The 7 Best PR Firms in Chicago 2024, Ranked!!! -

Chicago may be known as America’s Second City, but the best PR firms in the city are first-rate and cater to some of the world’s most familiar brands. Consisting of highly specialized and boutique firms as well as large agencies ready to deploy an army to promote your message, Chicago provides a plethora of options for public relations companies.

From media relations mavens to digital marketing experts, these agencies possess the unique blend of creativity, analytics, and business savvy required to elevate brands, manage crises, and achieve demonstrable ROI. If you’re seeking a communications partner that can take your organization to new heights, look no further than this esteemed group of Chicago-based powerhouses.

Key Takeaways

Public relations (PR) is the practice of employing strategic communication to nurture a favorable public image and reputation for a brand or business.
PR strategies are the collection of methods an organization uses to help it move from its current situation to its end goal.
They are similar to marketing strategies because the primary goal is to spread brand awareness.
PR firms act as brand voices, crafting compelling stories and managing media relations. They also handle crisis communication, event planning, and social media engagement.
A strong PR strategy is essential for building and maintaining a positive brand reputation, increasing visibility, attracting new customers, and navigating crises effectively.
When it comes to choosing the right PR partner, there’s no one-size-fits-all solution.
Consider your brand goals, budget, target audience, and desired media coverage during PR firm selection.

What Do PR Companies Do?

Public relations companies are the unsung heroes behind the scenes, crafting narratives that resonate with audiences and build lasting brand reputations. They strategize, create, and disseminate messages that align with a company’s goals.

Public relations teams serve many different purposes and there are various types of PR activities, each addressing its own specific goals. These are the checkpoints for your public relations roadmap, the most important elements of the basic PR plan you need to keep in mind while you’re trying to figure out how to do digital PR.

#1. Media Relations

Chances are, this is exactly what you’re thinking about when hearing the term “public relations”. And yet, media relations management is just one of the main stepping stones on the way toward a proper PR strategy.

Here, the main goal is to build positive relations with bloggers, journalists, and influencers to get media coverage for free (or close enough to it). It’s always good to have someone who speaks to large audiences on a brand’s behalf, and that’s exactly what media relations are all about.

In the digital era, establishing and maintaining media relations for PR purposes mainly involves writing press releases and other communications, pitching the media, organizing and participating in different interviews, attending special events, etc.

#2. Crisis Management

Life happens, and that means unforeseen problems will show up in the office one day. When a crisis hits and things are moving at the speed of the internet, managing and, if needed, correcting the impressions that are created is hard.

That’s when you need a good PR specialist right there in the eye of the storm ready to back your business up with some bulletproof crisis management techniques, contacts to help get your message out in a hurry, and the ability to steer the conversation in the direction you want.

While there’s no way to be prepared for everything that gets thrown at you, the point is that your PR firm is appointed as the go-to leader in dealing with managing a crisis. When the problem hits and your reputation is on the line, there’s no time for meetings to decide who’s going to be in charge of your response — your PR should be ready to go to work in difficult circumstances at a moment’s notice.

#3. Marketing & Communications

It’s pretty easy to forget about other important forms of communication while you’re searching for the most effective ways to do digital PR, like traditional marketing. Chances are, your business is already engaged in numerous marketing campaigns, so it’s the PR firm’s job to make sure those are well-managed as well.

When talking about public relations, a particularly essential aspect of marketing is social media. In a way, this is the easiest way to talk directly to all the stakeholders. The best PR firms apply each of the basic PR plan principles discussed to your SM strategy. They reply to comments and reviews (especially the negative ones), engage in online social movements and challenges, and collaborate with other brands from your area to improve community relations.

Every touchpoint where your brand gets a chance for exposure is another opportunity to shape opinions on what you’re all about.

#4. Employee Relations

When you’re learning how to do PR, it’s easy to fall into the novice error and focus on the clients and the clients alone. In reality, public relations are much more complicated than that. The best PR firms make sure that your PR plan never omits your own employees, both current and potential ones.

Think of it as internal PR.

First of all, your very own staff might be the strongest team of brand ambassadors you’ll ever need. At the same time, an unhappy employee is very likely to spread the harshest criticism. That’s why companies must invest in employer branding and internal PR & communications to ensure your team members feel appreciated, heard, and respected.

