PR vs. Influencer Marketing: Should You Choose One or Both?
When you're trying to get your brand noticed, it's easy to feel like you're choosing between two crowded highways: PR or influencer marketing. Both promise exposure, credibility, and a buzz around your brand—but which one will actually move the needle for your business? Or is the real magic in using both together?
Let’s break it down.
PR vs. Influencer Marketing: What’s the Difference, Really?
Think of PR as your brand's reputation manager. It gets your story told in credible media outlets, podcasts, and articles. You’re framed as the expert—someone people trust.
Influencer marketing, on the other hand, is like borrowing someone else's audience. You tap into the trust and attention influencers have already built with their followers to showcase your product or service.
In short: PR builds long-term authority; influencer marketing drives short-term attention.
Why This Choice Matters for Your Brand
Making the right visibility move isn’t just about getting seen—it’s about how you're seen. PR placements in respected media outlets build credibility and trust. Influencer partnerships can spark quick interest and social buzz, but might not deliver lasting impact unless tied into a bigger strategy.
Here’s what each one can help you achieve:
PR: Long-lasting SEO benefits, increased trust, and a stronger online presence
Influencer Marketing: Fast reach, brand awareness in niche communities, and product trial boosts
So the real question becomes: What’s your current goal—buzz or brand equity?
When to Lean Into PR (and How to Do It Right)
PR is your go-to when you’re looking to:
Launch a product or business
Position yourself as an expert
Attract media, partnerships, or investors
Build long-term brand authority
OlaPR’s Wave360 package is ideal for wide exposure—your press release distributed across 350+ top-tier media outlets like MarketWatch and Apple News, with the added bonus of SEO-boosting backlinks.
If you're after deeper, more tailored features (think expert interviews or stories that spotlight your journey), Ripple+ delivers earned media in targeted, prestigious outlets. It’s perfect for credibility-building and thought leadership.
When Influencer Marketing Wins
Go this route when you:
Have a consumer product that looks great on Instagram or TikTok
Want a fast boost in visibility or traffic
Are targeting a younger or trend-driven demographic
Need social proof through testimonials and UGC (user-generated content)
Just remember—while influencer posts fade quickly, PR coverage has staying power and can be repurposed again and again.
How to Combine Both for Maximum Impact
The sweet spot? Use PR to establish your credibility, then let influencers amplify it.
Here’s a simple rollout plan:
Start with Wave360 to announce your product or news across hundreds of outlets. Add those “As Seen In” logos to your site and media kit.
Layer in Ripple+ to secure in-depth coverage that tells your unique story.
Use Podwaves to get on aligned podcasts—great for SEO and lasting content.
Then hand all that earned media to influencers: “Hey, here’s what Yahoo Finance said about us!” That boosts their confidence and gives your message more weight.
With OlaPR’s Ripple+, we even help you turn PR wins into scroll-stopping content that’s influencer-ready.
Final Thoughts: You Don’t Have to Choose
You don’t have to pick PR or influencer marketing. In fact, they work best when they work together. PR gives you authority; influencers give you reach. Together, they create a wave of visibility that’s both wide and deep.
Want help making it happen?
OlaPR helps founders, creatives, and small business owners combine media exposure and social influence into one powerful visibility strategy. Whether you want the quick buzz of influencers or the steady credibility of the press—we’ve got a plan to make waves.
Explore our services or reach out to the OlaPR team to get started. Let's get your story in the spotlight, where it belongs.