Jo Kelly & Abi Chard T: 0113 2589880 E: enquiries@campuspr.co.uk Working with agencies Jo Kelly & Abi Chard T: 0113 2589880 E: enquiries@campuspr.co.uk

What are you buying? Knowledge Skills But most of all …. Time

Getting a quote Audience: who is this for? Outcome: what do you want to happen as a result? Source: where is the information coming from? Size: how many words/ pages? Process: who needs to be involved? Deadline: when is it needed?

Other tips … If you’re not sure what an agency might need – check with them first Better to provide more detail than too little Think what you’d need to know in advance to do the job – it will be just the same for us.

Cost isn’t everything Benjamin Franklin “The bitterness of poor quality remains long after the sweetness of low price is forgotten.” Benjamin Franklin

Factors other than cost Can the agency work independently? Do they have prior knowledge of the subject / people? Have they done similar work before? What’s their availability? Do you know / like / trust them?

Time is money …

Working well together Have clear roles/ responsibilities Who does the agency answer to? How/ when do you communicate? Have a clear sign-off process What does success look like? ABI You’ve agreed a cost for the job and the brief is clear – what happens next? How to ensure the relationship works well. Clear roles and responsibilities. It’s rare we can do a job without the client providing certain bits of information or doing certain things – so ensure everyone is clear on what they’ve got to do (and that they do it!) Clear reporting structure – an agency needs to be clear who the client is. There can be politics – and any agency that works with universities will understand how that works – but it’s unfair to leave an agency pulled between two competing powers. They need to know who has the final say. Regular communication is important. For long term retained contracts, we might have six-weekly meetings, or monthly phone calls. For shorter jobs, we might copy the client into key emails or just keep them regularly updated by email each day. Sign off process: PLEASE avoid sign-off by committee at all costs! Desired outcome is part of the brief, but you need to both have the same view of what success should look like. Is it a beautiful brochure delivered on a certain day, a national media story or a clear and insightful report from a communications audit. Because you need to know when the job is completed.

More tips Allow enough time for the job! Provide examples of what you like Make interview introductions Be up front about potential challenges… Communication is key!

Admin (yawn) Signing contracts Raising PO numbers Invoice process

Finally Send links or copies of publications Give feedback Consider providing testimonial

Over to you Any questions?