#5. Community Management

Another important audience that the best PR firms keep in mind is your local community. After all, if you own an offline business, you’d most probably like to have a community spirit around it. That’s exactly what this type of PR is all about.

Community management, they help you communicate where your business stands on some of the crucial local issues, how it is perceived by the neighbors, and whether it makes a social commitment or not. In the long run, investing in positive community relations can provide you with new loyal brand ambassadors, a strong boost in ethical reputation for your company, more recruits in the future, and more.

Finding Your Perfect PR Match

Now, the key takeaway here is that there’s no one-size-fits-all answer when it comes to PR companies. The best fit for you depends on your specific industry, target audience, and budget.

Here are some questions to consider when making your decision:

What are your brand goals? Are you looking for increased brand awareness, website traffic, or sales leads?
What’s your budget?
What industry do you specialize in?
What kind of media coverage are you hoping to secure?
Do you prefer a large, global agency or a smaller, more boutique firm?

The cost of hiring a PR agency will depend on many factors, including your goals, your budget, and your agency selection. Consider some of these factors when considering whether a PR firm is right for your business. If you are contemplating the cost of hiring a PR firm, chances are you already know the importance of establishing your business’s image.

Positive PR can help increase brand recognition, loyalty, and community goodwill.

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THE PR COST FACTORS WITHIN YOUR CONTROL

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Don’t be afraid to schedule consultations with a few different PR companies. This is your chance to assess their expertise, chemistry, and overall fit for your brand.

7 Best PR Firms In Chicago

#1. Cascade Communications

Cascade Communications Best PR Firms in Chicago

Looking through a list of the best PR firms in Chicago, a handful really stand out thanks to their emphasis on one particular strength, which is how they deliver value to clients. First among them is Cascade Communications, where storytelling is at the center of their entire PR philosophy.

Storytelling is an often overlooked aspect of PR activities and requires a creative approach, as it is more art than science. It is quite rare to find true expertise in this field, but when done properly it can turbocharge any PR campaign.

Cascade prides itself on the ability to craft just the right image, event, message, or slogan to help a brand break through the noise and get attention. They believe that focusing on creating a compelling story is the best way—the only way—to really connect with your audience. Ranking as one of the best PR firms in Chicago for 2020 by Expertise, this just confirms Cascade’s rising status in Windy City’s PR landscape.

Cascade’s track record includes prominent coverage in the biggest local, regional, and national media platforms. Their offer includes everything from content creation and promotional materials design to website audits and optimization of social media activities.

#2. 3Points

If you’re coming from any aspect of the tech industry, especially finance, then 3Points should be at the top of your list of best PR firms in Chicago. Since 2010, their focus on fintech means they can craft much more effective campaigns that fit well with the needs and expectations of relevant media.

A typical partnership with 3Points starts with detailed data analysis to identify the most compelling narratives for the current media environment. This audit informs the construction of tailored pitches aimed at the most likely interested contacts. After launching the campaign, 3Points uses advanced analytics to identify the highest-performing channels and measure your message’s impact.

Experience working with many of the highest-profile players on the Chicago Stock Exchange has helped 3Points build an insider’s knowledge of the local fintech landscape and the media players attached to it. Brokers, traders, software providers, and others in the heart of the business are both clients and contacts that 3Points can turn to when navigating the best path forward for your messaging.

If you need to raise your profile among those who deal with the Midwest’s financial markets, 3points is your first point of contact.

#3. Bear Icebox Communications

Right from the start, clients at Bear Icebox benefit from a genuine understanding of the underlying process behind effective PR. This is because, to start with, all the senior partners come from an extremely useful and relevant background for PR work—journalism. They know first-hand what gets interested in newsrooms, how a message should be packaged, and how to nurture relationships with journalists for maximum mutual benefit.

Bear Icebox also features two areas of core competence and expertise that make it one of the best PR firms in Chicago. The first is facilitating U.S. launches for existing products from other parts of the world, Europe in particular. They construct paths forward for brand awareness and navigate a new media and consumer landscape for existing products.

Their other focus is on franchise-based operations and their successful growth. Bear Icebox understands the unique business model behind the sale of franchise units and the need to communicate effectively with potential franchise owners, their customers, and the local media where they might begin operations.

The key, according to Bear Icebox, is recognizing the role of small entrepreneurs within the expansion of larger corporate interests. It also includes communicating through a multi-faceted approach involving organic and paid search, social media, content marketing, and media relations.

