Top Crisis Communications Firms
-
Featured
What are Featured Providers?
$5,000+$150 - $199 / hr10 - 49Scottsdale, AZServices provided
Focus Areas
See all 24 projects10 to 1 Public Relations is a reputable PR agency known for excelling in crisis communications, media relations, and enhancing brand reputation. With a strong focus on corporate communications, 90% of clients praised their strategic media coverage and publicity efforts. Their transparent project management and impressive client-centric approach received unanimous acclaim, though 20% noted a desire for service expansion beyond traditional PR.
$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.
-
UndisclosedUndisclosed2 - 9Providence, RI
Services provided
Focus Areas
Media planning and buying agency Dodge Associates, Inc. Was founded in 1997. The firm focuses on Media Planning & Buying and Public Relations, and is small.
Read more -
UndisclosedUndisclosed2 - 9
Services provided
Focus Areas
The Industry Formula is an Event Marketing company. They are headquartered in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and have small team. Their team provides Event Marketing and Marketing Strategy.
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.
-
UndisclosedUndisclosed2 - 9Ottawa, Canada
Services provided
Focus Areas
Prospectus Associates, an Advertising company, was established in 1991. The team provides Advertising and Public Relations and is based in Ottawa, Canada.
Read more -
UndisclosedUndisclosed2 - 9
Services provided
Focus Areas
Medley Incorporated is a Houston, Texas-based branding agency. They offer Branding and Public Relations and were established in 2009.
Read more -
UndisclosedUndisclosed2 - 9
Services provided
Focus Areas
Branding agency Sky Valley Comm was launched in 2018. The small team focuses on Branding and Public Relations.
Read more -
UndisclosedUndisclosed2 - 9Niceville, FL
Services provided
Focus Areas
ABC Group, LLC, a branding agency, was founded in 2006. The team focuses on Branding and Public Relations and is in Niceville, Florida.
Read more -
UndisclosedUndisclosed10 - 49Alexandria, VA
Services provided
Focus Areas
Schmidt Public Affairs LLC, a PR company, was founded in 2004. In Alexandria, Virginia, the team specializes in Public Relations and Advertising.
Read more -
UndisclosedUndisclosed10 - 49Quito, Ecuador
Services provided
Focus Areas
O2 design Mkt is a small branding firm based in Quito, Ecuador. Their services include Branding and Advertising.
Read more -
UndisclosedUndisclosed10 - 49Dhaka, Bangladesh
Services provided
Focus Areas
Concito is a small Dhaka, Bangladesh-based PR agency. Their services include Public Relations and Social Media Marketing.
Read more -
UndisclosedUndisclosed10 - 49Oslo, Norway
Services provided
Focus Areas
Involve is a PR company. Launched in 1982, the company offers Public Relations and Marketing Strategy.
Read more -
UndisclosedUndisclosed10 - 49Stockholm, Sweden
Services provided
Focus Areas
Rud Pedersen Communications is a Stockholm, Sweden-based public relations company. Their services include Public Relations and Media Planning & Buying.
Read more -
UndisclosedUndisclosed10 - 49Sao Paulo, Brazil
Services provided
Focus Areas
MAPA360 is a public relations firm. They were founded in 2002, and their services include Public Relations and Social Media Marketing.
Read more -
UndisclosedUndisclosed10 - 49Santiago, Chile
Services provided
Focus Areas
Meta-Group is a PR firm. The Santiago, Chile-based team focuses on Public Relations and Event Marketing.
Read more -
UndisclosedUndisclosed10 - 49Los Angeles, CA
Services provided
Focus Areas
Modern Currency PR is a Los Angeles, California-based social media marketing company. Founded in 2017, the team offers Social Media Marketing and Content Marketing.
Read more -
UndisclosedUndisclosedFreelancerDanbury, CT
Services provided
Focus Areas
Penn Gardner Inc is a small Danbury, Connecticut-based public relations company. Their services include Public Relations and Marketing Strategy.
Read more -
UndisclosedUndisclosedFreelancer
Services provided
Focus Areas
Established in 2015, Sankofa Public Relations is a branding firm. The agency specializes in Branding and Graphic Design.
Read more -
UndisclosedUndisclosed2 - 9Manchester, NH
Services provided
Focus Areas
Your Personal PR, a public relations company, is based in Manchester, New Hampshire. The team offers Public Relations and Event Marketing.
