I probably shouldn’t write this post. 

After all, when a proven buyer of PR services fires their agency, SHIFT Communications certainly aims to be in the mix when the new RFP is offered up.  That’s how we pay the bills.

But times are tough and it’s not all about me.  So let me say this to Clients Everywhere:

It’s a shame that your current agency disappointed you.  You are well within your rights to consider swapping out PR agencies. 

However, if you trust the senior management at your current firm; if your problems are related to the performance/creativity of your team but not to the agency’s training and capabilities, consider asking for a brand new team, instead of firing your agency outright.

Sometimes a team burns out; sometimes a team is being mismanaged by its VP; sometimes the chemistry is not there: we’re talking about people after all, who may be well-intentioned but are fallible.  Sometimes the same team can have both raving fans and disgruntled detractors simultaneously.  Different metrics, personalities, etc., work differently for different clients.

Meanwhile, though, if you still trust the firm’s senior management, your ears should perk up when they suggest that they can offer a new team that might do a better job.  If you believe that your current agency provides good training and reporting practices, your willingness to try out a new squad means that you are effectively “getting a new agency” without going through the rigamarole of the Agency Review process.

If it’s still not working out with the new team, though — well, obviously, you should just call me!

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