How to Find a PR Firm Thats Right for You
How to Find a PR Firm Thats Right for You
If you don't have a personal referral from someone, finding the right PR firm can be a daunting task. Think about it. If you need a lawyer, how do you find a lawyer that has the experience, time and fee structure that is right for you? Unfortunately, when retaining the services of any consultant, be it an attorney, accountant or PR firm, you often don't know what you are buying until you've already bought it.
Here are some tips on hiring the right firm for you.
First, decide on a budget. How much can you reasonably afford to spend on a public relations company over the course of at least six months. PR firms, good ones, need at least six months to get results. So having a budget in mind, just like you know how much rent you can afford, is a good place to start because it will immediately narrow down the list.
Then, define your objectives. This may seem obvious, but you want a firm that has experience in the PR area you need. Whatever you do, don't fall for the line that "we know PR and can market anything." That is like an estate planning lawyer doing a criminal defense case. It is not his/her area. There in nothing wrong with that, but you want a firm with experience in the area you are in need of.
When you are ready, the best thing to do is ask some of your associates who have worked with PR consultants for a recommendation. Hopefully the recommendations you get are from firms that know your business.
If your associates can't offer a good recommendation, then the best thing to do is turn to the web. Everything of substance is on the internet. Use Google and insert keywords for the type of PR work you are interested in. Examples might be "financial PR" or "nonprofit PR" and so forth. And, make sure to include the city you are in. You want a firm that is relatively close to you.
When you have a list of five or so firms, shoot them an inquiry email. You'd be surprised how much you can learn from a company that you contact cold. I believe that firms that respond to blind inquiries are firms that will work even harder for clients. Companies that ignore people they don't know are firms that are too busy to go the extra mile for their clients.
When you have narrowed down the list, have in-person meetings with them. Make sure you find out how they charge, exactly who will be working on your account, what results you can expect, their experience in your industry and how long they believe it will take to achieve results.
Last, a major indicator that you have found the right PR consultant is simple chemistry. Do you seem to get along with them and can you talk freely and openly? Remember, you will be working with your PR consultant day in and day out. You want it to be a pleasurable and rewarding experience.
How to Find a PR Firm Thats Right for You - To learn more about this author, visit Harvey Farr's Website.
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So you've decided that you could benefit from a relationship with a public relations firm. Good decision. Well, maybe.
If you don't have a personal referral from someone, finding the right PR firm can be a daunting task. Think about it. If you need a lawyer, how do you find a lawyer that has the experience, time and fee structure that is right for you? Unfortunately, when retaining the services of any consultant, be it an attorney, accountant or PR firm, you often don't know what you are buying until you've already bought it.
Here are some tips on hiring the right firm for you.
First, decide on a budget. How much can you reasonably afford to spend on a public relations company over the course of at least six months. PR firms, good ones, need at least six months to get results. So having a budget in mind, just like you know how much rent you can afford, is a good place to start because it will immediately narrow down the list.
Then, define your objectives. This may seem obvious, but you want a firm that has experience in the PR area you need. Whatever you do, don't fall for the line that "we know PR and can market anything." That is like an estate planning lawyer doing a criminal defense case. It is not his/her area. There in nothing wrong with that, but you want a firm with experience in the area you are in need of.
When you are ready, the best thing to do is ask some of your associates who have worked with PR consultants for a recommendation. Hopefully the recommendations you get are from firms that know your business.
If your associates can't offer a good recommendation, then the best thing to do is turn to the web. Everything of substance is on the internet. Use Google and insert keywords for the type of PR work you are interested in. Examples might be "financial PR" or "nonprofit PR" and so forth. And, make sure to include the city you are in. You want a firm that is relatively close to you.
When you have a list of five or so firms, shoot them an inquiry email. You'd be surprised how much you can learn from a company that you contact cold. I believe that firms that respond to blind inquiries are firms that will work even harder for clients. Companies that ignore people they don't know are firms that are too busy to go the extra mile for their clients.
When you have narrowed down the list, have in-person meetings with them. Make sure you find out how they charge, exactly who will be working on your account, what results you can expect, their experience in your industry and how long they believe it will take to achieve results.
Last, a major indicator that you have found the right PR consultant is simple chemistry. Do you seem to get along with them and can you talk freely and openly? Remember, you will be working with your PR consultant day in and day out. You want it to be a pleasurable and rewarding experience.
