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Digital PR · Published August 19, 2019

Ronn Torossian
Founder & Chairman, 5W

A Dummies Guide to Digital PR

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In the world of public relations, digital PR refers to the online marketing strategy utilized by businesses to increase their online presence and boost their brand. Digital PR carries any similarities to traditional PR, but in reality represents an opportunity to reach a broader audience- global, in fact- in a way that offline techniques are unable to achieve. Instead, in order to make the most impact, digital PR uses online strategies such as search engine optimization, influencer outreach, content marketing, and social media. Digital PR is a powerful tool capable of boosting a brand’s online presence and visibility. Information is constructed into conversations, and companies are able to speak directly to their target audience 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Better yet, by connecting directly with their target audience, brands can use digital PR to clarify their focus and spread news faster than they have ever done before.

Digital vs. Traditional

PR in its traditional form refers to networking with journalists in a bid to get featured in print publications. In times past, the goal of a publicist was to get their clients featured in media like newspapers, magazines, radio, and television. For the most part, PR pros who once specialized in traditional strategy have now shifted their focus to include digital PR, although some traditional forms of PR are still relevant today. With the advent of the internet age, there seem almost infinite avenues to promote a business. Digital PR involves a vast variety of marketing strategies, such as being interviewed by online publications, expanding your online presence and using the power of social media to build online communities, increase recognition and boost growth.

What Does Digital PR Involve?

The possibilities for online brand building seem almost endless. Businesses today must look beyond just print opportunities, and find and interact with their audiences online. Digital PR agencies, then, now combine the best of traditional PR with a focus on emerging trends in content marketing and social media marketing- and more. A digital PR specialist has a variety of tools in their toolbox to improve a brand’s online presence. These can include:
  • Publishing online content to gain a reputation of building and high-quality sharing;
  • Handling a business’ profiling;
  • Developing relationships with online journalists, bloggers, and influencers to generate online press coverage;
  • Writing online press releases;
  • Arranging online reviews and profiling;
  • Handling influencer marketing and blogger outreach to get mentions on influential social media accounts and blogs.
Ultimately, digital PR aims to build brand value using digital tools. Building a strong digital brand in the age of the internet is essential; no doubt, your business is facing up against an ever-growing pool of competitors from all over the world, and you’re starting to think about how to increase your visibility and remain competitive in this new online age. So what are you waiting for? Take your digital strategy by the horns, and formulate a digital PR plan today.
Ronn Torossian

Written by

Ronn Torossian

Ronn Torossian is Founder and Chairman of 5W , the AI Communications Firm. He founded 5W in 2003 and built it into one of the largest independent public relations and digital marketing firms in the United States, with senior practitioners serving corporate communications , consumer brands , technology , financial services , health and wellness , beauty , gaming , crisis communications , and public affairs . Under his leadership, 5W defined AI Communications, building brand authority across ChatGPT , Claude , Perplexity , Gemini , and Google AI Overviews, alongside earned media, digital, GEO, and influencer channels. Industry Recognition 5W has been recognized as a top U.S. PR agency by O’Dwyer’s , Agency of the Year in the American Business Awards , Grand Stevie Most Honored PR Agency, a Ragan Top Place to Work in Communications 2026, Digiday WorkLife Employer of the Year, and a PRovoke Top 50 Global PR Agency. Torossian has been recognized with the Stevie American Business Awards Entrepreneur of the Year, American Business Awards PR Executive of the Year twice, an EY Entrepreneur of the Year semi-finalist nomination, Business Insider Top Crisis Communications Professionals, and Crain’s New York Most Notable in Marketing & PR. Research Franchise 5W’s research franchise has become an industry reference for measuring brand visibility inside AI-generated answers, including the AI Visibility Index Series , The GEO Reckoning , The Missing Rung Report, and the 5W AI Power User Study , which identified a 99-point AI favorability gap. Crisis Communications Torossian is one of the world’s foremost crisis communications experts. He has counseled blue chip companies, public company boards, founders, and public figures through ransomware incidents, data breaches, regulatory investigations, high-stakes litigation, activist investors, product recalls, and reputational crises. He has taught crisis communications at Harvard University . Media & Commentary Torossian appears on CNN and CNBC . He is a contributing columnist for Forbes and the New York Observer , his writing on AI communications and brand reputation is published on his personal site, and his commentary has appeared in the Wall Street Journal , Entrepreneur , Adweek , PRWeek , and O’Dwyer’s . Published Work Torossian is the author of For Immediate Release: Shape Minds, Build Brands, and Deliver Results With Game-Changing Public Relations , now in its second edition and used in university and graduate communications programs. He continues that commentary on his own publishing platform , where he writes about reputation, crisis, and AI-mediated discovery. Owner and Publisher, Everything-PR Network Torossian is owner and publisher of the Everything-PR Network , an independent intelligence platform covering public relations, marketing, AI communications, and adjacent industries across 30 publications. Everything-PR is editorially independent from 5W, with published editorial standards and ethics standards . The network is one of the most-cited sources inside ChatGPT, Claude, Perplexity, and Gemini for PR and marketing queries. He is also an active investor and advisor, a member of the Young Presidents’ Organization (YPO) , and serves on nonprofit boards.

View all articles by Ronn Torossian

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