Are Digital Marketers Considered Digital PR Practitioners?

The role of digital marketer is increasingly in demand by companies. How important is their role in developing digital public relations (PR) strategies?

You’ve probably experienced scrolling through your Instagram feed and being drawn to a product photo from a sales account that suddenly appeared on your timeline. And the more you look at the products on display, the more interested you become in buying them.

Behind your decision to buy that product on Instagram are people executing digital marketing strategies. Simply put, digital marketing encompasses all marketing efforts that utilize the internet or online media. Marketing is conducted through social media platforms such as Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, websites, or online marketplaces. The people who carry out digital marketing are commonly known as digital marketers.

How Is It Related to Digital PR?

When it comes to digital marketing and digital PR, many people are still confused about the difference between the two. Although they share many similarities, they are distinct. In this Media Buffet blog post, we’ll discuss whether a digital marketer is considered a digital PR practitioner.

Digital PR is the integration of digital marketing and traditional PR. While the goal of digital marketing is to increase sales, the objectives of digital PR are related to PR activities—such as brand awareness, reputation, or brand image—along with digital presence, which refers to efforts to enhance a brand’s online presence. However, digital PR can sometimes also lead to sales.

Since it is integrated with digital marketing, in practice, digital PR often employs strategies commonly used in digital marketing. One of its key elements is an understanding of Search Engine Optimization (SEO).  

The Role of SEO in PR

In digital marketing, SEO is used to optimize website pages, products, and online ads so they appear quickly on the first page of Google search results. At Media Buffet, we use SEO to understand our target audience. In a digital PR agency like Media Buffet, digital marketers collaborate with PR consultants to execute campaigns. 

Scope of Work for a Digital Marketer

Given their expertise in analyzing online data, digital marketers at a digital PR agency are responsible for conducting research related to the target audience. For example, they research specific keywords that internet users commonly type, determine when users are active on social media, and identify current online trends. The results of this research will then serve as one of the considerations for PR consultants when executing brand campaigns.

From the description above, it’s clear that the role of a digital marketer is essential in digital PR. 

Talitha