Read more -
UndisclosedUndisclosed10 - 49Caracas, Venezuela
Services provided
Focus Areas
Graphic design company Screen Designs is in Caracas, Venezuela. They focus on Graphic Design and Social Media Marketing and were launched in 2012.
Read more -
UndisclosedUndisclosedFreelancerSaint Paul, MN
Services provided
Focus Areas
Virtual Speech Coach is a Corporate Training & Coaching company. Launched in 2012, the team provides Corporate Training & Coaching and Public Relations. The firm is in Saint Paul, Minnesota.
Read more -
UndisclosedUndisclosed2 - 9Campton, NH
Services provided
Focus Areas
EVP Marketing & Media is a Campton, New Hampshire-based Marketing Strategy company. They focus on Marketing Strategy and Public Relations and were founded in 1994.
Read more -
UndisclosedUndisclosedFreelancerMobile, AL
Services provided
Focus Areas
Established in 2014, S. Alexander Consulting, Inc. Is an Event Marketing company. The company specializes in Event Marketing and Graphic Design.
Read more -
$5,000+$100 - $149 / hr10 - 49Westborough, MA
Services provided
Focus Areas
PENTA Communications, Inc is an Advertising company. Launched in 1988, their team provides Advertising and Branding.
Read more -
UndisclosedUndisclosed10 - 49Halifax, Canada
Services provided
Focus Areas
Video production company Colour offers Video Production and Social Media Marketing. They are located in Halifax, Canada and Toronto, Canada.
Read more -
UndisclosedUndisclosed10 - 49Indianapolis, IN
Services provided
Focus Areas
Content Marketing company Dittoe Public Relations is located in Indianapolis, Indiana. They provide Content Marketing and Event Marketing and were established in 1999.
Read more -
UndisclosedUndisclosed10 - 49Wheeling, WV
Services provided
Focus Areas
Wheelhouse Creative LLC is an Advertising company based in Wheeling, West Virginia. They provide Advertising and Graphic Design.
Read more -
UndisclosedUndisclosed10 - 49Greenville, SC
Services provided
Focus Areas
Media planning and buying agency Crawford Strategy provides Media Planning & Buying and Advertising. They are based in Greenville, South Carolina.
Read more -
UndisclosedUndisclosed10 - 49Manchester, NH
Services provided
Focus Areas
Wedu is an Advertising company. The company is based in Manchester, New Hampshire. Their services include Advertising and Event Marketing.
Read more -
UndisclosedUndisclosed10 - 49Ciudad de México, Mexico
Services provided
Focus Areas
Advertising company Ad Nova Comunicación Estratégica is located in Ciudad de México, Mexico. They provide Advertising and Event Marketing and were established in 2004.
Read more -
UndisclosedUndisclosed10 - 49Ciudad de México, Mexico
Services provided
Focus Areas
Located in Ciudad de México, Mexico, PR Central is a Content Marketing company. They offer Content Marketing and Branding and were founded in 2014.
Read more -
UndisclosedUndisclosed10 - 49Del Valle Norte, Mexico
Services provided
Focus Areas
PluralRP is a branding agency founded in 2018. The small team focuses on Branding and Digital Strategy.
Read more -
UndisclosedUndisclosed10 - 49Guadalajara, Mexico
Services provided
Focus Areas
Marca Pública, a small Content Marketing company, is based in Guadalajara, Mexico. Their services include Content Marketing and Digital Strategy.
Read more -
UndisclosedUndisclosed10 - 49Longmont, CO
Services provided
Focus Areas
Avocet Communications, an Advertising company, is in Longmont, Colorado and Denver, Colorado. They specialize in Advertising and Social Media Marketing.
Read more -
UndisclosedUndisclosed10 - 49Chicago, IL
Services provided
Focus Areas
Rudd Resources LLC is a small social media marketing agency. They provide Social Media Marketing and Content Marketing and were founded in 2014.
Read more -
UndisclosedUndisclosed10 - 49
Services provided
Focus Areas
B, S & Co. Is a small branding company based in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Their services include Branding and Media Planning & Buying.
Read more -
UndisclosedUndisclosed10 - 49Zürich, Switzerland
Services provided
Focus Areas
Oppenheim & Partner GmbH is a media planning and buying company. The Zürich, Switzerland-based firm was founded in 2009. Their services include Media Planning & Buying and Social Media Marketing.
