Difference Between Advertising and Publicity

We all must have heard the buzz words: Advertising and Publicity as both of these terms are widely used in the marketing sector. And many of us think that both these words are the same. But, in reality, there is a fine line that differentiates both of the terms. But are you aware of the differences between advertising and publicity? If not, then you are at the right place. This article will explore the difference between advertising and publicity in depth.

The main difference between advertising and publicity is that advertising is an activity in which a company pays (paid promotion) to boost the sales of its products and services. On the other hand, publicity is free of cost activity that is carried out to create awareness or provide information about the product or the service to make it popular.

This article will explore the difference between advertising and publicity in great detail. But, before we begin with advertising vs publicity, let’s review the list of topics listed under the table of contents (TOC) we will cover in this article.

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Table of contents (TOC)

• Difference between advertising and publicity
• What is advertising?
  • Advertising methods/Types of advertising
• What is publicity?
  • Publicity methods/Types of publicity
• Key differences between advertising and publicity
• Conclusion

Difference Between Advertising and Publicity

Many of us use advertising and publicity interchangeably, but these two terms are distinct, and a fine line separates them. So, to better comprehend the difference between advertising and publicity, consider the following table:

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What is Advertising? 

Advertising definition: Advertising is a paid activity that is carried out to increase the sales of a company’s product or service. 

In advertising, various creative techniques capture the target audience’s interest and deliver the intended message. In today’s era, to carry out advertisement activity, various media platforms, such as Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, etc., are used to reach the target audience.

Advertising Methods/ Types of Advertising

There are five methods or types of advertising, such as:

• Print advertising: This type of advertising is done in written form using media such as magazines, newspapers, pamphlets, etc.
• Product integration: This type of advertising is mainly done on television shows or Youtube, in which people praise the product and talk about the benefits and features of the product or service.
• Outdoor advertising: This type of advertising is done through mediums, such as banners, hoardings, flags, etc., that can be placed near roads, parks, etc., to grab the attention of various people.
• Broadcast advertising: This type of advertising is done on television or radio in which a video or audio commercial is used to advertise a company’s service or product.
• Digital advertising: This type of advertising uses modern platforms, such as Facebook, Youtube, etc. This type of advertising is the most popular as it can reach a vast audience, irrespective of geographical location.

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What is Publicity?

Publicity definition: Publicity is a free-of-cost activity to create awareness or provide information about a product or service to make it popular. 

The primary goal of publicity is to raise public awareness regarding a product or service through third-party media. In the case of publicity, information about any product/service is unbiased and can come from any source. As a result, it may positively and negatively affect how people perceive information.

Publicity methods/Types of publicity 

There are five methods or types of publicity, such as:

• Press conference: This type of publicity is done when a person from the company talks about the product of the company in the media, which later is published on various media platforms.
• Visits: This type of publicity is done when the media or press visits business outlets to get information about new and innovative products to make their audience aware.
• Press release: This type of publicity is done when a journalist creates a short story to publish it on media platforms.
• Informal discussions: This type of publicity is done when a third party uses the product/service and afterwards shares their experience, whether positive or negative experience.
• Presentations: This type of publicity is done when a new product/service is introduced to the public by lecture, presentation, demonstration, etc., to make people aware of the product’s features.

Key Differences Between Advertising and Publicity 

Here are the key differences between advertising and publicity:

• Advertising is an expensive activity, but publicity is a free-of-cost activity.
• Publicity is what others say about a product, whereas advertising is what a company says about its product.
• Publicity focuses on creating goodwill and developing trust, while advertising focuses on building the brand’s image.
• Advertising is a controlled activity, i.e., is managed by the company, whereas publicity is an uncontrolled activity, i.e., is managed by the common mass.
• Advertising conveys a positive message in support of their product. In contrast, publicity conveys both positive and negative messages as it is all about what other people think about the product.
• The main goal behind advertising is to increase the sales of a company’s product or service. On the other hand, the main goal behind publicity is to make people aware of the product or service.

Conclusion

The main difference between advertising and publicity is that advertising is a paid activity that aims to increase sales of a company’s product or service. On the other hand, publicity is a free-of-cost activity that aims to make a company’s product or service popular among the common mass.

This article explores two of the most popular terms in marketing: advertising and publicity. We have explored advertising and publicity activities, the difference between advertising and publicity, their types, and so on. If you have any queries related to the topic (Advertising vs Publicity), please feel free to send your query as a comment. We will be happy to answer.

Happy learning!!

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