Public Relations vs. Marketing: Stop Mixing Them Up

Written By Stephanie Maldonado

Public Relations (PR) = Trust

  • Earned media + interviews + word-of-mouth.

  • Shapes how people talk about you.

  • Long game - Reputations grow slow + steady.

Goal: To earn attention you didn’t pay for with media coverage, podcasts, panels, jaw-dropping thought pieces
Result: Credibility. People believe you’re legit.

Marketing = Sales

  • Ads + emails + social boosts + promos.

  • Pushes people to buy right now.

  • Short game - ROI tracked in weeks, not years

    Goal: To pay or own attention with ads, funnels, newsletters, product drops
    Result: Revenue. People buy what you’re selling.

Confuse them and you’ll be popular yet penniless or rich but invisible. Either way, neither is cute.

Stephanie Maldonado
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