When deciding to partner with a PR firm, your garden business is making a big investment.

Signing a yearly or multi-year contract is the most common practice for PR firms, which means you need to be completely ready for the commitment.

One way to make sure you maximize your partnership with your PR firm is to prep and ask tough questions about communication, price, and expectations before you begin.

Get the most out of your partnership with a PR firm by using these 4 tips to get the biggest bang for your buck.

1. Communicate Often

For your PR firm to really get what you do and help promote your message, you need to keep them in the loop.

Set up a weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly meeting to make sure your firm has all the specifics they need to promote timely events, new products, and company news.

2. Listen to the Experts' Advice

No doubt one of the reasons you signed on with a PR firm is to better promote, brand, and communicate your business's messages. The firm you're working with knows what journalists are interested in, they know what resonates on social media, and they have the experience to support their ideas.

That being said, when your garden business is working with a public relations firm, you really need to listen to their advice.

When you generate a marketing or story idea internally, run it past your PR firm to seek their expert advice.

The collaboration that stems from this will always be better than the initial idea.

3. Work Together

If your PR firm is pitching timely interviews or stories to the media, be sure to respond quickly.

You want your firm to have all the tools, info, and coordinating to make as many stellar media stories happen as possible!

Have one point person at your garden business to talk with your firm about setting up interviews with reporters, so that the process is as smooth and flawless as can be!

4. Lay it All Out

Be really open with your PR partners about what is working for you--and what isn't. Let them know what media coverage, stories, and events affected the bottom line the most.

The more you let them know what you like and what you don't, the more fruitful the partnership will become.

Download our e-Book Below for More Tips to Grow Your Business with Public Relations!