Brayton: PR agencies must pitch with their actual account team
Shannon Brayton · a16z Podcast | How to Manage a PR Agency · Jan 2, 2019 · at 22:49
Shannon Brayton (former PR executive at eBay and LinkedIn) discusses best practices for Request for Proposal (RFP) pitches when tech companies select PR agencies.
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“Do not bring in the shiny object from DC or the shiny object from New York if that is not your account team. Bring the people who are going to work on the account.”
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“Don't expect to hire an agency and get results immediately, just like all of a sudden. You actually need to invest in the relationship both ways. The closer I've brought an agency, the better the results. The more I keep them at an arm's length, the results ju…”
Brayton: External PR agencies deliver harsh executive feedback better than employees
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Brayton: Early startups should leverage PR agencies to build their narrative
“I think an agency to come in at the very beginning and talk about the company's narrative and what are your value props, what are your market fit, and who are the people running this company? Super, super valuable to have an agency help you do that. Without ha…”