revealed to the public, especially through media channels. It’s a strategic communication process that creates buzz, but it also builds trust and credibility.

Public relations experts craft stories that highlight your brand’s strengths, mitigate any negatives, and position you as a leader in your industry. They earn you coverage and attention by getting journalists, influencers, and the public genuinely interested in what you have to offer. Think of it as word-of-mouth on steroids, but with a strategy.

Public Relations vs. Advertising

Let’s clear something up: public relations and advertising may seem like siblings, but they’re more like distant cousins.

Advertising is paid media—think billboards, TV spots, and digital ads—where you control the message and placement because you’ve paid for that space. The kicker is that people know it’s biased because it’s paid.

Public relations, on the other hand, is earned media. Instead of paying for the exposure, you earn it through building mutually beneficial relationships and telling compelling stories that journalists, influencers, or the public want to share.

Public relations has a different kind of credibility because someone else is telling the world you’re amazing, not just you. That’s why public relations feels more authentic and leads to deeper trust from your audience. Advertising might get you seen, but public relations is what gets people talking.

Great results come from combining both—getting in front of as many people as possible while building genuine credibility.

Core Functions of Public Relations

While public relations aims to get you in the headlines, a lot of strategy and behind-the-scenes work goes into making your brand shine. Things like media relations, crisis communication, and internal communications are pretty well-known, but there are other key aspects such as:

  • Event coordination: Organizing and managing events, from press conferences to product launches and speaking opportunities, to generate buzz and give the media something to talk about.
  • Content creation: From press releases to blog posts and social media marketing, public relations is responsible for creating content that tells your story in a way that engages and resonates with your audience.
  • Reputation management: Crafting and controlling the narrative around your brand to maintain a positive public image in times of calm and during crises.

These functions create the supporting pillars of a solid PR strategy, working together to boost your brand’s visibility, credibility, and overall impact.

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Types of Public Relations

There’s no one-size-fits-all approach to public relations. There are several flavors of public relations, each with a unique purpose depending on your goals. Here are the types you should know about.

Media Relations

This is what most people think of when they hear “public relations”. Media relations is all about building and nurturing relationships with journalists, bloggers, and influencers.

The goal? To get them to tell your story in a way that resonates with their audience. This way, it goes beyond pitching and builds mutually beneficial relationships that are long-lasting and can lead to future coverage.

Crisis Management

When things hit the fan, crisis management saves the day. It’s all about controlling the narrative when your company faces negative press or public backlash. Instead of letting the media and public opinion run wild, a strong Public Relations team steps in to diffuse the situation and helps repair your brand’s image—fast.

Community Relations

Building goodwill within your local or online community can go a long way. Community relations involves getting your brand involved in things like:

  • Charitable initiatives
  • Local events
  • Partnerships

This shows that you’re not just a company, but also a member of the community, and you care.

Influencer Relations

We’ve all heard about the power of influencer marketing and user-generated content (UGC) by now. With social media influencers holding more sway than ever, influencer relations will be a growing part of public relations in 2025.

Influencer relations involve partnering with influencers who can authentically promote your brand to their followers. It’s all about leveraging trust and reach in the most genuine way possible.

Internal Relations

Don’t forget about the people inside your company! Internal PR is all about keeping your team informed and engaged, making sure they’re on board with your brand’s messaging and vision. After all, your employees are often your most powerful ambassadors. Keep them happy, and they’ll keep spreading the good word.

Thought Leadership

This type of public relations positions your executives or key team members as experts in the field. You build credibility for your company and the individuals who run it by:

  • Securing speaking engagements.
  • Writing opinion pieces.
  • Being featured in high-profile interviews.

These types of public relations are your toolkit. Depending on what your company needs, a good public relations firm can mix and match these strategies to get your brand the attention—and respect—it deserves.

Why Companies Invest Their Hard-Earned Money in Public Relations

You’ve got budgets to juggle, and every dollar needs to prove its worth. So why are companies willing to pour hard-earned cash into public relations?

It’s because the return on investment (ROI) of public relations is far-reaching and invaluable. It offers something that advertising dollars alone can’t buy: credibility. In a world where authenticity is king, public relations is the bridge between what you’re offering and what people actually believe about your brand.

The Key Benefits of Public Relations

Public relations does more than just get your name out there. Here’s why it matters:

  • Boosts credibility: Earned media from trusted sources helps build your company’s reputation and gives your audience confidence in what you offer.
  • Builds brand awareness: Public relations helps you reach new audiences, keeping your company top-of-mind even in a crowded market.
  • Includes crisis management: Public relations is your safety net when things go wrong, stepping in to protect your brand’s image and steer the conversation in a positive direction.
  • Provides thought leadership: Positioning key players in your company as experts in your field gives your brand extra authority and influence within your industry.
  • Creates cost-effective exposure: Unlike paid ads, public relations generates long-lasting organic coverage that can continue to benefit your brand without ongoing investment.

How a PR Agency Can Help

Tackling public relations on your own can be challenging and even harmful if done incorrectly. A PR agency offers something invaluable: experience and connections. They’ve spent years building relationships with media outlets, journalists, and influencers—connections you simply can’t replicate overnight. Public relations professionals know exactly how to pitch your story in a way that makes it impossible for the media to ignore.

By working with a public relations firm, you get a wealth of insider knowledge, connections, and strategies that elevate your brand far beyond what you could achieve alone. A public relations agency can open doors you didn’t even know existed, getting your company’s story featured on the platforms that matter most to your audience.

Here’s how they do it:

  1. Discovery: Conduct market research and learn about your company’s brand, industry, competitors, and goals.
  2. Strategy development: Develop a tailored public relations plan outlining the key messages, target audiences, and media outlets that will get your brand noticed.
  3. Pitching and outreach: Your public relations team reaches out to journalists, influencers, and media outlets, pitching stories, crafting angles, and building relationships to get your brand featured.
  4. Media coverage: After about 30 days, interviews, articles, and features roll in, generating buzz and positioning your company as a leader in the field.
  5. Crisis management (if needed): If anything goes wrong along the way, the public relations professionals step in to manage the situation and control any potential damage to your brand’s reputation.
  6. Reporting and analysis: After the campaign wraps up, the team evaluates the results to provide insights into media coverage, audience reach, and the impact on your brand’s reputation and goals.
  7. Ongoing strategy: A smart team will continue refining and evolving your strategy based on insights gained to build long-term brand growth.

In this way, a PR agency ensures you get the right kind of attention and sustains that visibility in a way that builds trust and credibility over time.

Make Your Brand Impossible to Ignore with Disrupt PR

Public relations isn’t just for the giants of the business world. It’s for any company that wants to rise above the noise and become a true market leader. In 2025, the brands that thrive will be the ones that know how to tell their story strategically, authentically, and boldly. And public relations is the key to getting your brand in front of the right eyes—and keeping it there.

At Disrupt PR, we specialize in doing just that. With a team of seasoned former journalists and PR specialists who know the media inside and out, we help you craft and spread a story that’s too compelling to ignore. We pitch and disrupt the narrative so that your brand isn’t just seen but remembered.

Are you ready to transform your brand from a hidden gem to a household name? We’re ready to get you there. Contact us today, and let’s make headlines together.