PR agencies in Amsterdam: how to make the right choice

Looking for a PR agency in Amsterdam? Maybe we are a match!

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Nina-Li Wieberdink
November 1, 2022

Plenty of choices. But how do you like it? pr agency in Amsterdam that's a perfect fit for your organization? In this blog, I'll give you 7 tips so you can find the right PR agency for your organization.

Many PR agencies in Amsterdam have their own expertise

Looking for a PR agency in Amsterdam? Maybe we are a match! Let's connect.

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PR agencies in Amsterdam: what do they do?

What PR agencies in Amsterdam do? Well, Amsterdam is the New York of the Low Countries. The number of entrepreneurs, companies, celebrities and influencers here is greater than anywhere else in the Netherlands. And where these people are, news can be found. News that needs to be distributed. If you're based in the busy city as a PR agency, your customer can easily reach you, because they (often) already live and/or work here anyway! PR agencies in Amsterdam are therefore not only based here because of the image that the city brings them, but precisely with the idea: where there is demand, there is supply.

but what do PR agencies do?

That differs. It depends on the agency's expertise. We'll talk about that later in this blog. But what PR agencies generally do is similar: they make sure you end up in the media in the right way. This can be done in many different ways, including:

  • Write press releases
  • Maintain and create media relationships for your organization
  • Provide media training
  • Carrying out crisis management
  • Plan events
  • PR campaigns render

Here are the 7 tips to help you find your PR agency in Amsterdam.

1. what do you want out of it?

It's important to have your goals clear. Not only for yourself, but also for a PR agency. What do you want out of the collaboration? If you have a company takeover want to make it known, you mainly want to avoid confusion. Your goal here is not to generate new customers, but to retain existing ones.

To determine the implementation of your cooperation, it is therefore useful to beforehand SMART goals to set up. These are goals that are Specific, Measurable, Acceptable, Realistic, and Time-Bound. Set these up before you approach a PR agency. This way, you can talk about achieving these goals and possibly adjust them.

formulate smart goals

In addition to knowing what you want to achieve, transparency is very important. By playing an open mind with the PR agency, they can help you better. This way, both parties will not be faced with any surprises afterwards.

2. budget

Set a budget in advance that you can work with when negotiating. What percent of your budget can you spend on PR? Because there are many PR agencies in Amsterdam, you can request multiple quotes. This way, you know what realistic prices are for your project. Make sure the agency is good value for money. Weigh the price based on the hours they contribute and what their expertise adds.

Align your SMART goals with your budget. Be realistic: can the goals be achieved with the released budget? Also, always take unforeseen costs into account.

You can choose to enter into a long-term partnership with a PR agency, but you can also have one-off assignments carried out. There is a chance that long-term cooperation is cheaper, provided there are enough PR opportunities. Another reason to carefully map out your budget in advance.

3. start-up or big name

We often immediately think of big names and established companies when we need something. Logically, these have the most online visibility and customer recommendations. But in most cases, you will pay extra for the name.

If you choose the most established PR agency in Amsterdam, there are several advantages to this. They have a lot of experience, more brand awareness than a start-up, and perhaps more resources.

Opting for a start-up, on the other hand, also has several advantages. They may have less experience than the established PR agency in Amsterdam, but they have a lot of fresh energy to work for you anyway. After all, there is often more at stake for start-ups. They are new to the scene and are looking for opportunities. What is the right choice for your organization ultimately depends on your goals and budget.

4. expertise

Many PR agencies in Amsterdam have their own expertise. For example, they specialize in a specific industry and/or sector and offer matching services. Their expertise often also lies in a particular way of working. At nxt agency, for example, we focus on the B2B sector. Our expertise is thought leadership. We help your organization give your expertise the attention it deserves. We do this through PR and content marketing.

If you are looking for your PR agency in Amsterdam, do good research into the people behind the organization. What have they done so far? Who are their customers? Find reviews and get customer references. Talk to a variety of employees of the organization if that's possible. Also see how their online visibility is. What channels are they on and what kind of content do they share?

Other questions you can investigate include:

  • Do their services match your SMART goals?
  • How do you expect the PR agency to support you?
  • In which media can the PR agencies receive successful attention?

5. prepare your questions

If all goes well, you now know what your organization wants. You have researched the PR agencies in Amsterdam and know which agency suits your organization. Now you can start approaching them. Before you start the conversation, prepare carefully what you want to know. Consider the points we've just covered: price, testimonials, existing customers, and whether they can achieve your SMART goals.

6. are they listening?

PR agencies are often very good at communicating. They know how to convince you, after all, that's part of their job. And this isn't bad. After all, when you work with a PR agency, you want them to be able to convince the media. But equally important is that they are good. If they praise themselves often, it can be a bad sign. This also applies if they don't ask questions and let you speak alone. It's really about finding a healthy balance, the conversation should be an engaged discussion.

7. how is the company culture?

When you talk to the agencies, you want there to be a click. Not just between you and the agency, but also with the employees they'll be working with. Get to know the PR agency's employees and find out if they get along well with your team. At least let your marketing and communication staff get to know them.

The PR agency must represent the values that you find important. They have to be professional and passionate. How do they present themselves on social media channels? This often says a lot about the company culture.

You see that more and more organizations are giving a glimpse behind the scenes. We at nxt agency can also be found on various media channels ourselves. Have a look at our Instagram, LinkedIn and TikTok and find out if we're a good fit for you and your B2B organization.

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