I've discovered that many people are still confused about the difference between advertising, marketing and publicity. When it comes to positioning yourself as a business celebrity, knowing the difference between these three terms will be essential to your success.

Simply put, advertising uses various forms of media, i.e., print ads, radio, billboards, TV commercials, etc., to let people know who you are. In other words, advertising is about making you, your product, or service known to the public.

Publicity, on the other hand, is an act or device designed to attract public interest or public attention. It takes advertising a step further by bringing you, your products and services to life, via write-ups in newspapers/magazines, promotional giveaways, sponsorships, radio interviews, an article where someone else endorses you or your product, a spot on the six-o’clock news or CNN etc., which increases your name recognition, educates the public, and thereby helps to promote your brand. And marketing…it’s a combination of the two aforementioned functions in order to move your goods and services from producer to consumer.

So…when it comes to making a name for yourself/business and reaching potential customers, advertising and publicity are still a perfect blend! They hold hands like two people walking down a deserted street. Neither should let go of the hand of the other. If designed effectively and positioned correctly, advertising can leave a pleasant reminder for the consumer long after the publicity is gone.

Yes…like most things in life, your publicity train will eventually come to a slow pace and you’ll need to speed it up again. But advertising, with the right medium can last for years and years. Our publication has proven this point again and again. Consumers still call our office with editions as far back as the year 2000 looking for additional businesses to patronize. Imagine that...getting business from a publication printed eight years ago.

Now, that's the power of advertising!