FAQs

What do PR agencies do?

Public relations agencies help brands manage their communications and relationships with the public and the media. They play a crucial role in shaping public perception and helping companies communicate effectively with their audiences. Lobby PR work with brands to optimise, elevate, and amplify their image using strategic approaches to harness the media and achieve business development objectives.

What does PR mean?

PR stands for public relations. It refers to the practice of managing communications and the relationship between a brand and the public. The goal of PR is to build and maintain a positive image, enhance reputation, increase awareness, and effectively communicate key messages to target audiences. PR can involve activities such as media outreach, talent and influencer relations, event planning, and social media engagement. It’s become commonplace for agencies to describe their public relations service proposition in a long list of every activity and tactic they employ to achieve these goals on behalf of their clients. At Lobby PR we like to make things simple with the big picture in mind – we do PR.

What do PR agencies charge?

PR agency fees can vary widely based on several factors including the agency’s size, reputation, location, and the scope of services provided. Ultimately the cost will depend on the specific needs of the client and the services required to achieve the PR needs of the brand. Lobby PR are committed to finding solutions that work for brands and businesses through all stages of their development.

How do PR agencies charge?

PR agencies typically charge in several ways depending on the services provided and the needs of the client. Many agencies operate on a retainer basis where clients pay a fixed monthly fee for a defined set of services. For specific campaigns or on-time projects, agencies may charge a flat fee. Lobby PR offer comprehensives retained representation for brands furnishing them with a full complement PR suite designed to cover all PR needs. Sometimes market conditions mean brands require more flexibility in their PR activities, we offer a range of PR products to support businesses in these circumstances.

Do PR agencies work on a project basis?

Many PR agencies offer work on a project basis. This approach is common for specific campaigns, events, or initiatives that have defined goals and timelines. Project-based work typically includes campaigns launching a new product or service or event planning and management. Lobby PR are always interested to speak to brands with exciting plans and are committed to finding solutions that work for businesses at all stages of their journey.

Is London a good place to have PR?

London is considered one of the top global hubs for public relations. It is home to numerous major media outlets including newspapers, magazines and broadcast networks. London’s global significance, diverse range of industries, internationally significant events, conferences, and networking opportunities make it an excellent place for PR activities. London is home to countless publications influential not only in the UK but also globally contributing a a unique media landscape and global influence. Lobby PR represent brands internationally from our base in London giving our clients access to media connections across The EU, USA, and other key global markets.

How does PR work?

Public Relations works by managing communication between a brand and its various audiences focussed on utilising the media landscape, talent, social media, and other platforms to share key messages and values. It identifies routes to target audiences, creates clear and compelling messages that resonate while aligning with the brand’s values and goals, develops and maintains relationships with journalists and media, and monitors media coverage to evaluate effectiveness and refine strategies to improve future initiatives. It’s an ongoing process that requires adaptability and responsiveness to changing circumstances and audience needs. But like we said, at Lobby PR we like to keep things simple so let us worry about this so you don’t have to.

How long does PR take?

The timeline for PR activities can vary widely depending on several factors including the nature of the project, the goals, and the strategies involved. Campaigns can be one-off, or ongoing and evolve over months and years involving regular media outreach and engagement activities. Building relationships with journalists, stylists, and influencers can take time, especially when establishing new connections and relationships for a brand. Effective PR is often a long-term effort that builds over time. At Lobby PR we believe effective PR is about ensuring a brand is winning all of the opportunities available to them within the media, evaluating this, and increasing the size of this opportunity over the season ahead.

How does PR help a business?

PR plays a crucial role in helping a business succeed in several ways including enhancing brand image, increasing visibility, engaging audiences, improving reputation, positioning leaders and founders as industry experts, building relationships, and complementing marketing efforts by generating buzz around key moments to enhance their overall effectiveness. It is vital in shaping how a business is perceived, helping to nurture market opportunity, driving growth and success. If you have defined PR goals in mind let’s arrange a time to discuss how Lobby PR to help you achieve these. We also love making exciting plans together from scratch with brands interested in utilising PR for business development but who need advice on what opportunities are available and how to approach this strategically.

How does PR differ from advertising?

PR and advertising serve different purposes and use distinct methods. PR focuses on building and maintaining a positive image and relationship between a brand and its audience relying on earned media coverage and placement wins rather than paid placements, creating goodwill, trust, and developing potential customers. Advertising primarily seeks to promote a product or service to potential customers to drive sales aiming to persuade them to take action using paid placements in print and online. While PR and advertising are complementary, they have unique roles in a marketing strategy. Successful brands often integrate both to achieve their goals.

Do PR agencies manage social media?

If a PR agency has a strong track record in social media management and a team experience in creating engaging content and strategies it can be beneficial for brands to ask their PR agencies to manage their social media. Many PR agencies have diversified and offer social media management and content creation services to their clients. At Lobby PR we are PR experts and always want to collaborate with other experts in their field. We have a network of social media experts who we cooperate with for brands wanting to integrate their social media management and PR activities.

Do PR agencies produce events and fashion shows?

PR agencies often produce events and fashion shows as part of their services. They help plan, organize, and execute these events, this can include everything from logistics and venue selection to marketing, guest management, and media relations. Lobby PR have a proven track record of handling fashion shows across all major international fashion weeks. We work with trusted production partners able to provide solutions for brands at all levels of budget allowing them to show successfully.

Can I do my own PR or do I need an agency?

