There is no doubt that finding the best tech Public Relations firm can be a hectic process. With so many choices available, it is easy to feel overwhelmed and choose an inferior agency.
According to Statista, many companies in the US said they have a PR agency as a part of their marketing strategy. So, if you spend some time searching online for reliable tech public relations companies for your firm, you will find several options with excellent reputations in this field.
Also, you will find a lot of information available about each PR firm, including reviews from past and current clients and expert opinions from those who have worked with them in the past.
Below is an outline of some of the top things to look out for in the process of selecting a tech PR company.
Make a List of Your Needs
Before looking for the best tech PR firm for your software company, ensure you have first worked out your specific needs. For example, you may need help with media and analyst relations or building brand awareness through social media channels like Twitter and Facebook. Similarly, you may need some help establishing an internet presence, or maybe you want to get your name out there.
Get Online and Start Researching
Now that you know your needs get online and start researching the various companies included on your list. However, before proceeding with this stage of the process, it is essential to remember that there are several things you should avoid when searching for the right tech PR company for your software firm.
Go through several sources, including social media channels like Twitter and Facebook, blogs, and review websites to find the best options out there.
These are popular sites where people discuss PR issues and other related things. So using this approach will give you access to vital information.
Talk with Prospective Agencies
Once you have looked online at the various available companies, you should talk with as many of them as possible. The process of interviewing PR experts will take some time, but it is well worth the effort.
After all, before hiring an agency like a tech PR company for your software company, you want to make sure they fit your business best. You may want to ask each prospective agency for references and testimonials from previous clients to get things moving.
If their list of references is short or they cannot provide such information, this could signify that the company in question is not up to scratch or that they do not have much experience working with companies like yours.
Another good strategy is to ask each agency for their take on the key issues you are facing. This is where it will become clear if one or more of them are better than the rest, so keep this tactic in mind as you proceed with your research.
Ask Questions and Check Their Credentials
Asking pertinent questions is hugely important, especially when dealing with a tech PR service provider. For example, you want to know if their team has experience working on projects like yours and if they can deliver what you need.
In such cases, if the agency cannot provide detailed and clear answers about their past achievements and current commitments, then it might be better to look for another PR firm. As far as their credentials are concerned, you want to know that the company has a good working relationship with journalists in your sector.
You also need to check that they are part of industry groups like the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA). These affiliations are essential because they can give you an idea of their standing in the industry.
Check Out the Company’s Results
By checking out their results, it should be easy to determine if they are worth their fees or not. For instance, how many times have they featured in third-party articles about your sector? How often do they appear on media outlets like TechCrunch or The Next Web?
You should also check their social media presence and blog. You can do this by looking at the number of Twitter followers, how many Facebook likes they attract, and what kind of comments their blog posts usually generate.
Wrapping Up
The cost of hiring the experts and their working style are other critical aspects. Check if the agency has experience handling serious PR crises. You may also speak to the PR experts to get an idea of the best strategies and methods they can use.