PR Myths You Need to Unlearn

Public Relations, also known as PR, has been around for decades, but despite its lifespan, there are still a slew of misconceptions floating around about what PR really is and isn’t. Unfortunately, believing in these myths can keep small businesses, startups, and entrepreneurs from using one of the most powerful tools for visibility and growth.

We’ll clear the air and empower you to make smart moves. Let’s bust some of the most common PR myths that might be holding you back.

READ ALSO: How Digital PR Helps You Stand Out in a Crowded Market

Myth #1: PR is Only for Big Brands

If you think PR is just for Fortune 500 companies, you have it all wrong.

While big companies do invest heavily in PR, it’s just as important, if not more so, for smaller businesses trying to build credibility and trust from square one. PR helps even the odds by giving growing brands a voice and platform to tell their story in an authentic way.

Whether you're launching a new product, entering a new market, or just want more people to simply know you exist, PR can help you get seen, heard, and remembered.

Reality Check: PR is for any brand with a story to tell, and that includes yours.

Myth #2: PR = Press Release

A press release is great, but PR is so much more than that.

PR includes building relationships with journalists, landing media coverage, creating brand messaging, managing your reputation, creating thought leadership content, and even monitoring what people are saying about your brand online. A press release is just one tool in the toolbox, not the whole strategy.

Reality Check: Great PR is about strategy, storytelling, and relationships, not just writing a one-pager and sending it out to a media list.

Myth #3: If I Build it, the Press Will Come

They won’t.

You could have the hottest product or service in the universe, but if no one knows about it, it doesn’t even matter. Journalists and editors aren’t sitting around and lurking around your website, waiting to discover your splendor. You have to put yourself out there.

That means you must proactively pitch your story, craft a strong narrative, and make yourself newsworthy. It’s about showing up in the right places with the right message.

Reality Check: You have to earn attention through strategic outreach and storytelling.

Myth #4: Any Press is Good Press

Bad publicity is not something to gloat about. During a time of cancel culture, negative press can consequently damage a brand’s reputation, and rebuilding your audience’s trust isn’t always easy.

A good PR strategy helps you stay in control of your brand narrative and navigate media coverage strategically. You don’t want to just get press, you want to get the right kind of press.

Reality Check: Smart PR is reputation management, not just media exposure.

Myth #5: PR Delivers Instant Results

Most people want a quick win, but PR is a long game.

You must build brand credibility, trust, and awareness over time. A single media feature won’t transform your business overnight, but consistent PR efforts will help you stay in the minds of your audience when they’re ready to make a decision.

Reality Check: Think of PR more like farming than hunting. You’re planting seeds for future growth.

If you’ve been avoiding PR because of obsolete myths, it’s time to rethink your plan of action. Whether you're a solopreneur, a growing brand, or a startup, you deserve to be seen and heard. And PR can help you do just that.

At Brandstormr, we help businesses like yours build buzz, earn trust, and grow with smart PR strategies that work. Ready to rewrite your story?

Let’s talk. Book a free discovery session and see how we can help you storm the media in the best way possible.