13 Questions You Should Ask Before Hire A Freelance PR Or Brand Manager

Freelancer pr or brand manager? Imagine that you can have both of these professionals on your team! Brand managers are people who are specialists in a company or personal brand reputation and they offer many services such as public relations (PR), media training, online reputation monitoring, and customer service.

Freelance public relations is a relatively broad field where job responsibilities might include many tasks like writing press releases, planning the client’s events, and marketing strategies.

If you’re considering hiring a freelancer or full-time employee to do PR for your company, here are 13 questions to ask before taking the plunge.

Asking these questions will help you identify the right candidate and determine whether their goals and values align with those of your company.

6 Questions Brands Ask Before Hiring Influencers

Takeaways
1. When hiring a freelance PR or brand manager, ask about their experience in the industry and their track record of successful campaigns.
2. Inquire about the strategies they propose for your business and how they plan to enhance your brand visibility.
3. Consider asking for references from past clients to gauge their professionalism and effectiveness.
4. Discuss how the PR or brand manager plans to manage your online reputation and handle potential crises.
5. Understand the pricing structure and contract terms to ensure they align with your budget and project needs.
6. Ask about their approach to media relations and how they plan to secure positive media coverage for your brand.
7. Inquire about their understanding of your target audience and how they plan to tailor PR efforts accordingly.
8. Discuss their communication and reporting practices to stay informed about the progress of their work.
9. Consider asking how they measure the success of their PR efforts and what key performance indicators they track.
10. Inquire about their adaptability and ability to adjust strategies based on evolving business needs.
11. Discuss their availability and responsiveness to ensure effective collaboration throughout the project.
12. Ask about their knowledge of digital marketing and how they integrate PR efforts with online platforms.
13. Consider asking about their passion for PR and brand management to ensure they are committed to delivering exceptional results.

Table of Contents

1. What Do You Think Makes A Good Public Relations Campaign?

A good public relations campaign is one that is well-planned, has a clear objective and timeline, includes a strategy for measurement, and is managed by professionals with experience in the industry.

A bad public relations campaign is one that lacks any of these things. The good news is that it’s not hard to find out whether the person you’re hiring has experience in public relations; ask them what they’ve worked on before. If they’ve never done any work in this area before (or if they don’t know what “PR” stands for), then chances are they’re not going to be able to deliver results for your company’s campaigns.

Are you passionate about writing and considering a freelance career? Learn how to become a freelance writer and turn your passion into a rewarding profession.

2. How Much Do You Charge?

When hiring a freelancer, it’s important to understand how much they’ll be charging. Freelancers tend to charge in one of three ways: hourly, by the project, or on retainer (a monthly fee paid for their services). The cost of their service ultimately depends on the complexity and scope of your project and their own specific expertise. The price may vary based on whether they’re just getting started or have been doing this kind of work for years if they’re working alone or as part of a team, and how much time is required to complete your project.

In general, you can expect that freelancers with more experience tend to charge higher rates.

While freelance rates will vary from person to person and from project to project, you’ll likely find that asking about cost is one of the first things people want (or need) to know when considering hiring a freelancer. That’s why it’s important for freelancers to be transparent about what exactly is included in their rate and what isn’t.

When you ask about costs upfront, don’t hesitate about asking what that number entails; it’s not rude or inappropriate it will help both parties feel assured that expectations are reasonable and clear from the beginning.

3. What Is The Difference Between A Traditional Agency And A Freelance PR Consultant?

The main difference between traditional public relations agencies and freelance PR consultants lies in flexibility. Most full-time PR firms have a lot of staff, which allows them to take on big projects that require lots of people who specialize in different areas. A freelancer might not be able to take on a campaign like that, because they just can’t manage the workload by themselves.

On the other hand, freelancers are usually more flexible about the kind of work they will do for you. If you need something small and relatively straightforward, like placing one press release or writing an article for your blog, a freelancer is probably a better option than an agency.

Freelancers also tend to be much more flexible when it comes to working with clients who have smaller budgets than what agencies charge by default. In fact, some freelance public relations consultants will only take on clients who are willing to pay hourly rather than offering flat rates or commissions based on their results (as most agencies prefer).

This isn’t always true some freelancers prefer working with businesses that have larger budgets so they can charge higher fees and do bigger projects but it’s worth asking about before hiring anyone at all!

Finally, freelance PR consultants tend to be more flexible about how they work: whether remotely from home or in-person with their clients’ offices nearby; part-time while working another job full-time; etcetera! Freelance PR is generally considered less stable than agency employment (both financially speaking), but this also means that there are fewer barriers preventing people from taking risks and building skills outside their comfort zones which ultimately might translate into greater success over time as long as everything else goes according to plan too.

Hiring a freelance PR or brand manager on Upwork? Check out our expert tips and effective strategies to make the most of the platform for your business needs.

4. Can You Take On Smaller Clients And Still Provide Top-Notch Service?

“It’s OK if you have to say no,” says Jodi Friedman, partner at creative agency Untitled Worldwide. “We don’t want to take on someone who will take us on just to make money.”

