A Few Things to Consider When Thinking About Hiring a PR Agency
Whether you’ve been building your brand for the last few months or have been deep in it the last few years, this question has probably come up more than once. No matter where you are in your brand building journey, this is always a great question to ask and assess until you understand and are prepared to make your investment. And while ultimately the answer is yes, the most important part to consider is when. Here at Push the Envelope PR, we’re all about making sure you feel ready and confident to take the next step in leveling your brand. We’ve got your back! Here’s a few things to consider and assess when thinking about whether to add a PR agency into your plans.
DETERMINE YOUR READINESS
It’s all about taking your time and taking it slow. Rushing into a new agency is like dating. Without knowing what you want and need and going blindly into the relationship, it won’t be set for success. When you rush and when you aren’t quite ready, it can lead to a downfall that negates the actual benefits of having a PR agency as a partner to begin with. It can lead to a poor partnership, an agency who isn’t a good fit, the inability to meet your vision, inability to onboard and set the PR agency up for success, wasted investment and lack of trust to invest again in the future. When considering your readiness for a PR agency, it’s important to take time to evaluate the resources and capabilities you need. Let’s take a look at some factors that will determine your readiness in needing a PR agency like Push the Envelope PR.
QUESTIONS TO CONSIDER
Let’s take a look at a few questions you can ask yourself to determine your need and readiness for bringing a PR agency on board. Feel free to write it out step by step to use as a guideline.
WHAT FUNCTIONS OF PR DO I NEED ASSISTANCE IN?
Consider exactly what you might need. Do you have gaps that need to be filled within your internal team? What parts are solid now and what needs building or refinement? List out what functions of PR and marketing you need expertise in. Can include but isn’t limited to Influencer Marketing, Influencer Relations, Digital Marketing, Editorial Placement, Branding, Crisis Management, Communications.
WHAT AM I WILLING TO INVEST IN?
PR is an investment first and foremost and like any investment, is intended to bring a return and create value in what you put in. Are you ready to make a financial investment in taking the next step in your brand? Are you open to making a sizable investment based on your needs to see it pay out in dividends months and years down the road? What are some reservations that you have? What is your cap? List what success would look like for you after a sizable investment as some of the wins that would be priceless.
DO I HAVE ENOUGH BANDWIDTH TO MANAGE THE RELATIONSHIP WITH A PR AGENCY?
Just like any relationship, there’s nothing worse than having no time and leaving them high and dry. Do you and your team have the time and dedication to onboard and consistently manage the relationship? Communication is always key and prioritizing this relationship will be a particular element to evaluate to understand your readiness to make the partnership successful. Who on your team would be the best person to manage this relationship to ensure it grows and is maintained?
IS MY TEAM READY TO PARTNER WITH THE AGENCY?
If the team is ready to delegate and create more space – what are they ready to relinquish and pass to an agency? Assess and evaluate what parts of the business your employees want to continue to manage and what elements they want to delegate and assign to the agency. The team’s readiness is just as important as your own readiness to take this step forward.
WHAT PR AGENCIES ARE ALIGNED WITH MY VALUES?
This is an opportune moment to research PR agencies and get some case studies and success stories from other examples within your industry. What is most important for you as a business and what are you looking for in an ideal partner? Make a list of your expectations in an ideal PR partner and have these on hand when sourcing and shopping around for different agencies. You’ll see how each may run differently and it’ll help you decide what is best for you and your brand.
It’s super helpful to use this as a guideline to determine your readiness. Perhaps as you reflected on these questions, it’s helped answer for you whether you need a PR agency at this very moment. Or maybe you need to understand and get a few of your ducks in a row before you are ready to make the leap. There’s no question that as your brand grows that you’ll need a PR partner in the future and hope this reflection allows you to see the bigger picture and look further ahead into when that next step is around the corner. Sometimes if you’re new to an industry or a first-time brand founder – these questions could be overwhelming. Push the Envelope can be a great partner to help you find clarity to your questions and be a thought partner as to when it might be the right time to add a PR agency to your roster. We’re always available to chat and know that when you’re ready, we’re happy to partner with you. Drop us a message anytime!