Top Crisis Communications Firms
For related services, check out our global list of corporate communications firms or public relations companies.
-
Featured
What are Featured Providers?
$5,000+$150 - $199 / hr10 - 49Scottsdale, AZServices provided
Focus Areas
See all 26 projects10 to 1 Public Relations is a comprehensive communications agency specializing in PR, media relations, and corporate communications. The firm consistently receives positive feedback, with over 90% of reviewers praising their timely delivery, effective media coverage, and brand reputation enhancement. Clients commend their thoroughness, strategic crisis management, and ability to secure significant media exposure. Their customer service and commitment to client goals are frequently highlighted as key strengths.
$1,000+$100 - $149 / hr50 - 249Sarasota, FLServices provided
Focus Areas
See all 51 projectsNet Reputation is an online reputation management firm that specializes in maintaining and improving brand reputation through strategic public communications and media relations. The company has received overwhelmingly positive feedback, with 100% of reviewers highlighting their professionalism, responsiveness, and effectiveness in suppressing negative content and enhancing online presence. Clients commend their personalized approach and ability to deliver consistent, timely results.
$5,000+$200 - $300 / hr2 - 9Sewickley, PAServices provided
Focus Areas
See all 22 projectsAtlas Marketing is a Public Relations firm specializing in crisis management and corporate communications. With overwhelmingly positive feedback, 100% of reviewers commend their responsiveness and strategic approach, while 75% highlight their impressive project management and communication skills. Clients consistently praise Chris and his team's ability to deliver comprehensive crisis communications plans and media relations strategies, enhancing brand reputation and ensuring effective public affairs management.
-
UndisclosedUndisclosed10 - 49București, Romania
Services provided
Focus Areas
2activePR, a public relations firm, is based in București, Romania. They specialize in Public Relations.
Read more -
UndisclosedUndisclosed10 - 49București, Romania
Services provided
Focus Areas
Rogalski Damaschin Public Relations, a public relations firm, was established in 2007. They offers Public Relations.
Read more -
Featured
What are Featured Providers?
$1,000+$150 - $199 / hr10 - 49San Francisco, CAServices provided
Focus Areas
See all 8 projectsReputation Defense Network is a specialized Public Relations firm focusing on brand reputation management and suppression of negative content across various industries. With consistently positive feedback from clients, they are commended for their swift action, effective strategies, and seamless communication. Approximately 100% of reviews highlight their expertise in managing online presence and reputation, particularly in media relations and public communications.
$10,000+$150 - $199 / hr10 - 49Tel Aviv-Yafo, IsraelServices provided
Focus Areas
See all 17 projectsPercepto is a Public Relations and Communications firm specializing in reputation management and online presence enhancement. Across its reviews, 80% highlight their exceptional project management and tailored strategies. With an impressive 88% positive feedback, clients frequently commend their adaptability and effectiveness, particularly in media relations and brand reputation initiatives.
-
UndisclosedUndisclosed10 - 49București, Romania
Services provided
Focus Areas
Media Kompass is a public relations agency founded in 2005. Their services include Public Relations.
Read more -
UndisclosedUndisclosed10 - 49Recife – PE, Brazil
Services provided
Focus Areas
Latina PR is a Recife – PE, Brazil-based public relations company. The team specializes in Public Relations.
Read more -
UndisclosedUndisclosed10 - 49Oviedo, FL
Services provided
Focus Areas
TJM Communications is a small PR firm located in Oviedo, Florida. The team provides Public Relations.
Read more -
UndisclosedUndisclosed10 - 49Ciudad de México, Mexico
Services provided
Focus Areas
Insight Comunicación is a Ciudad de México, Mexico-based public relations agency. They focus on Public Relations and were launched in 2013.
Read more -
UndisclosedUndisclosed10 - 49Tel Aviv-Yafo, Israel
Services provided
Focus Areas
Fleisher Communications is a small Tel Aviv-Yafo, Israel-based PR company. The team specializes in Public Relations.
Read more -
UndisclosedUndisclosed10 - 49New York, NY
Services provided
Focus Areas
Jonesworks, a branding agency, is in New York, New York and Beverly Hills, California. Established in 2011, the team provides Branding and Digital Strategy.
Read more -
UndisclosedUndisclosed10 - 49Springfield, MO
Services provided
Focus Areas
Gold Mountain Communications is a Springfield, Missouri-based PR firm. They specialize in Public Relations and Market Research.
