How we Work

Team Structures

Network PR is large enough to draw on its staff resources to create a team structure for all clients, whilst still affording the personal contact benefits of a boutique size.

This team structure brings a number of significant benefits to our clients including:

• No one individual being the holder of all client knowledge
• Access to senior management at all times
• Greater depth of experiences and relevancies
• Cost savings by apportioning varying hourly rates of all team members

Processes and Procedures

Any communication strategy requires disciplined processes and procedures to maintain strategic direction and focus.

At Network PR, such processes and procedures include:

• Preparation of annual or project plans with a clear definition of objectives, strategy, priority audiences and budget.
• A team structure for every client, with clearly defined roles and responsibilities for each member, providing optimum lines of communication.
• Procedures which involve regular reviewing, monitoring and reporting (both internally and with the client).
• An integrated business system which allows us to track the progress of jobs against budgets, accurately capturing all time and disbursement charges on behalf of clients.

Measurement and Reporting

Forget the old adage that Public Relations can’t be measured. It can. And it should!

In this area we provide a menu of measurement options to suit most tastes including:

• Media outputs by a range of pre-determined criteria.
• Media coverage by circulation, impressions or favourability.
• Media voice - client v competitors.
• Outcomes - how and to what degree audiences have been influenced. 
• Impact - changes in opinion, attitude and behaviour, and brand recall (through third party research).

Business Tools

To assist in workflow efficiency and accountability, Network PR has invested in a number of business software packages developed specifically for the Public Relations industry.

These include AAP MediaAtlas, which ensures we have the most up-to-date information in the industry; and the JobBag management system which, by logging billable hours in ‘real time’, makes budgeting more transparent for our clients and enables accurate invoicing on accounts.

Costs and Budgets

All PR programs and projects are based on hourly rates. 

However, Network PR bills differently to most other PR agencies.  We use a ‘value’ billing system rather than the traditional ‘cost’ approach used by most PR agencies.

The ‘cost’ approach was devised by accountants.  It simply charges an hourly rate based on the seniority and/or position of each staff member. It is the same system used by lawyers and accountants.

This method means that the more senior the person working on the client’s business, the higher the cost.  It’s fine in principle, but it’s one of the causes of complaints from clients that they buy a PR agency based on the pitch of the key people, but end up being serviced by juniors.

Network PR does it differently.  We charge by the type of work undertaken - regardless of who does the work. It means that clients are buying the agency and access to all its people - not being told that the person with the skill they need is too expensive for their business.

Budgets are split into three categories: strategy/planning and account management; campaign/programme implementation; and support/administration.

At Network PR if an Account Director with 10 years experience is the best person to write a media release  then the client gets the benefit of that experience and skill - for the same cost that a competitive agency might charge for a junior person. 

We call it ‘value billing’.  We do so because it recognises the value of the task to the client - and bills accordingly - regardless of who the agency uses to fulfil the task.

It recognises that the client is buying the agency and should expect, within available budgets, the best skills and experience the agency can offer.

It is this client-focused approach that makes Network PR different. It allows us to achieve superior work for our clients.  And it encourages the agency to use the best people for the task.

We are also flexible in how we work with our clients. We offer a number of budgeting options.

These include:

• Retainer System
• Project Basis
• Fee Plus Projects

Listed below are typical assignment categories for work undertaken by Network PR:

Strategy & Management:

• strategy, planning and management
• messaging
• counselling
• reporting

Implementation:

• program and project implementation
• media relations outreach
• materials production
• functions and events

Support/Organisation:

• support (IT)
• administrative support
• media monitoring

Indicative Costs

If you would like to see some indicative costs, please complete the form below.

Network PR is large enough to draw on its staff resources to create a team structure for all clients, whilst still affording the personal contact benefits of a boutique size.