Checklist for a PR Agency

You have finally decided that you need a PR agency to help you get noticed by your target audiences. So, what points do you need to consider when choosing which will be the right agency for you?

Here are some guidelines to help.

• Sector knowledge: Is the agency able to successfully demonstrate that they have achieved the outcomes and coverage in the publications/blogs you want for other clients? Do they understand the market – the issues that affect it and the journalists, bloggers, Twiterrati and industry influencers in this sector?

• Channel knowledge: Do they understand the difference between how a campaign should be pitched to a journalist and one that is fed over social media? Do they know which channels your target market uses? Do they know if Facebook, LinkedIn or Twitter would be best for your campaign?

• Reputation: Ask to speak to some of their clients. Are they happy with how the agency works to achieve their objectives?

• The pitch: Does their pitch to you meet the objectives of the briefing? Can they answer the question, “What is the first step in this campaign?” as this demonstrates they have thought beyond the creative stage and have also considered how the activity fits with your objectives?

• The team: Ask who is going to work on the account (it is not always those that will pitch for it) and their experience of this sector. You could even ask to see examples of campaigns the individuals have worked on if you have doubts. Do they understand what makes a good story for a journalist or how to influence bloggers? Do you feel you can work with the team in the long term?

• Crisis management: Depending on your product, the ability to demonstrate knowledge and successful management of PR crises could be key too.

• Costs and methods of charging: Ask about their fees, but also how expenses are calculated. Some agencies charge for additional unexpected expenses, which means costs can add up significantly over and above a monthly retainer.

• Governance and policies: The agency should not currently handle the PR for any direct competitor to you and should have a policy not to take on clients whose products and services would compete with yours while under contract with you.

• Measurement: This is quite possibly the single most important element. What measurements will the agency use to evaluate the PR campaign? Will they work to specific targets, such as achieving a certain amount of coverage in target media or an increase in web hits? You should also look at how frequently they will report progress against objectives, as this will be crucial in establishing whether the campaign has been a success or not.

These are the key elements to selecting the right PR agency for your campaign, in our view.If you have other factors you feel should be added to this list, I’d love to hear from you at catherine@catherinelane.com.