In-house PR: Benefits vs Drawbacks

In-house public relations can be extremely beneficial resource for a company versus hiring a public relations firm. Here are a few benefits and drawbacks to hiring an in-house public relations team.

Benefit: Company knowledge

Working in-house provides an extensive amount of knowledge that an outside agency will not have. When a public relations professional is spending all their time immersed in the environment they provide their services to, they will know the company inside and out. This helps the professional know what campaign or strategy will work best for the company they work for. It also gives them a competitive edge, as other companies will have limited knowledge of what they plan on executing.

Drawback: Lack of outside knowledge

Public relations is all about connections, so when working at a large agency, you may have better knowledge of competitors strategies. You may even work at a desk next to a competitors public relations specialist. You also will be able to consult outside opinions on how you are conducting a campaign, which can be vital to its success. When working in-house, you will receive most of your feedback from others within the company.

Benefit: Sales & marketing connections

When working in-house, a professional has the ability to work directly with the sales and marketing team at their company. This can be integral to boosting the companies image and sales, since more often than not, sales and image correlate with one another. This also helps build a stronger relationship with the marketing team, which can help the company run smoother, allowing for little miscommunication.

Drawback: Distractions from other departments

When working directly with other departments in your company, it can cause work to be left behind or disregarded. It can also make projects difficult to launch, due to more input and opinions. This can cause conflict, as some departments may feel that they do not have as much of a say in decisions.

Benefit: Trust

When a professional works daily with the same individuals and executives, it helps build a level of trust that cannot be achieved when working with an agency. This can allow for more creative freedom, as an executive may allow a professional to experiment if they have trust in them. This also allows a professional to find their place in the public relations department.

Drawback: Connections

When working internally at a company, there can be a lack of connections with other professionals in the industry. At a public relations agency, a professional is interacting with different public relations specialists daily. This can help build relationships for future opportunities. This type of connection can be imperative for a professional to further their career.

With that being said, working in-house is entirely preferential with many different benefits and drawbacks. Success in this environment is based upon the type of personality and worker that a professional is.