Read more -
UndisclosedUndisclosed10 - 49Beograd, Serbia
Services provided
Focus Areas
Foster + Svensson, an Advertising company, is in Beograd, Serbia. Their services include Advertising and Branding.
Read more -
UndisclosedUndisclosed10 - 49Warszawa, Poland
Services provided
Focus Areas
OneMulti is a branding agency launched in 1990. Headquartered in Warszawa, Poland, the team offers Branding and Event Marketing.
Read more -
UndisclosedUndisclosed10 - 49Vancouver, Canada
Services provided
Focus Areas
Established in 2007, PR Associates National Communications Ltd. Is a Digital Strategy company. The firm specializes in Digital Strategy and Public Relations, and is small.
Read more -
UndisclosedUndisclosed2 - 9Indianapolis, IN
Services provided
Focus Areas
Aspire Consulting Inc., a small Business Consulting company, is located in Indianapolis, Indiana. Their services include Business Consulting and Marketing Strategy.
Read more -
UndisclosedUndisclosed2 - 9Clive, IA
Services provided
Focus Areas
PR agency Love Scott & Associates was established in 1973. Headquartered in Clive, Iowa, the team provides Public Relations and Branding.
Read more -
UndisclosedUndisclosed2 - 9Coralville, IA
Services provided
Focus Areas
Brand Driven Digital is a Marketing Strategy company located in Coralville, Iowa. They focus on Marketing Strategy and Branding and were established in 2011.
Read more -
UndisclosedUndisclosed2 - 9Odesa, Ukraine
Services provided
Focus Areas
Advertising. Odessa and Ukraine is an Advertising company. They are in Odesa, Ukraine and have small team. Their team specializes in Advertising and Public Relations.
Read more -
UndisclosedUndisclosed2 - 9Recife, Brazil
Services provided
Focus Areas
Rpress Comunicação, a small media planning & buying company, is in Recife, Brazil. The team focuses on Media Planning & Buying and Marketing Strategy.
Read more -
UndisclosedUndisclosed2 - 9El Paso, TX
Services provided
Focus Areas
Graphic design agency Creative Gong, LLC offers Graphic Design and Branding. They are headquartered in El Paso, Texas.
Read more -
UndisclosedUndisclosed2 - 9Chula Vista, CA
Services provided
Focus Areas
Marketing Strategy company EC Marketing Agency was founded in 1989. The team offers Marketing Strategy and Media Planning & Buying.
Read more -
UndisclosedUndisclosed2 - 9Jensen Beach, FL
Services provided
Focus Areas
Turnkey Communications & Public Relations is an Advertising company. They are in Jensen Beach, Florida and have small team of experts. Their services include Advertising and Social Media Marketing.
Read more -
UndisclosedUndisclosed2 - 9Brasília, Brazil
Services provided
Focus Areas
Agência Line Ink, a small graphic design company, is in Brasília, Brazil. The team focuses on Graphic Design and Marketing Strategy.
Read more -
UndisclosedUndisclosed2 - 9Lo Barnechea, Chile
Services provided
Focus Areas
SVK COMUNICACIONES is a branding company. They are located in Lo Barnechea, Chile and have small team. Their services include Branding and Content Marketing.
Read more -
UndisclosedUndisclosed2 - 9
Services provided
Focus Areas
In Gothenburg, Sweden, Eloge is a graphic design agency. Founded in 2013, the team specializes in Graphic Design and Public Relations.
Read more -
UndisclosedUndisclosed2 - 9Bremen, Germany
Services provided
Focus Areas
FEINSCHREIBER is a SEO company. The small Bremen, Germany-based team offers Search Engine Optimization and Branding. The agency was established in 2015.
