The differences between PR and advertising

product

product

promoting

minds of audiences about the high quality of their products and services. Actually, companies buy time slots on TV channels to be allowed to air their advertisements during these programs or movies.
This is done to let the message across to as many people as possible to increase the chances of higher sales.
Advertisement is done through electronic media such as television and the internet, through hoardings and banners so as to make more and more people see and read about the products and services of a company.
Advertisements are also placed inside magazines and newspapers.

mass media to communicate the message of the company across the people.
Companies hire public relations officers to manage influential media personnel in such a manner that they agree to carry the message of the company in their publications.
However, keeping media in good humor is not the only way of conducting public relations as it requires putting in time and effort to impress upon the media of the need to carry a news article about your product or service. Taking part in community services is one way of attracting the attention of the media but then your product or service must be of a nature that helps the community in one way or the other.

paid form of promotion whereas public relations (PR) is more or less a free promotional tool.
Advertisement buys time slots on electronic media and space in print media, to carry the message across. On the other hand, there is no such buying in public relations.
Company has control over the content of advertisement whereas it can only hope for a totally positive point of view from the media.
Advertisements can be more creative than PR items.

There is a difference in public perception as public relation is not seen as a deliberate effort of the company whereas public knows that the company has paid for time on electronic media.
While advertisements can be repeated many times for as long as the company desires, PR releases are a onetime affair only.
There are differences in writing styles of advertisements and PR releases.