About This Book: Why Digital PR Needs a New Framework
Digital PR and Online Reputation Management: Masterclass for the AI-First World
By Honey Singh | Honeysingh.com
Why This Book Exists
In my professional practice, I have seen Public Relations and digital marketing managed as separate functions, often by different teams or agencies. While integration was frequently discussed, it took several years before brands began adopting a genuinely Digital PR led approach.
I first encountered this separation in 2011 during the launch of Samsung’s Android category in India. My role focused on Digital PR, while working with bloggers and early creators. while a separate PR agency handled traditional media relations. This structure repeated itself across many other brand engagements. At the time, there were no dedicated Digital PR agencies or clearly defined Digital PR functions. The same pattern appeared again in 2016 during the execution of a large-scale PR stunt involving Donald Trump, where digital and traditional PR efforts were managed independently.
Over time, industry practice evolved, and it became clear to everyone that high-impact campaigns benefited far more from integrated execution than from strict functional ownership.
This book is developed in response to that shift. It reflects an integrated mindset toward modern PR, bringing together contemporary methods, frameworks, and case studies designed for digital-first and AI-driven environments. The focus is on practical application—how integrated Digital PR can drive business outcomes while managing reputation at scale in today’s media ecosystem.
This divergence between educational offerings and market needs creates both a challenge and an opportunity. That gap is why this book exists.
What Makes This Book Different
The DPRI Method™: An Integration Architecture
This isn't another PR textbook with a "digital chapter" added at the end. This book introduces the DPRI Method™ (Digital PR Integration Method)—a systematic framework that maps 726+ concrete correlations between PR activities and digital marketing outcomes.
The formula is simple: - 11 PR Activities (Media Relations, Crisis Communications, Content Marketing, etc.) - × 22 Digital Marketing Terms (SEO, Backlinks, Entity Authority, AEO, etc.) - × 3 Examples Each - = 726+ Practical Correlations
Every chapter connects back to this framework, ensuring you learn not just what Digital PR is, but how PR activities directly produce measurable digital outcomes.
The "Bilingual" Practitioner
This book creates professionals who speak two languages: 1. The Language of PR: Media relations, crisis management, reputation, stakeholder engagement 2. The Language of Digital Marketing: SEO, backlinks, domain authority, entity strength, AEO
The practitioners who thrive today are bilingual. They can explain to a journalist why a story matters and explain to a CMO how that story will improve search rankings. This book teaches both.
Answer Engine Optimization (AEO): The Next Frontier
We're entering an era where AI assistants answer questions by citing sources. When someone asks ChatGPT or Perplexity "What's the best CRM software?" the answer doesn't come from advertising—it comes from publications the AI trusts.
If your brand isn't mentioned in high-authority publications that Large Language Models reference, you're invisible in AI-generated answers.
This book prepares you for that reality. You'll learn not just how to earn media coverage, but how to build what I call the "Information Graph"—the web of credible citations that determine whether AI systems trust your brand.
Book Structure
Part 00: Setting the Stage
- About This Book
- About the Author
- How to Use This Book
Part 01: The Core Modules (Modules 1-6)
- Module 1: Foundations and Evolution of Digital PR
- Module 2: Channels, Tools, and Ecosystems (including The DPRI Method™)
- Module 3: Content Creation and Creativity
- Module 4: Crisis Management and ORM
- Module 5: Data, Analytics, and Reporting
- Module 6: Influencer and KOL Programs
Part 02: The Future of PR (Module 7)
- AI in Digital PR
- Answer Engine Optimization (AEO)
- Building Future-Ready PR Teams
Part 03: Practical Application (Modules 8-11)
- Module 8: Real-World Case Studies (Te-A-Me Tea, Samsung, Revolt Motors, and more)
- Module 9: Workshops, Assignments, and Templates
- Module 10: MBA and Entrepreneur Toolkit
- Module 11: Career and Agency Survival Guide
Part 04: Appendices and Resources
- Glossary of 200+ Terms
- Bibliography and Citations
- Author's Case Archive
- Personalized Learning Plan
Book Features
- End-of-chapter practical exercises, worksheets, and self-assessments
- DPRI Connection boxes linking each chapter to the 726+ correlations framework
- Reality Check sidebars with practitioner insights from 21 years in the industry
- Field Manual notes for real-world application
- Case studies from campaigns I've personally led—including the Te-A-Me Tea campaign that generated 650 million impressions, the Revolt Motors advocacy campaign that drove 30% of sales, and crisis responses for major Indian brands
- Both global and Indian examples (60/40 balance) with USD and INR values
Who This Book Is For
The MBA Student
Gain a strategic understanding of how Digital PR drives business value, brand equity, and search visibility. Learn frameworks you can apply in consulting, brand management, or entrepreneurship.
The Startup Founder
Learn scrappy, effective PR tactics to build your brand and attract investors on a budget. Understand how to create credibility before you can afford traditional advertising.
The Marketing Manager
Integrate Digital PR strategies into your marketing mix to amplify campaigns and build durable visibility across search, social, and AI-driven ecosystems.
The Aspiring PR Professional
Build a foundation of practical skills—from content creation to crisis management—grounded in digital marketing metrics that prove ROI.
The Agency Professional
Understand how to reframe your services for the AEO era and justify higher retainers through measurable digital outcomes.
A Note on Honesty
This book should not attempt to impress the industry. It documents how the industry actually evolved—warts included—and why many current practices are structurally misaligned with the realities of AI, answer engines, and machine-mediated trust.
The ideas in this book are hard-won. The case studies are real. The perspective is earned.
What separates this book from others is discipline, not ambition. Wherever claims feel obvious to practitioners, they still require structure. Wherever experience tempts generalization, it is restrained by verification.
That is the bar this manuscript meets.
DPRI CONNECTION
This introduction establishes the foundation for: - PR Activity: All 11 activities covered in the DPRI Method™ - Digital Term: The integration architecture connecting PR to digital outcomes - Core Framework: The 726+ correlations model that structures the entire book
See Chapter 4 for the complete DPRI Method™ framework.
Let's begin.