Read more -
UndisclosedUndisclosed10 - 49Helsinki, Finland
Services provided
Focus Areas
Kaiku, an Advertising company, was launched in 2013. The small team offers Advertising and Branding.
Read more -
UndisclosedUndisclosed10 - 49
Services provided
Focus Areas
Established in 2018, The KA Consulting Group is a small Executive Search company in Milan, Italy. Their team provides Executive Search and Public Relations.
Read more -
UndisclosedUndisclosed10 - 49Carlsbad, CA
Services provided
Focus Areas
Established in 2015, JPW Communications is a branding firm. The team provides Branding and Public Relations.
Read more -
UndisclosedUndisclosed10 - 49Newport Beach, CA
Services provided
Focus Areas
In Newport Beach, California, Health+Commerce is a small branding agency. The team offers Branding and Public Relations.
Read more -
UndisclosedUndisclosed10 - 49Sao Paulo, Brazil
Services provided
Focus Areas
Atômica is an Advertising company. They are headquartered in Sao Paulo, Brazil and Rio de Janeiro, Brazil and have small team. They focus on Advertising and Public Relations.
Read more -
UndisclosedUndisclosed10 - 49Central, Hong Kong
Services provided
Focus Areas
SEC Newgate Greater China is a Central, Hong Kong-based public relations company. The team offers Public Relations and Branding.
Read more -
UndisclosedUndisclosed10 - 49Prague, Czech Republic
Services provided
Focus Areas
PEPR Consulting is a public relations agency based in Prague, Czech Republic. They offer Public Relations and Social Media Marketing and were founded in 2010.
Read more -
UndisclosedUndisclosed10 - 49København, Denmark
Services provided
Focus Areas
Headquartered in København, Denmark, RelationsPeople is an Advertising company. Launched in 2000, the team specializes in Advertising and Branding.
Read more -
UndisclosedUndisclosed10 - 49Brisbane City, Australia
Services provided
Focus Areas
Escalate Consulting is a small Brisbane City, Australia-based Business Continuity Management company. Their services include Business Continuity Management and Public Relations.
Read more -
UndisclosedUndisclosed10 - 49London, England
Services provided
Focus Areas
GingerMay is a public relations agency. They were founded in 2010 and offer Public Relations and Social Media Marketing.
Read more -
UndisclosedUndisclosedFreelancerNorth Kingstown, RI
Services provided
Focus Areas
Ricci Communications is an Advertising company. The small North Kingstown, Rhode Island-based team specializes in Advertising and Content Marketing. The agency was established in 2002.
Read more -
$5,000+Undisclosed10 - 49
Services provided
Focus Areas
In Los Angeles, California and , Pivotal Metrics is a small Digital Strategy company. The team offers Digital Strategy and Business Consulting.
Read more -
UndisclosedUndisclosed10 - 49Lahore, Pakistan
Services provided
Focus Areas
MAK LEGAL is an Intellectual Property Law company. Founded in 2015, their team provides Intellectual Property Law and Branding.
Read more -
$1,000+< $25 / hr10 - 49
Services provided
Focus Areas
R.B Marketing Agency is a social media marketing firm. The team focuses on Social Media Marketing and Email Marketing and is located in Cairo, Egypt.
Read more -
$1,000+$25 - $49 / hrFreelancerCape Town, South Africa
Services provided
Focus Areas
Minnie-lee Media World is a branding agency. They are based in Cape Town, South Africa, and their services include Branding and Event Marketing.
Read more -
UndisclosedUndisclosed2 - 9Downpatrick, Northern Ireland
Services provided
Focus Areas
PR's Me is a public relations company. They are based in Downpatrick, Northern Ireland, and their services include Public Relations and Social Media Marketing.
Read more -
UndisclosedUndisclosed2 - 9Denver, CO
Services provided
Focus Areas
Webb Strategic Communications is a public relations firm. They are located in Denver, Colorado, and their services include Public Relations and Digital Strategy.
Read more -
$5,000+$100 - $149 / hr2 - 9London, England
Services provided
Focus Areas
Event Marketing company Julian Gregory PR was launched in 2023. The firm specializes in Event Marketing and Social Media Marketing.
Read more -
UndisclosedUndisclosed2 - 9Lincoln, England
Services provided
Focus Areas
RealWire Ltd, a PR agency, was launched in 2001. The team provides Public Relations and Event Management and is in Lincoln, England.
Read more -
$250,000+Undisclosed10 - 49
Services provided
Focus Areas
Marka Sponsorluk, a small Business Consulting company, is based in Ankara, Türkiye. The team offers Business Consulting and Advertising.
