For years, PR and SEO have often been thought of as two separate entities, but the truth is that these key marketing channels are more intertwined than ever before. When done well, digital PR doesn’t just create headlines but it actively boosts your SEO, earning links, authority, awareness and clicks.
Whether you’re a lifestyle brand launching in Manchester, a national e-commerce company releasing a new product, or a hospitality business wanting to shout about a seasonal campaign, digital PR can be a game-changer when it comes to supporting your overall SEO strategy. Here’s how.
PR turns visibility into measurable impact
The strongest digital PR campaigns do more than earn headlines. They earn high-quality backlinks that strengthen your domain authority. Coverage from credible publications signals trust to both audiences and search engines, amplifying your brand’s online presence while supporting long-term, organic growth. That’s why every campaign should be designed to generate visibility that truly matters.
It’s about strategic coverage
Many brands tend to be focused on getting into a national red-top newspaper. Whilst that is often achievable and significant, coverage in niche industry publications can often carry more weight than a fleeting mention in a national tabloid. Why? Because they speak directly to your target audience and build credibility within your sector. They also deliver highly relevant backlinks. The smartest campaigns focus on relevance as well as reach, looking at meeting SEO objectives rather than just chasing after the biggest logo.
Boosts your E-E-A-T
Google tends to prioritise content that demonstrates experience, expertise, authoritativeness and trustworthiness (E-E-A-T). Digital PR helps with all four. When your brand is mentioned in the likes of national publications like The Guardian, Cosmopolitan or The Caterer, you aren’t just getting traffic; you’re building a digital paper trail of credibility. Securing commentary opportunities, thought leadership pieces and expert features positions you as a credible source within your industry, while supporting with ranking.
Supporting local SEO
For businesses targeting regional audiences, digital PR plays a key role in local visibility. For instance, in Manchester, securing coverage in the likes of Manchester Evening News and The Manc can strengthen your local backlinks when hyperlinks are included in articles. Even where links aren’t included, brand mentions on trusted regional publications can still enhance local relevance, reinforce credibility and contribute to wider search visibility.
A long term strategy
Digital PR builds credible, lasting, organic authority. Unlike a search ad, which only improves your ranking as long as you pay for it (and let’s face it, people often purposefully avoid clicking on ads – not surprising, considering earned media is 92% more trusted by consumers than traditional advertising*), digital PR is in it for the long haul. A single strong PR campaign can create multiple high-quality backlinks, ongoing referral traffic and strengthen brand positioning in the long term.
SEO and PR are clearly quite the power couple when it comes to marketing! By earning high quality links and generating genuine buzz, you’re building a long-lasting reputation for your brand, through the power of digital PR.
We’ve secured regional and national coverage for a variety of brands in Manchester and throughout the UK. Speak to us to boost your digital PR strategy. Want to find out more? Discover our PR secrets for a successful launch campaign.
*https://yougov.com/articles/26170-92-consumers-trust-earned-media
