At 514 Media, we value transparency. It’s not enough for us to simply share what we do with prospective clients – it’s important for them to understand what it’s like to hire us! So what exactly happens after they say yes?
That’s what this blog is all about. Nothing should be left unclear, and there shouldn’t be any late-stage surprises. Crystal clear communication is important in the onboarding process, and we’ll aim to answer questions that the client may not even realise they have.
First, let’s talk about lead times and availability. As a PR agency, we can provide all kinds of content from written press releases, to translating text, to arranging meetings with a journalist. Each kind of task can require various lengths of time, but that’s why we strive to provide constant, quick communication so that our clients know exactly how tasks are progressing. We organise routine emails and the occasional scheduled meeting (usually a call online).
This brings us to the question of availability. We make our office hours clear and strive to respond to all messages in that timeframe, even with just an acknowledgement. And when unusual circumstances may cause our hours to change (such as the Easter or Christmas holidays), we make sure to share the dates our office hours will be affected (including an ‘out of office’ message, which will include details on how to contact us for anything urgent). We believe that clients are paying for our predictability, and we take that seriously.
Pricing, just like delivery times when it comes to our content, may vary from task to task. But every potential client of ours will receive clear price lists of what they will be charged, and before every task, we will greenlight the cost of what we will do (and how long it will take us with our rates). The explanation for why and how this pricing is decided will be communicated early on, and with any later changes to the contract, we can adjust as necessary. After all, the real value for the client is to understand what exactly they’re paying for – and why it’s worth it!
But let’s take a step back. What is it like to reach out to us in the first place?
We won’t keep a prospective client waiting. After reaching out or expressing interest, we’ll arrange a call and make plans to stay in touch so that the ball can get rolling. Commitment is one thing, but good etiquette is another, and we’ll strive to make the introductory process as clear as possible.
Overall, onboarding with 514 Media is an efficient and simple process. We’ll frequently be in touch to ensure that we can get the work started as quickly as possible and answer any questions the client may have. This includes sharing information like contracts, minimum terms, and data handling; it’ll all be laid out clearly so that clients know exactly what they’re signing up for.
We hope that this insight into our company practice is helpful. If you believe that we may be the right fit for your PR aspirations, please do get in touch with us by email via [email protected] or by contacting our company Director Benoit directly at [email protected].