A PR agency, also known as an advertising agency or a creative agency, is usually a company dedicated to making, planning, and executing all types of advertising and even other forms of public relations for the clients. They are not restricted to any one particular industry; instead, they handle a wide range of different clients from hospitals and restaurants to private detectives and cruise lines. All businesses require some type of public relations campaign in order to promote themselves and make themselves memorable. The best part about advertising agencies is that they can plan anything that needs to be done.
When it comes to advertising, it is important that the business gets out there in order to be remembered and also to market effectively. Without proper marketing and publicity, a brand may find itself losing customers or not being heard by the public. It is crucial that a PR agency not only creates effective advertising campaigns but also gives the business advice on how to keep their name in front of the public and what to do once it has been discovered. An advertising firm will help to create brand awareness for a new product, a new line of quality goods, or a rebranding of an old product. In most cases, it is the PR agency that takes care of making sure that the public relations campaign is managed properly.
One of the first things you should do when looking for a PR agency is to ask questions like what their experience includes and how long they have been in the field. You should also ask questions like, what types of work will be performed for your company. Is it a one-time project or is it something that will continue over time? Will a full service be done or will you just need one service and then a retainer fee? Are there any special deals for new customers? If a particular agency does not offer anything like this, you should move on and find someone else.
Reputation An important factor in choosing the right PR agency is reputation. How did the agency get its name? Have customers left feedback saying that they would recommend them to others? Does the agency have a good record of providing timely services and does it provide quality media relations and other promotions that maintain their good reputation?
Strategy The strategy of your company and the PR agency in question can have a huge effect on the outcome of your marketing plan. If an agency consistently uses the same tactic to promote your brand, customers will form a negative impression of the agency. When planning marketing strategies, it is always best to consider how each aspect of the plan affects the other. Make sure that you ask what the specific goals of the marketing plan are and how they will be achieved. It may be smart to consider hiring a few different marketing stables so that you know you are receiving quality service.
Business Development You want to choose an in-house pr agency because they are the experts when it comes to understanding your business development needs and working to help you achieve those goals. Brand reputation is only part of the equation, a well-developed marketing strategy is just as crucial. Using a marketing stance for your business development strategy will ensure that you reach your goals in a timely manner.
Twitter There is no doubt that social media has changed the landscape of marketing and business in recent years, the latest buzz is that PR agencies should be taking advantage of this new medium. Twitter, although not an official social media tool of Facebook or Google can give you access to your target audience, which can increase your client base significantly. By using the tools that are available on the social networking sites, you can easily update your current clients about the activities of your company and give them a chance to interact with the business development team.
Strategic Messaging Many businesses and corporations have a difficult time strategizing their response to customer queries and issues because they do not use any type of in-house or Internet-based strategic messaging communication strategy. Rather than spending the time and money to come up with their own message, many companies hire a public relations specialist who can create a campaign to win over undecided customers by creating a press release and a series of articles that address the concerns and goals of their target audience. The use of a twitter, video and podcasting as an additional public relations tactic can greatly assist in brand positioning because it allows you to reach a broader audience without spending the additional money to create a television commercial or distribute a radio spot. By implementing a number of different online and offline strategic messaging tactics, a good PR agency will be able to provide their clients with an extensive understanding of how their company can reach out to the target demographic on a variety of different levels.