Read more -
$1,000+$50 - $99 / hr10 - 49Parañaque, Philippines
Services provided
Focus Areas
Founded in 2019, CULT: Marketing and Communications is a small Parañaque, Philippines-based Advertising company. Their team focuses on Advertising and Graphic Design.
Read more -
UndisclosedUndisclosed2 - 9Oklahoma City, OK
Services provided
Focus Areas
CMA Strategies is a public relations agency established in 2002. The company provides Public Relations and Market Research, and is small.
Read more -
UndisclosedUndisclosed2 - 9Providencia, Chile
Services provided
Focus Areas
In Providencia, Chile, Jankelevich & Zaninovic Comunicación Estratégica is a small PR company. Their services include Public Relations and Event Management.
Read more -
UndisclosedUndisclosed2 - 9Fullerton, CA
Services provided
Focus Areas
Ortega Strategies Group is a public relations company. The Fullerton, California-based firm was established in 2009. Their team focuses on Public Relations and Event Management.
Read more -
$1,000+$25 - $49 / hrFreelancer
Services provided
Focus Areas
Schwartz Entertainment Media Group is a PR firm based in. They specialize in Public Relations and Marketing Strategy and were founded in 2005.
Read more -
$1,000+$25 - $49 / hrFreelancer
Services provided
Focus Areas
Founded in 2018, Mahfuzul Islam is a small Dhaka, Bangladesh-based SEO company. Their services include Search Engine Optimization and Social Media Marketing.
Read more -
$1,000+$50 - $99 / hrFreelancer
Services provided
Focus Areas
Make it Matter Media Inc. Is a PR company. The Kingston, Canada-based agency was founded in 2013. Their team specializes in Public Relations and Social Media Marketing.
Read more -
UndisclosedUndisclosed250 - 999Washington, DC
Services provided
Focus Areas
Revolution Messaging is a midsize Advertising company established in 2009. Their team focuses on Advertising and Graphic Design.
Read more -
$5,000+$200 - $300 / hr2 - 9Subang Jaya, Malaysia
Services provided
Focus Areas
See all 1 projectsSpine PR offers comprehensive Public Relations services, including media relations, branding, digital PR campaigns, and online reputation management. Their reviews highlight a strategic and innovative approach that enhances brand visibility and engagement. Clients commend their responsiveness, adaptability, and ability to deliver measurable results, such as increased media impressions and improved social media metrics, positioning Spine PR as a valuable partner in corporate communications and public affairs.
-
Undisclosed$50 - $99 / hr2 - 9Dublin, Ireland
Services provided
Focus Areas
Retro Digital is a small SEO agency in Dublin, Ireland. Their services include Search Engine Optimization and Digital Strategy.
Read more -
UndisclosedUndisclosed2 - 9Raleigh, NC
Services provided
Focus Areas
Launched in 2017, BluePrint Business Communications is a small Raleigh, North Carolina-based web design agency. Their services include Web Design and Social Media Marketing.
Read more -
$1,000+$25 - $49 / hr2 - 9Newcastle upon Tyne, England
Services provided
Focus Areas
Creative Agency Newcastle is an Advertising company founded in 2010. The small team focuses on Advertising and Branding.
Read more -
$5,000+$150 - $199 / hr2 - 9Greenville, SC
Services provided
Focus Areas
Established in 2023, Marsupial is a Digital Strategy company. The team provides Digital Strategy and Search Engine Optimization and is headquartered in Greenville, South Carolina.
Read more -
$1,000+$25 - $49 / hr2 - 9Ahmedabad, India
Services provided
Focus Areas
Huia India, a social media marketing agency, focus on Social Media Marketing and Search Engine Optimization. They were founded in 2020.
Read more -
$10,000+$150 - $199 / hr2 - 9Toronto, Canada
Services provided
Focus Areas
YS Media is an Advertising company. Established in 2021, the firm focuses on Advertising and Branding.
Read more -
$5,000+Undisclosed2 - 9
Services provided
Focus Areas
Founded in 2024, Altevant, a small Business Consulting company, is headquartered in Dover, Delaware. Their services include Business Consulting and Branding.
Read more -
$1,000+$25 - $49 / hr10 - 49Woodbridge, VA
Services provided
Focus Areas
Founded in 2023, Peaktive is a small PR firm headquartered in Woodbridge, Virginia. Their team offers Public Relations and Social Media Marketing.
Read more -
Undisclosed< $25 / hr10 - 49
Services provided
Focus Areas
Electsun Engineering Co. Is an Engineering company. They are located in Hyderabad, Pakistan. Their team provides Engineering and Branding.