#4. Bettie Bomb

Bettie Bomb is a boutique agency founded in 2005 with an extremely impressive list of Chicago-based clients who have benefitted from their creative touch and sharp strategic thinking.

Unlike others, Bettie Bomb has risen to become one of the best PR firms in Chicago by putting a strong emphasis on the design talent they bring to the table. In fact, their branding & design services share equal billing with their PR & marketing capabilities. They combine the two elements to put an accent on the visual elements that form your brand identity.

Bettie Bomb offers a full range of specialists who can help in the creation of these elements, from concept to execution. This includes photography, graphic design, website design, and other components of a complete brand inventory. Their knack for producing a polished, professional image adds another dimension to the value Bettie Bomb brings.

Of course, you’ll also find expert support in the fields of contact with influencers, content creation, direct mail campaigns, SEO support, and more.

#5. Sherman

Nearing the end of its second decade, Sherman Communications & Marketing is one of the best PR firms serving clients in Chicago and all over the Midwest. They are a well-established outfit offering comprehensive, full-service support for new launches, rebrandings, and product awareness campaigns.

In addition to the expected expertise in sectors like retail, technology, and financial services, Sherman stands out from the crowd with experience in other fields. If you’re looking for PR support for a nonprofit, educational institution, or green energy firm, Sherman has a surprising degree of knowledge and experience waiting to be deployed on your behalf.

An impressive list of client testimonials from across several industries shows both the breadth of Sherman’s experience and the close and satisfying relationships they build with clients.

#6. Caruso PR

Bigger is no longer always better, and that has proven true in the world of PR firms. Sure, a larger staff can carry out more duties at once, but smaller agencies typically make up for this disadvantage with more personalized service.

That’s certainly the case with Caruso, a Chicago-based boutique PR firm that still manages to deliver quality support across an impressive range of services. Their personalized approach includes branching out to related forms of support that more standard agency relationships might overlook. Their goal is to enhance standard media relations with extras that can make a difference in a crowded marketplace.

These include spokesperson training and marketing services for highly specialized fields like legal agencies.

Caruso’s local connections have served them well in creating a comprehensive network of contacts with a distinct Chicago flavor, partners that may fly under the radar of larger, more corporate agencies. If you have a Chicago-centric message to deliver, Caruso has unparalleled local knowledge that can help bring all the best voices, platforms, and channels on board.

#7. 3rd Coast PR

3rd Coast has developed a reputation as the best consumer goods launch experts of all the PR firms in Chicago. A long list of brands from the food & beverage, household goods, and baby & kids products industries can confirm that 3rd Coast PR delivers on their promise of unique and effective brand campaigns.

Among other things, 3rd Coast is known for its proven success in attaching research and documentation to products with health, safety, or nutritional aspects.

Supplementing brand messaging with credible studies and professional verification is a hallmark of 3rd Coast’s work and helps to make their pitches more attractive. Also, journalists’ jobs become easier, their audiences get a better brand impression through authoritative support and 3rd Coast’s clients get a better shot at media coverage—a triple win!

In addition to conventional services like brand messaging and facilitating media coverage, 3rd Coast offers somewhat unconventional support in the form of on-site event management and trade show support. These are unique ‘extras’ that help distinguish them from other PR companies in Chicago and complete their client offer with the kind of comprehensive, end-to-end service that product launches need.

What Is The Average Cost of a PR Firm?

Larger firms and premium agencies charge as much as $25,000 or more monthly, and boutique firms often charge between $12,000 to $18,000 monthly for their services.

Here are some factors that can affect the cost of PR services:

The size and experience of the PR agency. Larger agencies with more experience will typically charge more than smaller agencies.
The scope of services you need. The more comprehensive the PR campaign, the more it will cost.
Your industry. Some industries are more competitive than others, which can drive up the cost of PR services.
Your target market. PR campaigns targeting national audiences will typically be more expensive than those targeting local audiences.

Best PR Firms in Chicago: In conclusion

PR firms the world over trade in the currency of connections and exposure to draw attention to your brand or message. The best agencies have the resources to get conversations started about you in the biggest mediums and most-visited channels, resulting in instant attention and interest. Their ability to deliver results is not in question but finding a good fit takes some work.

Chicago is a great place to start your search for a top public relations agency and these are the first places to visit.

The 7 Best PR Firms in Chicago 2024, Ranked!!!

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Key Takeaways