PR agencies bring expertise, industry connections, and resources that might be challenging to access on your own. If you have a clear strategy, connections, and understand your audience then it’s possible to handle your own PR however it will be limited by the size and quality of your relationships and the number of organic enquiries and opportunities that arise. PR agencies have full teams engaged full time with experience and connections built over years of working on diverse campaigns for multiple clients. A full time in-house PR team can be expensive and may not give you access to the level of experience and breadth of scope that a PR agency can offer. It’s a little like asking if you can do your own accountancy – sure you can, but are you the best person to do it, is there someone who can do it better, can you take the time away from other areas of the business to do it yourself, and is it even something you want to do!?

Who does Lobby PR represent?

Lobby PR does the PR for Abra, Ashley Williams, BOY London, Cultnaked, Lucila Safdie, Luna del Pinal, Nué Studio, Roberta Einer, TG Botanical, Copenhagen International Fashion Fair (CIFF) and more. Past clients include Dilara Findikoglu, Xander Zhou, HEAT, Luar, Iceberg, Fruity Booty, Didu, Places+Faces, Axel Arigato, 3.Paradis, Noki, Zero10, Palmer Harding, Bernhard Wilhelm, Mimi Wade, Denzilpatrick, Fashion East, Edward Crutchley, Bethany Williams and more. Lobby PR has worked on projects with brands including Nensi Dojaka, A Cold Wall, Selfridges, Gymshark, Adidas, The British Council, Google, MAINS, Judith Leiber, Loci, Charles & Keith, The Unseen, Sinead Gorey and more.

Do PR agencies work internationally?

Many PR agencies operate internationally and have the capability to manage global campaigns. This can be especially useful for brands either looking to expand their reach, or those wanting to work with a single PR agency instead of a network of smaller agencies in each market. Lobby PR represent most of our clients internationally servicing their PR needs across all key international markets. In an increasingly globalised world the media and social media landscape is becoming ever more consolidated with the big media wins having impact across multiple territories and markets.

Do PR agencies work with influencers?

PR agencies frequently work with influencers as part of their strategies to promote brands and products. Collaborating with influencers allows brands to tap into their established audiences and create authentic content that resonates with potential customers. At Lobby PR we work strategically with a network of over 3,000 influencers on behalf of brands depending on the needs of their business.

When should I get PR?

You might consider hiring a PR agency when your brand is expanding and you need to reach a larger audience, you want to build relationships with journalists and media outlets but lack the connections, you or your team are too busy to effectively manage PR efforts on your own, you’re moving into a new market or category, or you want a polished professional approach to your brand’s public image. You should consider when you need to start seeing outcomes within the media as PR isn’t an overnight process and it may takes months or work to unlock opportunities aligned with your media goals. At Lobby PR we encourage brands to work with us for at least three months ahead of the requirement for media outcomes in order to give them the best opportunity to win impactful and worthwhile results.

Do PR agencies get collaborations?

PR agencies often facilitate collaborations between brands and businesses. They can help identify potential partners that align with your brand values, negotiate terms, and manage the overall collaboration process. Collaborators are commonly looking for PR and marketing return from co-branded activity and a PR agency to advise on how to integrate this requirement into the overall collaboration strategy, as well as executing this on behalf of a brand. Lobby PR has secured and managed collaborations with partners including Vans, Coca Cola, RedBull, Google, Selfridges, Amazon, Warners Bros, Disney and countless others.

Do PR agencies get sponsorships?

Some PR agencies can secure sponsorships for their clients as part of their services. They often help brands find suitable opportunities that align with their marketing goals including fashion shows and other events. In the current climate sponsorships are not as easily available as they have been in the past, so at The Lobby we work pro-actively to create partnership packages on behalf of our clients leveraging their footprint in the media, community, and audience and built out lists of deliverables to potential sponsors which deliver outcomes across key objectives in multiple aspects of their marketing activity.

Can a PR agency guarantee press?

No PR agency can guarantee press coverage, as media interest can be unpredictable and depends on various factors such as the newsworthiness of the story, timing, and the media landscape. However a good PR agency can improve the chances of getting coverage by crafting compelling narratives, utilising proven relationships with journalists, and targeting the right outlets. As with any business move, some things land, and other are less successful. Even though PR agencies cannot guarantee press coverage, they should, at a minimum, be able to guarantee to clients that every possible opportunity has been fully explored in the best way possible. At Lobby PR we have developed a service offering which ensures we are able to guarantee this to our clients and have a proven record for delivering the full spectrum of available opportunities within the media where they exist at that time.

Do PR agencies write press releases?

PR agencies often write press releases as part of their services, but the degree of creative input and insight they integrate into this varies. There are other agencies who do not undertake this responsibility and rely on their clients to provide them with press releases which they then syndicate across their media network with little alteration. At Lobby PR we believe that as experts in our field, it is our responsibility to the companies we work with to translate their values and messages to industry in the most effective way possible. We work closely with our clients to optimise the content of press releases, sometimes dramatically altering the way messages and information is shared, to give campaigns the best chance for success.

Do PR agencies handle sales?

PR agencies do not handle sales, their primary focus is on managing a brand’s public image and media relations. However, effective PR can indirectly support sales efforts by increasing brand awareness, building credibility, and generating leads through possible media coverage and strategic messaging. At Lobby PR we strongly believe that retailer’s purchasing decision are highly brand sensitive and that where a brand’s presence and positioning within the market is strong, relevant wholesale opportunities become available. We also have an extensive network of contacts at retail and support our clients by utilising this network to keep them informed of developments within the brand, make introductions, and offer communications packages to retail targeted at generating sales leads.