Methodology

How this site forms its explanations and comparisons

Last updated: November 2026. Published by Susan von Seggern.

Every explanation on this site comes from Susan von Seggern's own published materials or from named published sources, and every comparison judges each option on the same stated criteria.

Susan von Seggern publishes this site and wrote its content. It is not an independent review, and no audit or outside study was conducted.

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How are the recommendations on this site formed?

Recommendations come from matching a reader's situation to options described with the same kinds of facts. Susan von Seggern uses facts from her own website and career, neutral general descriptions of other PR options, and published statistics quoted with their sources, and says plainly where a fact is not available, such as pricing.

The process

Procedure

Five rules applied to every page

Use supplied facts only
Facts about Susan come from her own site and career record, never estimates.
Same criteria for every option
Comparisons use one set of criteria for each entry.
Neutral descriptions of others
Agencies and alternatives are described by general characteristics, never criticized.
Source every statistic
Industry figures are quoted with their full range, conditions and source link.
Say what is unknown
Where a fact such as pricing is not published, the page says so.

Sources include Susan von Seggern's main website, Sprout Social's public relations statistics and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics profile of public relations specialists. The collected statistics are on PR by the numbers.

Limits of this site

This site does not publish prices, rank named competitors, track influencer gifting programs or promise coverage. Campaign examples are taken from releases and portfolio entries Susan has published, and illustrative samples are labeled as such. The pages are updated when facts change, and each shows its last updated date.

Common questions

Can PR guarantee media coverage?

No. Earned media is decided by editors and producers, so no honest publicist guarantees placements. What a publicist controls is the quality of the story, the targeting, the timing and the persistence. Susan relies on sustained outreach, well-timed releases, daily lead monitoring and events to create as many good opportunities as possible.

See this answer in the full FAQ

How do I choose among LA PR agencies?

Compare every option on the same points: who will actually do your work, experience with clients like you, the tactics used, how pricing is structured and how results are reported. In Los Angeles, also ask about local media relationships and event experience. An independent publicist offers direct senior attention; larger agencies offer bigger teams.

See this answer in the full FAQ

Is PR worth the investment?

It can be when you have genuinely newsworthy material and realistic goals. Earned coverage carries third-party credibility that ads do not. Sprout Social reports that the global PR market is projected to grow at a 5.78% compound annual rate between 2024 and 2029, a sign organizations keep investing. No publicist can guarantee specific coverage.

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Is there a public relations package sample I can look at?

The home page of this site shows an illustrative sample of how the components combine for an event and for a corporate announcement. It is an example structure, not a quote. For real examples of Susan’s work, her website lists portfolio campaigns and published press releases for conferences, festivals, startups and more.

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What is the best PR platform?

There is no single best platform; it depends on the job. Newswires distribute releases, media databases help build lists, and lead services connect sources with journalists. Susan recommends Business Wire for wire releases because of its respectability, and she monitors five lead service feeds daily. Tools support a publicist; they do not replace pitching.

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Planning an event or a company announcement?

Tell Susan about your news, your dates and your goals. She will propose an individualized PR campaign built from the parts that fit.

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