How to Find a PR Firm Thats Right for You - To learn more about this author, visit Harvey Farr's Website.
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John BrennanJohn Brennan Ed.D. Dr. Brennan is President of Interpersonal Development, LLC, a training and development firm. Interpersonal Development has provided sales training and coaching to more than 3,000 sales reps from over 100 companies. A native of Australia, Dr. Brennan received his doctorate from the University of Rochester. His dissertation researched the effectiveness of Behavioral Modeling Technology in training people in interpersonal skills. While he has spent most of his career designing or delivering training, he was also a Vice-President of Sales of a training and development franchise with operations in 25 markets. Dr. Brennan has designed and delivered sales training in North America, Asia, Europe, Australia and the Middle East. He has been a guest speaker at numerous national and regional professional conferences. When Microsoft wanted Best Practices articles on sales for their web site, they called Dr. Brennan. The results are at http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/FX011387391033.aspx His firm’s clients have included Volvo, The Prudential, Merrill Lynch, Eastman Kodak, Gannett, Equifax Europe, the Economist Group and countless small businesses. - Visit John Brennan's Website |
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Leanne Hoagland-SmithAre your sales where you want them to be? Will you be one of the few who achieves sales or business success or one of the many who have failed to change? Are you tired of being told you are like everyone else? Then you may find my first book on sales of interest. Be the Red Jacket in the Sea of Gray Suits, The Keys to Unlocking Sales available at Amazon or at http://www.processspecialist.com/red-jacket.htm. This book is a reflection of my no-nonsense approach to improving sales to overall business results. If you are truly committed to making sustainable changes, then I can help you secure a positive return on your investment because I focus on executable solutions not telling you the problems you already know you have. From training to corporate (group) coaching to executive one on one coaching, my approach is to assess, create awareness, build a goal driven action plan and then execute. The bottom line question is "Not do you or your employees know it, but do you or they want to do it?" Please call for a free strategy session at 219.759.5601. - Visit Leanne Hoagland-Smith's Website |
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Anne BarrAnne Barr has over 26 years experience in sales and marketing, six years as a franchisee. She has assisted over 367 business owners and purchasers to achieve their goals in career change, transition and exit strategy. She holds the designation of Certified Franchise Executive from the International Franchise Association, Certified Business Intermediary from the International Business Brokers Association and Board Certified Broker from the Texas Association of Business Brokers. Anne is active in professional organizations, networking groups and volunteers for non-profit entities. As owner/operator of four successful businesses, Anne has proven people skills and enjoys helping clients find the right "fit" in business ownership. Visit www.FranchiseOpportunitySpecialist.com for more information about me and my company. - Visit Anne Barr's Website |
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Cheryl MatthynssensCheryl is a life skills coach, licensed Chemical Dependency Counselor and a 20 year entrepreneur. Cheryl's dedication to achieving a life of balance led to her expanding her teaching from the simple managing of life's daily challenges to adding financial well being as well. A direct marketer with DrinkACT, she is gaining ground in the online community with her concepts of making sure business owners, entreprenuers and employees have well rounded life styles. She opened up a small affiliate site - The Balance Guide- to help others find resources for mental and emotional well being. Visit Cheryl's blog to see more of the diversity beyond business she has began offering online at www.thebalanceguide.blogspot.com - Visit Cheryl Matthynssens's Website |
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Dave KurlanDave Kurlan is the founder and CEO of Objective Management Group, Inc., the industry leader in sales assessments and sales force evaluations, and the CEO of David Kurlan & Associates, Inc., a consulting firm specializing in sales force development. Dave has been a top rated speaker at Inc. Magazine's Conference on Growing the Company, the Sales & Marketing Management Conference and the Gazelles Sales & Marketing Summit. He has been featured on radio and TV, including World Business Review with General Norman Schwarzkopf, in Inc. Magazine, Selling Power Magazine, Sales & Marketing Management Magazine and Incentive Magazine. He is the author of Mindless Selling and Baseline Selling – How to Become a Sales Superstar by Using What You Already Know about the Game of Baseball. He created and wrote STAR, a proprietary recruiting process for hiring great salespeople, and he writes Understanding the Sales Force, a popular business Blog and is a contributing author to The Death of 20th Century Selling and 101 Great Ways to Improve Your Life, Volume 2. - Visit Dave Kurlan's Website |
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