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
36.2/40.018.2/20 Reviews8.1/10 Clients & Experience10/10 Market PresenceService focus
60% Public Relations25% Crisis communications40% 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
37.2/40.019.4/20 Reviews8.4/10 Clients & Experience9.5/10 Market PresenceService focus
100% Public Relations20% Crisis communications -
$10,000+$150 - $199 / hr10 - 49Burlington, Canada
Ability to deliver
37.9/40.019/20 Reviews10/10 Clients & Experience8.9/10 Market PresenceService focus
30% Public Relations43% Crisis communications70% Other -
$1,000+$100 - $149 / hr50 - 249Sarasota, FL
Ability to deliver
37.9/40.018.2/20 Reviews10/10 Clients & Experience9.7/10 Market PresenceService focus
65% Public Relations10% Crisis communications35% Other -
$5,000+$150 - $199 / hr10 - 49Scottsdale, AZ
Ability to deliver
36.3/40.017.2/20 Reviews9.7/10 Clients & Experience9.5/10 Market PresenceService focus
80% Public Relations28% Crisis communications20% Other -
$5,000+$100 - $149 / hr10 - 49Amsterdam, Netherlands
Ability to deliver
37.5/40.017.8/20 Reviews10/10 Clients & Experience9.7/10 Market PresenceService focus
100% Public Relations10% Crisis communications -
$5,000+$200 - $300 / hr2 - 9Sewickley, PA
Ability to deliver
36.4/40.017.4/20 Reviews9.9/10 Clients & Experience9.1/10 Market PresenceService focus
25% Public Relations75% Crisis communications75% Other -
$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
35% Public Relations45% Crisis communications65% Other -
$10,000+$150 - $199 / hr10 - 49New York, NY
Ability to deliver
37/40.017.8/20 Reviews10/10 Clients & Experience9.2/10 Market PresenceService focus
60% Public Relations11% Crisis communications40% Other -
$10,000+Undisclosed10 - 49Houston, TX
Ability to deliver
35.8/40.016.2/20 Reviews9.8/10 Clients & Experience9.8/10 Market PresenceService focus
55% Public Relations19% Crisis communications45% Other -
$1,000+$300+ / hr10 - 49Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Ability to deliver
35.5/40.016.8/20 Reviews9.3/10 Clients & Experience9.3/10 Market PresenceService focus
80% Public Relations17% Crisis communications20% 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 -
$10,000+$150 - $199 / hr10 - 49Boston, MA
Ability to deliver
33.7/40.017.4/20 Reviews8.8/10 Clients & Experience7.5/10 Market PresenceService focus
100% Public Relations33% Crisis communications -
Undisclosed$200 - $300 / hr10 - 49Spring Hill, Australia
Ability to deliver
33.8/40.017/20 Reviews10/10 Clients & Experience6.8/10 Market PresenceService focus
65% Public Relations30% Crisis communications35% Other -
$50,000+$100 - $149 / hr50 - 249Boston, MA
Ability to deliver
36/40.016.2/20 Reviews10/10 Clients & Experience9.8/10 Market PresenceService focus
25% Public Relations27% Crisis communications75% 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 -
$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 - 249Bondi Junction, Australia
Ability to deliver
34/40.020/20 Reviews5.3/10 Clients & Experience8.7/10 Market PresenceService focus
90% Public Relations20% Crisis communications10% Other -
$50,000+Undisclosed2 - 9New York, NY
Ability to deliver
32.4/40.016.6/20 Reviews9.1/10 Clients & Experience6.7/10 Market PresenceService focus
100% Public Relations50% Crisis communications -
$10,000+$150 - $199 / hr10 - 49New York, NY
Ability to deliver
34.1/40.017.4/20 Reviews9.1/10 Clients & Experience7.6/10 Market PresenceService focus
60% Public Relations20% Crisis communications40% Other -
$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 -
$5,000+$200 - $300 / hr10 - 49Nashville, TN
Ability to deliver
33.6/40.018.2/20 Reviews6.2/10 Clients & Experience9.2/10 Market PresenceService focus
75% Public Relations25% Crisis communications25% Other -
$10,000+$150 - $199 / hr50 - 249Atlanta, GA
Ability to deliver
35.2/40.016.4/20 Reviews9.5/10 Clients & Experience9.3/10 Market PresenceService focus
25% Public Relations29% 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 -
$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 - 249Reading , England
Ability to deliver
32.8/40.016.8/20 Reviews9.2/10 Clients & Experience6.7/10 Market PresenceService focus
100% Public Relations25% Crisis communications
Latest Crisis Communications Articles
See all articles
The Top 5 Triggers That Destroy Brand Trust (Fast)
Understand the critical role of brand trust in building consumer loyalty, and how to avoid the mistakes that can undermine that work in a flash.
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.