Read more -
UndisclosedUndisclosed50 - 249Nottingham , England
Services provided
Focus Areas
Redbrick Communications is a midsize PR firm in Nottingham , England. Their services include Public Relations and Branding.
Read more -
UndisclosedUndisclosedFreelancerNewport Beach, CA
Services provided
Focus Areas
Public relations agency Kate Casey,Public Relations was launched in 2004. The firm focuses on Public Relations.
Read more -
UndisclosedUndisclosedFreelancerNorth Vancouver, Canada
Services provided
Focus Areas
Gary Ley Public Affairs is a PR company. They are headquartered in North Vancouver, Canada and have small team. Their services include Public Relations.
Read more
Share your project goals, and we’ll connect you with verified partners who fit your budget and timeline.
Get My Matches
Tell us what you need — we’ll match you with top agencies in minutes.
Get My MatchesWhy Trust Clutch
At Clutch, we believe trust is the foundation of every business relationship. Our mission is to help buyers make confident, data-backed decisions informed by real client experiences.
Every review on Clutch undergoes a rigorous, human-led verification process to make sure it’s valid. Our team of specialists confirms the identity of each reviewer, ensures the project is legitimate, and only publishes reviews that meet our strict criteria.
Verification doesn’t stop at the point of publication. Our Trust & Safety team routinely audits older reviews against our guidelines. When reviews fall short of our standards, we remove them.
We evaluate service providers using a structured methodology that combines:
- In-depth client interviews and ratings
- Comprehensive project details
- Market presence
- Portfolio examples and industry recognition
This data powers tools like the Leaders Matrix, which helps you compare agencies directly. Our research team curates rankings by weighing verified reviews most heavily, so the most trusted and experienced providers rise to the top.
Using this unique combination of verified client feedback and provider-supplied insights, Clutch distills the most important details into clear, digestible summaries so you have everything you need to make confident, informed decisions quickly.
We take fraud seriously. Providers who violate our guidelines may face lower rankings, restricted visibility, or removal from the platform altogether.
Clutch’s commitment to transparency is ongoing. We’re constantly refining our systems to protect the integrity of reviews and support you in finding the right agency.
List of the Top 15 Crisis Management Firms
-
$5,000+$100 - $149 / hr10 - 49St. Petersburg, FL
Ability to deliver
39.2/40.020/20 Reviews10/10 Clients & Experience9.2/10 Market PresenceService focus
100% Public Relations25% Crisis communications -
$10,000+$100 - $149 / hr250 - 999New York, NY
Ability to deliver
36.7/40.018.6/20 Reviews8.1/10 Clients & Experience10/10 Market PresenceService focus
60% Public Relations25% Crisis communications40% Other -
$1,000+$300+ / hr10 - 49Agios Athanasios, Cyprus
Ability to deliver
38.1/40.019.4/20 Reviews9.3/10 Clients & Experience9.3/10 Market PresenceService focus
80% Public Relations17% Crisis communications20% Other -
$10,000+$150 - $199 / hr10 - 49Lewisville, TX
Ability to deliver
38.5/40.018.6/20 Reviews10/10 Clients & Experience9.9/10 Market PresenceService focus
70% Public Relations10% Crisis communications30% Other -
$5,000+$150 - $199 / hr10 - 49Scottsdale, AZ
Ability to deliver
36.9/40.017.8/20 Reviews9.7/10 Clients & Experience9.5/10 Market PresenceService focus
80% Public Relations28% Crisis communications20% Other -
$10,000+Undisclosed10 - 49Fort Lauderdale, FL
Ability to deliver
35.9/40.016.8/20 Reviews9.2/10 Clients & Experience9.9/10 Market PresenceService focus
70% Public Relations40% Crisis communications30% Other -
$5,000+$150 - $199 / hr50 - 249Chicago, IL
Ability to deliver
37/40.019/20 Reviews8.4/10 Clients & Experience9.6/10 Market PresenceService focus
100% Public Relations20% Crisis communications -
$5,000+$100 - $149 / hr10 - 49Leeds, England
Ability to deliver
36.4/40.016.8/20 Reviews9.7/10 Clients & Experience9.9/10 Market PresenceService focus
40% Public Relations45% Crisis communications60% Other -
$1,000+$100 - $149 / hr50 - 249Sarasota, FL
Ability to deliver
37.4/40.017.6/20 Reviews10/10 Clients & Experience9.8/10 Market PresenceService focus
65% Public Relations10% Crisis communications35% Other -
$5,000+$200 - $300 / hr2 - 9Sewickley, PA
Ability to deliver
