Tips For Establishing a Public Affairs Campaign Budget
Public relations and media outreach are vital parts of any public affairs campaign. But how much should you spend? Here are some guidelines for setting up a budget for public affairs campaigns. Spend a minimum of 5% of your total campaign budget on these three areas. These areas will make your campaign more successful. Before you begin to plan your budget, think about whether the effort put into your campaign is worth it.
Costs of media relations Media relations should be part your public affairs campaign budget, regardless of whether you are running for office, promoting new products, or launching a brand new product. How do you decide what to include in your budget? It can be tricky to calculate the costs of media relations without first knowing your target market and what your audience wants to hear. There are many ways media outreach can be more effective while still keeping costs down.
Take into account all the components of your media relations strategy. Prints, exhibitions and workshops, seminars, advertising, taxes and services are all included. Add the mandatory contingency cost to this number. You should aim to budget at least 15% of the total cost. Some PR firms offer their services for a fee, while others bill by the piece. Depending on the level of coverage you need, you may have to pay for entertainment, travel, and workshops.
Costs of consulting services There are many different ways to factor the cost of consulting services into your public affairs campaign budget. A PR agency staffer might need to travel to different cities to attend focus group meetings. This requires travel costs, as well as distribution costs. This expense must be taken into account if the research results are intended for public consumption. Budgets for travel are often the most overlooked. Even routine travel should not be overlooked. These costs can be calculated as a monthly charge for Public Affairs Campaign activities. This means that the client will pay the exact same amount each month.
The type of work done by a PR consultant will determine the amount charged. Consultancy fees range from hourly rates for executive work to monthly or annual retainerships. Some PR programmes are performed on an ad hoc basis, based on the volume of work covered. In either case, a PR agency must have a clear accountability system and an intelligent resource.
Travel costs PR agency staff are often required to attend focus groups and research studies. It is important to include travel costs in your campaign budget. These events often require travel and other expenses, such as distribution of research results. While this may not seem like an important expense, it's crucial for your budget. Remember that prices for airfare and lodging change frequently, so it's important to get an accurate estimate of the real costs of your trip. A template for building expenses is one way to estimate the true cost. There are many templates that can be used to cover different types of travel expenses.