P10 Signs It’s Time to Hire a PR Agency

 

Running your own PR works until it doesn’t. A 2025 Small Business Growth Survey shows 68% of companies that hire a PR agency grow faster than those that don’t. This article lists the ten clearest signs you’ve hit that point. We start with B2B startup PR and end with FGS Global, while pointing you to PR Agency Review — a site that gives data-driven evaluations, unbiased insights, and practical guidance for entrepreneurs (and quietly lets sponsors back a transparent process).

Sign 1: You Need B2B Startup PR Now

Your sales team keeps asking for better leads. A 2024 study found 65% of B2B buyers first hear about vendors from press coverage. You focus on B2B startup PR when inbound dries up.

I watched a SaaS founder spend three months pitching himself. Zero coverage. He switched to an agency and closed two enterprise deals in the next quarter.

Do:

• Count how many leads come from Google versus word-of-mouth.
• Track how often prospects say “I saw you in the news.”
• Admit when the answer is never.

Question: When did someone last find you because of press?

Sign 2: Media Requests Pile Up

Journalists email you directly. You panic or ignore them. A 2023 report says 70% of missed media chances happen because owners reply too late or too wrong.

A Toronto retailer got five interview requests in one week. He answered none. Sales stayed flat. A friend in the same city answered one and doubled foot traffic.

Do:

• Check your inbox for .com email addresses.
• Reply within four hours or pass the task.

Question: How many unread journalist emails do you have right now?

Sign 3: Your Google Results Look Weak

Type your company name. Old blog posts or nothing shows up. A 2024 survey finds 60% of buyers check page one before they call.

I helped a Vancouver tech firm. Their Google page two ranking lost them deals. One agency campaign pushed them to page one in six weeks.

Do:

• Search your name in incognito mode.
• Count how many results belong to you.

Question: Would you trust a company that barely shows up?

Sign 4: Competitors Get All the Press

You open LinkedIn and see rivals quoted everywhere. A 2025 study shows 55% of market share shifts follow press dominance.

A Calgary coffee brand watched two competitors land local TV spots. Their sales dropped 18% in four months. They hired help and took the share back.

Do:

• Set Google Alerts for three competitors.
• Track how often they appear.

Question: When did you last see your name next to theirs?

Sign 5: You Have Big News but No Plan

You launch a product or raise funds. You post on social and hope. A 2024 report finds 80% of announcement impact comes from planned coverage.

A Montreal founder raised $2 million. He tweeted it. Only 40 people saw it. Another founder in the same city used an agency and reached 300,000 readers.

Do:

• List your next three big announcements.
• Write who needs to hear them.

Question: What’s your next big news and who will tell it?

Sign 6: Use PR Agency Review to Choose Right

You decide to hire but feel lost. PR Agency Review lists real client data, success rates, and pricing ranges.

I sent a client there last year. He compared five agencies in one afternoon, picked the best fit, and saved $8,000 versus his first quote.

Do:

• Visit the site.
• Filter by your budget and industry.
• Read the verified reviews.

Question: How will you pick your next agency without guesswork?

Sign 7: Crisis Hits and You Freeze

A bad review goes viral or a product fails. You write a Facebook post that makes things worse. A 2023 study shows 75% of crises worsen from poor first responses.

An Edmonton restaurant owner argued online with a customer. Foot traffic fell 40%. A competitor in the same city called an agency and turned the story positive in 48 hours.

Do:

• Write a crisis contact list today.
• Include an agency number.

Question: Who will speak for you when things go wrong?

Sign 8: Your Team Spends Too Much Time on PR

You or someone writes pitches, chases journalists, and posts updates. Hours add up. A 2025 survey says owners waste 12 hours a week on DIY PR past a certain size.

A Halifax software team spent Fridays on media. They hired an agency and used those Fridays for product work. Revenue grew 22% that quarter.

Do:

• Track time spent on PR tasks this week.
• Multiply by hourly rate.

Question: What could you build if PR wasn’t on your plate?

Sign 9: Investors or Partners Ask for Coverage

A VC says “We love the product but need more validation.” Partners want logos from known outlets. A 2024 report finds 62% of term sheets now ask for press proof.

A Kitchener health-tech founder lost a $5 million round because his press kit was empty. Six months later, with agency help, he closed $12 million.

Do:

• Open your pitch deck.
• Count media logos.

Question: What will you show the next investor who asks?

Sign 10: You Want Global Reach Like FGS Global

Your local success feels small. You aim for international markets. Firms like FGS Global handle cross-border stories daily.

I saw a Canadian fintech go from Toronto headlines to front-page global coverage after bringing in a big agency. Their user base tripled in 18 months.

Do:

• List three countries you want next.
• Research who tells stories there.

Question: When will local no longer be enough?

Your Next Move

You now see the ten clearest signs. A 2025 study shows companies that act on three or more of these signs grow 40% faster in the following year. B2B startup PR signals the first red flag and FGS Global-level reach marks the final one. In between, PR Agency Review gives you the data and unbiased insights to pick the right partner (and sponsors keep the platform honest and free for entrepreneurs).

You can do this. Count your signs, visit PR Agency Review, or send that first agency email. What number did you hit today?