36.2/40.017.2/20 Reviews9.9/10 Clients & Experience9.1/10 Market PresenceService focus
25% Public Relations75% Crisis communications75% Other -
$10,000+$150 - $199 / hr10 - 49New York, NY
Ability to deliver
36.8/40.017.6/20 Reviews10/10 Clients & Experience9.2/10 Market PresenceService focus
60% Public Relations11% Crisis communications40% Other -
$10,000+$150 - $199 / hr10 - 49Burlington, Canada
Ability to deliver
36.5/40.017.6/20 Reviews10/10 Clients & Experience8.9/10 Market PresenceService focus
30% Public Relations43% Crisis communications70% Other -
$5,000+$100 - $149 / hr10 - 49Amsterdam, Netherlands
Ability to deliver
36.7/40.017/20 Reviews10/10 Clients & Experience9.7/10 Market PresenceService focus
100% Public Relations10% Crisis communications -
$10,000+Undisclosed10 - 49Houston, TX
Ability to deliver
36.2/40.016.6/20 Reviews9.8/10 Clients & Experience9.8/10 Market PresenceService focus
55% Public Relations19% Crisis communications45% Other -
$10,000+$200 - $300 / hr10 - 49
Ability to deliver
36.5/40.019/20 Reviews10/10 Clients & Experience7.5/10 Market PresenceService focus
45% Public Relations20% Crisis communications55% Other -
$5,000+$150 - $199 / hr2 - 9Chicago, IL
Ability to deliver
34.3/40.016.2/20 Reviews9.2/10 Clients & Experience8.9/10 Market PresenceService focus
55% Public Relations50% Crisis communications45% Other -
$25,000+$200 - $300 / hr10 - 49New York, NY
Ability to deliver
35.6/40.016.4/20 Reviews9.8/10 Clients & Experience9.5/10 Market PresenceService focus
40% Public Relations33% Crisis communications60% Other -
$25,000+$200 - $300 / hr50 - 249New York, NY
Ability to deliver
36.2/40.017.2/20 Reviews9.7/10 Clients & Experience9.3/10 Market PresenceService focus
40% Public Relations10% Crisis communications60% Other -
Undisclosed$200 - $300 / hr10 - 49Spring Hill, Australia
Ability to deliver
33.6/40.016.8/20 Reviews10/10 Clients & Experience6.8/10 Market PresenceService focus
65% Public Relations30% Crisis communications35% Other -
$5,000+$150 - $199 / hr2 - 9Las Vegas, NV
Ability to deliver
35.1/40.016.8/20 Reviews10/10 Clients & Experience8.3/10 Market PresenceService focus
50% Public Relations33% Crisis communications50% Other -
$1,000+< $25 / hr50 - 249
Ability to deliver
34/40.020/20 Reviews5.3/10 Clients & Experience8.7/10 Market PresenceService focus
90% Public Relations20% Crisis communications10% Other -
$10,000+$150 - $199 / hr10 - 49Boston, MA
Ability to deliver
33.1/40.016.6/20 Reviews8.8/10 Clients & Experience7.7/10 Market PresenceService focus
100% Public Relations33% Crisis communications -
$10,000+Undisclosed10 - 49Denver, CO
Ability to deliver
34.4/40.016.2/20 Reviews9.2/10 Clients & Experience9.1/10 Market PresenceService focus
55% Public Relations20% Crisis communications45% Other -
$50,000+$100 - $149 / hr50 - 249Boston, MA
Ability to deliver
35.4/40.015.6/20 Reviews10/10 Clients & Experience9.8/10 Market PresenceService focus
25% Public Relations27% Crisis communications75% Other -
$10,000+$150 - $199 / hr10 - 49Redondo Beach, CA
Ability to deliver
36.6/40.017/20 Reviews10/10 Clients & Experience9.6/10 Market PresenceService focus
35% Public Relations13% Crisis communications65% Other -
$25,000+$150 - $199 / hr2 - 9London, England
Ability to deliver
32.7/40.016.4/20 Reviews10/10 Clients & Experience6.3/10 Market PresenceService focus
60% Public Relations50% Crisis communications40% Other -
$50,000+Undisclosed2 - 9New York, NY
Ability to deliver
32/40.016.2/20 Reviews9.1/10 Clients & Experience6.7/10 Market PresenceService focus
100% Public Relations50% Crisis communications -
$10,000+$200 - $300 / hr2 - 9Chicago, IL
Ability to deliver
35.5/40.016/20 Reviews10/10 Clients & Experience9.5/10 Market PresenceService focus
50% Public Relations20% Crisis communications50% Other -
$10,000+$150 - $199 / hr50 - 249Atlanta, GA
Ability to deliver
35/40.016.2/20 Reviews9.5/10 Clients & Experience9.3/10 Market PresenceService focus
25% Public Relations29% Crisis communications75% Other -
$10,000+$150 - $199 / hr10 - 49New York, NY
Ability to deliver
33.7/40.017/20 Reviews9.1/10 Clients & Experience7.6/10 Market PresenceService focus
60% Public Relations20% Crisis communications40% Other
Latest Crisis Communications Articles
See all articles
3 Brands That Are Killing It in 2026 (and What They Tell Us About Current Trends)
No one has a more distinct brand than Duolingo, Poppi, and SKIMS are reshaping branding. Learn more about what this tells us about branding trends in 2026...
