Marketing and PR are not the same. Some companies insist there is a line between the two departments – but that line can be awfully thin, and it’s not unusual for that line to be crossed. Or erased.

Honestly, marketing and PR are often lumped together in a business environment. After all, both are based in communication. But there are differences between the two.

In 2013, the American Marketing Association (AMA) approved this definition: “Marketing is the activity, set of institutions, and processes for creating, communicating, delivering, and exchanging offerings that have value for customers, clients, partners, and society at large.” Translation: Marketing promotes your company’s products or services. Your marketing efforts can include a variety of activities, including advertising, product development, and sales. Generally, marketing costs money, from customized pens to Super Bowl sponsorships.

The Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) defined PR back in 2012: “Public relations is a strategic communication process that builds mutually beneficial relationships between organizations and their publics.” Translation: PR shares information about your company. Your PR efforts can include press releases, interviews, and social media content designed to provide a positive image of your company, its accomplishments, and its people. Generally, companies don’t pay for PR coverage in magazines and other media outlets.