Why hire a PR firm? A better query is why wouldn’t you?

Facts about ROI and the benefit of hiring outside PR help

Many companies are either unaware of or unappreciative of the value of a good PR firm. Businesses in every industry – large and small – can benefit from outside PR assistance.

PR work isn’t just something that you pull down from the shelf and dust off only during a crisis or the occasional promotional campaign. To realize the true benefits of PR, you may find it more beneficial to hire a PR firm instead of trying to go it alone with just your in-house operation or, worse, going without.

Time: It takes time to develop and execute an effective PR campaign. Weigh the value of the time you will spend on PR against what you could accomplish in the same time if you focused your efforts on your own expertise: your business.

Special projects: When you do have something big to announce, a product launch or a one-of-a-kind event, hiring a PR firm to help can prove invaluable. For these kinds of campaigns, executing everything precisely is crucial. A PR firm can help you maximize efforts in areas such as media relations, social media and event planning more than you could do on your own. In addition to creating and implementing all the necessary components of a campaign, PR professionals can also help you capitalize on the attention you earn and extend your momentum.

Outside-the-box viewpoint: Working with your in-house staff, it’s easy to grow complacent with the status quo and get stuck when looking for new ideas. Hiring a PR firm can help to shake things up with creative initiatives and a fresh perspective. As outsiders, the pros can often see angles you might have missed or provide an objective opinion on the newsworthiness of your initiatives.

You may also get more honesty from people who aren’t afraid to speak freely. Regular employees sometimes fear workplace backlash when expressing opinions, no matter how open your office culture may appear to be.

Media relations: You’re most likely already aware that it can be difficult to get media attention. This task alone can monopolize your in-house staff’s time, leaving precious little time for anything else. Hiring a PR firm can significantly supplement your efforts in achieving positive news coverage. PR firms engage with media on a regular basis, building relationships and developing outreach strategies, which means that they already have a foot in the door and can help to open it for your company.

Competition: In short, it’s tough out there. Your competitors use every technique to get ahead of you and steal your customers, so it’s crucial to use every tool at your disposal, including hiring an outside PR firm. It can help you evaluate trends and uncover what really differentiates you from your competition, which is how you find your niche and gain market share. This way, you can better direct your focus to a more targeted audience.

Axia Public Relations generates earned media coverage for our clients full-time. We know the ins and outs of pitching stories, writing and distributing news releases, scheduling speaking engagements and developing contact lists and relationships with the media. Download our e-book Maximizing Your Public Relations Investment or contact us today to learn more about the return on investment in hiring a PR agency.

Lisa Goldsberry is a writer for Axia Public Relations with more than 15 years of public relations experience. She specializes in business, higher education and technology PR. Connect with Axia Public Relations on Twitter @axiapr.