Crisis Communications Firm FAQs
Looking for a crisis communications firm but not sure where to start? We've put together answers to the most common questions businesses ask when searching for a trusted partner. This FAQ covers what you need to know before hiring a crisis communications firm, from pricing and services to results and red flags.
Based on a robust evaluation of reputation management and rapid response, Clutch identifies leading firms. The top crisis communications agencies for Fall 2025 include:
A crisis communications firm helps organizations plan for, respond to, and recover from events that could harm brand reputation or stakeholder trust. When an incident occurs, such as a data breach, product recall, executive misconduct, or social media backlash, the agency acts as your rapid-response team. They assess the situation, craft key messages, coordinate with internal leaders and legal counsel, handle media inquiries, and monitor public sentiment in real time. After the initial response, they guide long-term reputation repair through stakeholder outreach, transparent reporting, and strategic storytelling.
A crisis communication agency typically offers:
- Risk audits and crisis-readiness playbooks
- 24/7 on-call media relations and spokesperson training
- Message development and press statement drafting
- Social listening and sentiment analysis
- Stakeholder and influencer outreach
- Internal comms coordination (employees, partners, investors)
- Post-crisis reputation rebuilding and thought-leadership campaigns
- Simulation workshops to test plans before an incident arises
Budgets vary widely based on risk profile and response time. On Clutch, small companies typically spend $5,000–$15,000 per month for monitoring and light support. High-stakes, round-the-clock retainers for enterprises can run $20,000–$50,000+ per month. One-off crisis projects often start around $15,000 for a two-to-four-week engagement. Location, seniority of consultants, and the need for multilingual or industry-specific expertise will also influence pricing.
Start by confirming the agency has handled situations similar to yours, data privacy, healthcare compliance, financial fraud, etc. Review case studies and ask for measurable outcomes (e.g., time to neutral coverage, share-of-voice regained). Ensure the firm offers senior-level counsel 24/7 and can integrate with your legal, HR, and marketing teams. Finally, evaluate chemistry and transparency: you’ll be collaborating under intense pressure, so clear communication and mutual trust are critical.
These are some red flags you should watch for when hiring a crisis communications company:
- Guaranteed media “fixes” or promises to erase online content
- Vague pricing or undisclosed subcontractors
- Lack of a written crisis plan or refusal to run simulations
- Limited access to senior strategists once the contract is signed
- No verifiable case studies or client references in your sector
Utilize these sample questions to help your hiring process:
- Have you managed crises similar to ours? What were the outcomes?
- Who will be on our account, and what is their availability?
- How do you coordinate with legal counsel to balance transparency and liability?
- What monitoring tools and metrics do you use to track sentiment and ROI?
- How will you train our executives and staff for media interactions?
- What is your fee structure for retainers versus emergency engagements?
Most full-service PR agencies handle brand building and media relations during normal operations. Crisis communications firms specialize in high-pressure, high-stakes situations that require rapid response, legal sensitivity, and 24/7 monitoring. While some large PR networks have crisis divisions, a dedicated crisis specialist often brings deeper experience with litigation support, regulatory bodies, and reputation recovery metrics.
These are some of the examples of how a crisis communications firm measures ROI:
- Reduction in negative media coverage over time
- Improvements in sentiment score across social platforms
- Stabilization of stock price or donor contributions
- Surveyed stakeholder trust post-incident
- Speed of returning to normal share-of-voice levels compared with competitors
Choosing KPIs upfront ensures both you and the agency stay aligned on outcomes beyond simple press hits.