Take the PR Quiz

Use this quiz to evaluate whether your current public relations firm is adequately meeting your needs. In cases where you do not know the answer, Spotlight recommends you make it a point to find out. A scoring key is provided at the conclusion of the test.
1. Does the agency ask you for ideas more often than it provides you with ideas?
  Yes No
2. Do you catch careless typos in agency-drafted news releases?
  Yes No
3. Do you catch factual inaccuracies in agency-drafted news releases?
  Yes No
4. Do agency-drafted news releases seem to miss the point – often burying important information?
  Yes No
5. Does the agency follow up every news release with phone calls to the media, asking "Did you get my release?"
  Yes No
6. Do agency representatives get the names or titles of your company's senior executives wrong in correspondence and/or conversation?
  Yes No
7. Do the agency representatives who pitch your company to media on the phone have a poor understanding of what your company does?
  Yes No
8. Has your primary agency contact person changed more than once in the past 12 months?
  Yes No
9. Does your primary contact person seem inexperienced or immature?
  Yes No
10. When you have a problem or concern, must your primary contact always talk with a supervisor before responding to you?
  Yes No
11. Does the agency send a senior executive to meet with you every month or two to smooth over complaints about the firm’s performance?
  Yes No
12. Does the agency miss deadlines or seem to always be scrambling at the last minute to meet them?
  Yes No
13. Has a journalist ever complained to you about your PR agency?
  Yes No
14. Does it seem like the agency’s heart isn’t really in it – that it’s simply working to get a fee?
  Yes No

How Is Your Agency Doing? 

Your Score Is:      (one point for each “no” answer)
 

11-14: Congrats! You are in a healthy and happy agency relationship. Tackle those issues that you responded “yes” to, and you will be close to perfection. But remember, Spotlight is always here if you need us. Just pick up the phone, and call us

7-10: Hmmm…things look like they may be headed in the wrong direction. You can either work hand in hand to change directions, or walk away all together. It’s up to you. But, don’t wait too long. Clearly address your agency with your problems, and if things don’t change within a couple of months, seriously consider other options. Or just call us.

0-6: You want to get out. More importantly, you need to. This agency is a waste of your money, and more importantly, your time. Say goodbye to them--and call us.
 

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