Rather, you want to work with a freelancer who is passionate about their work and the industries they serve. This is especially true if the freelancer is already established in their industry of choice.

“If you started your own business as an entrepreneur, you probably did it because you were excited about an industry and wanted to help people in that niche,” says Ron Cates, marketer at Constant Contact, an online marketing company. “Find someone who has the same passion for your industry and has worked with other clients like you.”

5. How Much Time Do You Have To Spend On Each Client?

If they say that they can’t take on small businesses, then don’t hire them. You might think that it’s better for your business if someone else handles it but when someone else takes over, the quality of your work will suffer.

The freelance PR person will only be able to focus their attention on the large businesses because those are the ones that pay more money for their services.

6. How Long Does It Take To See Results From Working With A Freelance Consultant?

This is a very common question from clients: When do I start seeing results from my PR strategy? While brand managers shouldn’t make any promises, there are a few things to keep in mind about your timeline.

Don’t focus too much on short-term results. Many business owners want to see results as soon as possible, but it’s important to remember that building and managing your brand is an ongoing process. It’s better to think of this relationship as a long-term investment than a quick fix that will bring instant gratification.

Think of the relationship as dating. Just as you would take time getting to know someone before committing, you should allow your PR consultant and the strategies they propose a time to develop into something sustainable and enjoyable!

Ask previous clients how long it took them to see results. References are always a good idea when hiring anyone, so use this opportunity to ask potential candidates if they can connect you with past customers and how long it took for their PR efforts to start paying off for them.

Ready to take your freelance business to the next level? Discover the secrets to establishing a six-figure freelance agency and unlock the potential for exponential growth.

7. Are There Retainer And Non-Retainer Options?

As a small business owner, you can only afford to have one PR consultant on retainer at a time. A retainer is the best option for you if you know your number-one goal is to get the word out about your business. With a PR consultant on retainer, you get someone who dedicates all of their time and energy toward promoting your small business and getting it into the media outlets that will help lure new customers and clients to your company in the future.

A non-retainer position might be an attractive option for those who want some flexibility with how they spend their money or don’t need professional PR attention right away in order to attract new clients.

This type of arrangement would allow a PR consultant’s services to be billed as they’re needed, which means there’ll be no risk of not having any service rendered if other projects take priority or something unforeseen comes up during the month as someone else asks them to promote their product!

8. What Does The Onboarding Process Look Like?

Depending on who you are and the position you’re hiring for, the onboarding process may look different. But no matter what the position is or who’s filling it, the onboarding process should be:

Clear and simple to follow

Documented

Timely (meaning there’s a clear timeline)

Efficient (meaning it isn’t unnecessarily lengthy or complicated)

Personalized, meaning that it’s designed to fit whoever you’ve hired (but also consistent so everyone gets a fair shot)

Enjoyable and memorable, meaning that it has some kind of element of fun integrated into it somewhere along the way

Collaborative (if possible it doesn’t always have to be but doing so can help nurture your relationship with your freelancer or contractor)

Human-centric (meaning there are real people available to answer questions if needed at any point the onboarding process shouldn’t involve stumbling around trying to figure out how something works without anyone to ask for help)

9. How Many Clients Are You Willing To Represent At Any Given Time?

Considering how much time and effort you’ll be devoting to a client, you want to make sure that your potential Freelancer PR or Brand manager will provide the right level of service.

If they don’t have a limit, ask about the maximum number of clients they have taken on at any one time. If it’s more than ten, consider looking for another Freelancer PR or Brand manager. Ten is not a big number; however, if we are talking about long-term partnerships where you will be working together for at least several months you shouldn’t expect your prospects to work with more than nine clients at once.

The question regarding their current workload is also important because it will give you an idea of what kind of management skills that Freelancer PR or Brand manager has. If they have way too many balls in the air all at once and can’t handle them properly they’re probably not the right person.

Do you have contacts at X publication or Y event/conference?

Do you have contacts at:

X publication

Y event/conference

How long have you been in the industry?

How many contacts do you have?

What level of access do you have to contacts (ie. can ask them questions and get a response)? How often are you in contact with them?

In a rapidly changing work landscape, freelancers play a crucial role in job creation. Find out why freelancing is creating jobs and contributing positively to the future of work.

10. Will I Be Able To See Your Full Contact List?

That is a very good question. It all depends on the freelancer you’re working with and who you are applying to work for. Some freelancers may not want employers to see their full contact list because they may have people who don’t want their information shared. It’s also possible that the freelancer has several contacts, but some of them wouldn’t be relevant to your business needs, making it pointless for you to see the whole list anyway.

It really depends on how much trust both parties have in each other and what kind of relationship they’ve developed throughout the course of working together. If there is an established level of trust then yes, most likely you will be able to see their contact list (or at least partial).

However if there isn’t any trust between them then no, probably not because he/she doesn’t want his/her clients knowing about all of those contacts or maybe even just some specific ones from certain countries (like China).

