The cost of PR.

One of the biggest questions I am asked about, when it comes to public relations, are rates. Well, rates differ from client to client.  Based upon the scope of work, crisis communication risk, existing crisis communication or branding concerns / challenges, and the type of PR focus needed,  rates can start at $60 per hour and build to $1,100 hourly.

Retainers are usually billed for high profile clients, while advance month-to-month terms are becoming more popular within the business.  However, I don’t believe a client should have a focus based on rates.  I know expensive PR people who aren’t worth a dime and cheap PR firms who do more than they are paid to do. Your brand is about you, so the focus has to be who matches your vision with the budget issue becoming a secondary concern.

I will state that no budget is a big problem. You do need a full-time publicist. First, on image alone it says something about you when you have an outside pr team representing you. Second, you don’t know what you are doing if you don’t have a pr background and this can hinder you, costing you more in the long run.  Finally, you need to put yourself out there and this costs money. Regardless if you launch an ad campaign or a pr campaign (do the research, ad campaigns are better) – you will have to invest in yourself and your brand.  If you don’t, who will?

Until tomorrow,

Coco the CEO