Connections between marketing and public relations have grown stronger over the last decade. Some experts have coined Marketing Public Relations (MPR) as an area of expertise in the field. MPR is another way to communicate messages to the market, specifically the internet which is already highly saturated with all sorts of ads and promotions.

What would be a great small business? It can be a store from your hometown, a favorite family-owned restaurant, or an online business. You may even use a small club, charity, group, or house of worship for the assignment.

While large corporations use MPR, it can be successful in a local market because a few extra sales or one or two new customers can make a large difference for a small business.

An MPR communication combines a press release with blog writing. It could be a story about the owners, the company helping the community, an event, or an innovative product or service it offers.