PR vs. Marketing — Which One Delivers Better ROI for Your Business?

Public relations (PR) and marketing — two sides of the same coin, yet each plays a unique role in how businesses connect with their audience. While PR focuses on shaping a positive public image through media coverage and community engagement, marketing drives sales and awareness through targeted campaigns and advertisements. Both are essential, but when it comes to measuring success, one question always stands out: Which one delivers a better return on investment (ROI)?

ROI is the yardstick that businesses use to determine whether their efforts are paying off. Whether you’re spending on a glitzy marketing campaign or investing in PR to build your brand’s credibility, understanding the ROI is crucial. It’s not just about where you’re putting your money — it’s about making sure you’re getting the most bang for your buck.

Related: What ROI Should Really Look Like for Your Company’s Public Relations Campaigns

Measuring ROI for public relations

One of PR’s biggest wins is earning media coverage — mentions, features and interviews that put your brand in the spotlight. But how do you measure its value? It’s not just about impressions; it’s about the credibility you get from being featured by trusted outlets. Let’s explore how to evaluate earned media and its impact on your brand’s reputation.

• Social media engagement: PR today goes beyond press releases. It’s about driving organic social media engagement, whether through a viral tweet or a post sparking conversation — getting people talking about your brand without paid ads.

• Brand sentiment analysis: It’s one thing to get people talking, but what are they saying? Using surveys and online tools, you can measure shifts in brand perception and trust — critical factors that PR efforts can influence.

• Increased website traffic: Ever noticed a spike in website traffic after a big PR push? That’s not a coincidence. We’ll connect the dots between your PR activities and those traffic surges, showing how earned media can directly impact your online presence.

Measuring ROI for marketing

One of the simplest ways to measure marketing ROI is by tracking conversion rates. These rates show how well your campaigns are turning potential customers into buyers or subscribers. Whether it’s sales or sign-ups, conversion rates offer a clear indication of your marketing success.

CPA is another key metric, comparing total marketing costs to the number of new customers acquired. For example, in industries like SaaS, the average CPA is about $702, while it can be as high as $1,450 in fintech. By tracking this, businesses can ensure their marketing spend is efficient.

While CPA focuses on acquisition, Customer Lifetime Value (CLV) looks at the total revenue a customer brings over their relationship with your business. By comparing CLV to CPA, you can determine if your marketing efforts are attracting long-term, valuable customers.

Ultimately, the most direct measure of ROI is sales and revenue growth. This gives you a clear view of how your marketing translates into financial success.

Short-term vs. long-term ROI

Marketing campaigns are often designed to deliver quick wins, such as immediate sales boosts, more leads or revenue spikes. These short-term gains are easily measurable, giving businesses tangible, real-time data to track and analyze. In contrast, PR is more of a long-term strategy, building brand loyalty, credibility and trust over time. While PR may not offer instant results like marketing, its focus on these elements leads to more sustainable success and stronger customer relationships.

Consider a company that invested in both PR and marketing. Their marketing efforts delivered immediate results, driving sales and revenue growth quickly. However, over time, their PR efforts increased brand credibility and customer trust, leading to consistent growth in loyalty. This case demonstrates how the two strategies can complement each other, balancing short-term wins with lasting brand strength.

Related: 7 Crucial Metrics to Evaluate the Effectiveness of Your Marketing Campaigns

Cost analysis

When investing in PR, businesses face costs like agency retainers, event management fees and press release distribution. These expenses aim to build a positive image, secure media coverage and manage key relationships.

On the other hand, marketing costs typically cover paid ads, content creation and tools for email marketing. Marketing budgets tend to be more flexible, allowing for campaigns that can scale according to immediate needs.

Deciding how to allocate your budget between PR and marketing depends on your business goals and market position. A new brand may prioritize PR to build credibility, while an established business looking for rapid growth might lean more toward marketing. A balanced approach, combining both strategies, often yields the best long-term results.

When PR delivers higher ROI

PR truly shines when building or restoring trust is a top priority. For new brands or businesses facing a crisis, PR can be the more valuable investment, especially in industries like healthcare or finance, where reputation is key. In these scenarios, fostering trust and credibility through PR efforts often leads to higher long-term ROI.

For product launches or major events, PR is vital in generating buzz and securing media coverage. A well-planned PR campaign can draw attention and position your brand in the spotlight, leading to successful launches and sustained customer interest.

PR is also effective in establishing thought leadership. By leveraging speaking engagements, media appearances and articles, PR can position a brand or its leaders as industry authorities, indirectly boosting brand value and driving long-term revenue growth.

When marketing delivers higher ROI

Marketing typically delivers higher short-term ROI when lead generation and sales are the primary objectives. For businesses seeking a quick revenue boost or traffic spike, digital marketing campaigns offer fast, measurable results. This is particularly true for ecommerce and direct-to-consumer brands, where tools like social media ads and email marketing are essential for reaching consumers directly and driving conversions.

For businesses that rely on consistent ad spend to maintain visibility, marketing proves highly effective. Paid ads can be precisely targeted and easily adjusted, allowing businesses to maximize ROI and create immediate impact when needed.

Choosing the right strategy

Your choice between PR and marketing should align with your business goals. If rapid growth is the focus, marketing is ideal. For long-term trust and credibility, PR offers better returns. Different industries also benefit from different strategies — fashion brands might see more ROI from PR, while SaaS and ecommerce rely on strong marketing for sales. A combined approach often works best, balancing short-term wins with lasting brand value.

Related: How to Align Your PR and Marketing Strategies to Get More Out of Both

In the debate between PR and marketing, the key takeaway is that both have their place, depending on your business goals, budget and desired outcomes. PR is invaluable for long-term trust and credibility, while marketing excels at generating quick, measurable results. For many businesses, the optimal strategy involves a combination of both, leveraging the strengths of each to maximize ROI.