11. Why Should I Hire You Instead Of An Established PR Firm Or Agency?

You should hire a freelancer over an established PR firm or agency for the following reasons:

Freelancers are more flexible. Because they generally don’t have as many clients as a large PR firm, they can offer more personal attention and are able to accommodate your unique needs. They often work irregular hours to fit in with their clients’ schedules.

Freelancers are more available. Since they don’t need to interact with other clients, freelancers are highly accessible, which makes them ideal for small or medium-sized businesses. It’s also easier to get feedback from them because they have fewer clients and thus less of a workload than larger agencies do.

Freelancers are more affordable. Due to the lack of overhead costs that come with being part of a large agency (office space being one example), working with an independent contractor is usually cheaper than hiring someone from an established company although it will vary depending on who you hire and how much experience that person has in this field.

Freelancers are more personal. They often take a hands-on approach when dealing with clients because there’s no need for meetings between different branches of the same company; instead, you can speak directly about what needs doing without having any red tape involved! This means that both sides get better communication throughout every stage of execution—and anyone seeking out PR services wants their message heard as loudest possible (even if it needs some editing first).

12. How Many Press Releases Have Your Past Clients Sent Out?

Asking this question can help you determine how well the freelancer has been able to craft articles and press releases on behalf of previous clients. Most companies seek exposure to large audiences, so having a freelancer who has been able to secure placement with major publications can be beneficial for brands.

Additionally, since writing for other publications is a key skill for any brand manager or PR professional, being able to answer your question can show that they have that experience.

13. How Do You Handle Crisis Communication Situations Such As Bad Reviews, Negative Feedback, Or Unhappy Customers?

When you see a bad review, it’s natural to want to respond as soon as possible and defend your brand. But being reactive can often be the wrong response. Before you hire someone for public relations, find out how they would handle a negative incident.

Ask them about any past experience they have with similar situations and what their strategy for dealing with that situation was. If they don’t have experience handling these types of issues, ask them how they think you should deal with complaints or how they would deal with a crisis.

I am concerned about costs – what if we need to scale down or cancel services mid-month? Will I get a refund for unused hours or services?

We get it sometimes things happen that are out of your control. Sometimes, you just have to say no. Whatever the reason is for needing to scale down or cancel services, your freelancer should be able to work with you in the case of a change in your needs or budget. They should be able to adjust their schedule and payment terms based on when and how you need to cancel services. If they can’t do this for you, consider looking elsewhere.

It’s Important To Ask Freelancers Hard Questions Before Hiring Them

Just like you’ll want your freelance PR or brand manager to interview you, it’s important for you to ask them some tough questions about their background and experience. Some of the most important things you should know about a PR or brand manager are:

What is their process?

How much will it cost?

How will they communicate with me?

Asking these types of questions and getting clear answers could save you time and money down the road.

As technology evolves, so does the web design industry. Explore our insights into what the future holds for web design jobs in 2025 and stay ahead in this dynamic field.

Final Thought

If you are looking for a freelancer Marketing Or Brand Manager position, there is no better method than hiring an experienced professional in this business. The following guide is created for people who want to be successful at freelancing marketing brand management.

I hope that this article has cleared a few things up and given you some insights into the world of marketing brand management. So if you have a basic understanding of marketing, branding, and SMM you can easily scale strong results in a highly competitive environment.

FAQs

What should I ask a PR agency before hiring them?

Before hiring a PR agency, inquire about their experience in your industry, their track record of successful campaigns, and the strategies they propose for your business.

How can a PR firm help grow my business?

A PR firm can help grow your business by enhancing your brand visibility, creating positive media coverage, and managing your reputation to attract new customers and opportunities.

What are the key benefits of B2B PR strategies?

B2B PR strategies can build credibility for your brand, establish thought leadership, foster industry relationships, and generate valuable leads and partnerships.

How can I measure the success of PR campaigns?

The success of PR campaigns can be measured through metrics like media coverage, brand mentions, website traffic, social media engagement, and lead generation.

Should I choose a PR firm with specialized industry knowledge?

Opting for a PR firm with specialized industry knowledge can be advantageous as they will understand your target audience, media landscape, and relevant trends better.

How Do You Find A Freelancer For This Job?

The first step is to find someone who’s knowledgeable about what you need and can effectively communicate with you about it. This usually means a professional who has worked in the industry before. They will know what’s important and what’s not (and how to explain it).

What Kind Of Skills Should I Look For In A Freelancer?

For PR or brand management, communication skills are essential. You want someone who can listen well and express their ideas clearly. As with any other project, it’s important that your freelancer understands what they’re doing not just telling people “yes” when asked if they’ve done something before. If they don’t understand the basics of public relations or marketing, they probably won’t be able to do much for you.

Can I Just Hire Anyone?

Unfortunately, no! It may seem tempting to hire someone off the street, but this is rarely a good idea. You need an experienced professional who knows how to manage their time wisely and present themselves professionally when.

Costantine Edward

Costantine Edward is a digital marketing expert, freelance writer, and entrepreneur who helps people attain financial freedom. I’ve been working in marketing since I was 18 years old and have managed to build a successful career doing what I love.