Recently I wrote an article on the benefits of public relations and why companies should consider PR to complement their marketing plan. While writing it I realized how fortunate we are to have one the largest PR firms right here in Kansas City, but truth is not all companies can afford the larger, more dominant firms.Does this mean that they should forgo finding a PR firm that can assist them in gaining media attention? Absolutely not. There are many public relations firms in our area, but how can you decide which one is right for you?Here are a few questions that you can ask to ensure that you find the right PR agency for you:

• Does the PR firm have expertise in your company’s field and understand your particular needs?
• Do you want greater awareness of your product nationally or in a targeted market?
• Do you want to pay your PR firm a flat fee, a retainer fee, a minimum monthly fee, or a project fee?
• What is your company’s objective?
• How important is it to have regular access to the agency head and who is the backup?
• Which of the media do you need your agency to handle?
• How long will it take them to learn about your company and the products or services that you offer?
• What reporting/measurement methods are used?
• Is it important that you have easy access to your PR firm’s offices?
• How important is interactive and social media PR to you and is the agency experienced in these medians

Need more assistance in deciding if public relations is right for you? Contact me I’ll be happy to help. Yes I have a team that does PR too.