Top PR Trends to Watch in 2020

⌛ By Abbey Vidrine ⌛

Coming into the third month of 2020, it makes me wonder what lies ahead for the PR world. What will be the next big thing in this industry? Public relations trends are ever-changing, as is the world as a whole. So as a PR professional, it’s always good to stay ahead of the game.

So, here are some trends that I see changing the PR playbook in 2020:

Micro-Influencers

We all know the world of social media influencers and their weight within the PR realm. More and more brands have been jumping on board with reaching their audiences this way, but what about micro-influencers? They are still influencers, but they typically have a smaller following with a very niche and focused audience. So why micro-influencers and not someone with a larger following? Well, they are the perfect way to hone in on specific and targeted audiences that may be lost with more prominent influencers. Micro-influencers are better able to engage and have a more authentic relationship with their audiences. With the right amount of work, you can get the same brand awareness and social media engagement as you would with a larger influencer!

PR and Marketing integration

Throughout my time in the public relations program at Marshall University, it has largely been focused on PR’s relationship with journalism. While that relationship is still a very prominent one, PR and marketing are combining more and more every day. As one of my professors tells us, marketing and PR have always been under the same umbrella, and it’s time we treat them as such. I think 2020 may be the year when they begin to integrate even more. Yes, PR and marketing have different goals and objectives, but I think we will see much more intertwining and connection between the two.

Social media storytelling

We already know social media like Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter have taken the internet by storm, and public relations has been forever changed by this! Social media plans have arose and been drastically shifting over the past few years. However, throughout this movement, audiences have decided that they still want genuine and engaging content. This is where storytelling comes in handy. Social media is such a large platform and has only been growing in 2020, so tell your story in a unique way! This goes hand in hand with micro-influencers as well, because they tell the story of your brand. It’s up to you on how you want the story to be told but make sure you tell it — because it’s a great way to increase brand awareness, and reach new audiences and followers.

Abbey Vidrine is a West Virginia native and current Public Relations major at Marshall University. She loves all things communication and hopes to do great things within the profession! Connect with Abbey on LinkedIn.