How to find the Right PR firm

Finding the ideal public relations and marketing communications agency is similar to dating: you may have to kiss a few frogs before you meet your true match. To avoid the frogs, here's a 5-step guaranteed procedure prepared by yours truly to assist you in identifying the best PR agency for your needs.

1. Be clear about your objectives, scope of work, and budget-

   This is the most critical step before you begin. You'll never find the appropriate partner if you can't define success upfront. Also, don't simply say, "Get me into the Wall Street Journal." Professional public relations agencies want to know, "How should we focus our efforts to assist your company to grow?" Most importantly, know and clarify your budget otherwise you will be unable to choose the right PR partner.

2. Perform your research-

   It's not difficult to perform research these days. A Google search for "top public relations firms" in your city will yield a list (agencies that don't do a good work promoting themselves are not likely to do a good job promoting your business, either). Visit their websites to see if they have the required experience, case studies, results, and customer testimonials for your requirements.

3. Consider whether Is this firm the right size for your business?

   Some public relations firms are too big, too little, or just right for your needs. At ICCPL, we like to educate prospects on the three types of agencies: multi-national firms with multiple offices around the world (and budget minimums that reflect those resources); mid-sized agencies, like ours, with many of the capabilities of the "big guys" but with less overhead; and freelancers, who are generally the least expensive but are often best suited for a local campaign. Once you've determined your needs and budget, you'll be able to decide which of these three solutions is ideal for your company.

4. Get to know the agency before you meet them-

   The ideal strategy is to send an email expressing your interest, followed by a phone call to ensure that they understand your company and objectives, and then, to request a written proposal. But proposals are only as good as the information that prospects give agencies: the better your "request for proposal" (or RFP), the better suited the agency responses will be. Send your RFP to no more than a half-dozen agencies. Because it's an open call and less likely to result in business, many of us in the PR industry won't even react. A better way is to vet the agencies before you ask them to respond in writing: that way, you’ll get better proposals and the agencies will put their best foot forward.

5. Most importantly, do you like them?

   Prospects should always come in person to assess the offices, the workplace culture, and their gut-level "feeling" about the agency and its personnel. Request that the agency deliver their ideas to you in person so that you may hear them fully developed. Then, particularly inquire about who will be on your team and want to meet them. You'll be working closely with your PR pros, in the end, so make sure you like them as people, not just as professionals.

Following these steps will assist you in finding the ideal agency and, more than likely, result in a long-term relationship that will benefit both parties for many years.

About ICCPL-

ICCPL, the top PR agency in Delhi NCR, provides tailored solutions for proactive communications that are driven by a passionate and holistic approach. Our public relations firm specialises in offering Integrated Communication Solutions to all of its clients in order to provide them with a distinct competitive advantage in their marketing mix.

ICCPL: India's one of the largest Public Relations agencies and the largest PR consultancy firm for real estate. ICCPL, a full-service public relations consultancy company, is India's one of the largest PR consultancy firms by revenue and ranks among