How ‘offline’ PR has changed

Veteran PR pros remember what it was like before computers were such a big part of the industry. Never mind smartphones and tablets; Desktop computers and the web in general had an immediate, huge impact on public relations.

Though some think it’s purely an online revolution, that’s not the whole story. All of PR has been changed, including the offline world.

It may not be immediately apparent if you weren’t around earlier, so here’s a closer look at how things have changed:

Reaching your audience

Imagine it’s 1985 and you’re organizing a community event for your company. It’s a charity bike ride culminating in a doughnut and pizza party during a Debbie Gibson concert (after all, it’s the 80s.) How would you get people to attend?

First, there’s word of mouth. You might spread pamphlets around major community hubs like the post office or well-attended restaurants. There’s also the press release method. No matter the strategy, it’s tough to know exactly how many people you’re reaching.