A well-executed PR campaign can help build brand awareness, credibility, and reputation, ultimately increasing sales and revenue. However, devising and executing a successful PR strategy requires expertise, experience, and time, which is why many businesses hire a PR agency.
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The Indian PR industry grew by 13% in 2022, estimated at $260 million. It now accounts for 8.5% of the Asia-Pacific PR industry. And the growth doesn’t seem to slow down anytime soon.
However, choosing the right PR agency can be daunting, especially with many available options. In this blog, we’ve compiled a list of the 20 best PR agencies in India in 2023. We’ll also discuss why you should hire a PR agency and provide best practices for choosing the right one for your company.
Let’s get started.
What Are PR Agencies?
Public Relations (PR) agencies are firms that help businesses build and maintain a positive image in the eyes of the public, media, and other stakeholders. They offer specialized services such as media relations, digital PR, brand building, crisis management, event management, social media management, influencer marketing, and content creation.
My advice to anyone looking to hire a PR agency is to prioritize transparency and communication. It is crucial to have a clear understanding of the agency's strategies, methodologies, and the metrics they use to measure success. Additionally, you must clearly understand the services they are paying for and the associated costs.
Corporate PR agencies work closely with clients to understand their objectives, target audience, and industry trends. They then develop tailored communication strategies and campaigns to effectively reach and engage the target audience. Furthermore, they leverage their expertise and networks to help clients to increase brand awareness, establish thought leadership, enhance reputation, manage public perception, and ultimately drive business growth.
Benefits of Hiring a PR Agency
The key benefits of hiring PR agencies in India include cost savings, better brand building, effective media relations, and better crisis management. Let’s understand these benefits in detail.
1. Expertise and Experience
Leading PR agencies have extensive expertise and experience in creating effective communication strategies aligning with their client’s objectives. They deeply understand the latest trends and best practices in public relations and can apply this knowledge to deliver measurable results.
2. Effective Media Relations
PR agencies have a vast network of established relationships with journalists, editors, and influencers across different media channels. This enables them to generate media coverage and publicity for their clients, increasing brand visibility and awareness. As a result, they can secure media placements that help to build a positive image of the company in the eyes of its target audience.
3. Improved Corporate Communications
A PR agency can help an organization develop a strong corporate identity and communicate its values and mission to stakeholders. They can also provide an objective and fresh perspective on a company’s communication strategies. This can lead to more innovative and effective communication strategies that help to achieve the company’s objectives.
4. Better Crisis Communications
In a crisis, a PR agency can provide timely and effective communication to manage the situation and mitigate damage to the company’s reputation. This can help minimize the crisis’s impact and maintain stakeholder confidence.
5. Reputation Management
A PR agency can help a company to build and manage a positive reputation by monitoring and responding to online and offline feedback. This helps build trust and credibility with customers, partners, and investors.
6. Cost Savings
Hiring a PR agency is cost-effective for businesses, especially for early-stage businesses. They offer a range of services for a fraction of the cost of building and managing an in-house team. Besides, since they help boost brand awareness, they can offer a high ROI in the short term.
How to Choose the Right PR Agency?
Choosing top PR agencies in India requires you to define your PR goals, check their track record, evaluate their team, and see if they fit your budget. Here’s everything in detail.
- Define your PR goals: Before you start your search, you need to define your PR goals. What do you want to achieve through PR? Who is your target audience, and what message do you want to communicate? Clarifying these questions will help you communicate your requirements effectively and guide your search for a PR agency.
- Research: Research PR agencies with experience in your industry or niche. To understand their strengths and capabilities, look at their website, case studies, and client testimonials. Shortlist the ones that seem like a good fit for your business.
- Check their track record: Evaluate the track record of the shortlisted agencies. Look at their past successes and failures and how they handled difficult situations. Check their client retention rate and ask for references from previous clients.
- Evaluate their team: Assess the team working on your account. Look at their experience, expertise, and skill set. Check if the agency has a dedicated team to your account or if they outsource the work.
- Trust: Schedule a meeting or call with the shortlisted agencies to understand their personalities, communication styles, and work ethics. Choose an agency that you feel comfortable with and can trust.
- Budget: Ensure that the agency can work within your budget. Discuss their fees and any additional charges upfront to avoid any surprises later.
- Strategy: Ask the shortlisted agencies to provide a proposed strategy and action plan for your PR campaign. Evaluate the plan’s quality and how it aligns with your goals and objectives.
- Communication: Effective communication is critical to the success of a PR campaign. Choose an agency that communicates well, responds to your needs, and provides regular reports. They should also be open to feedback and be willing to pivot strategies based on results.
Top 20 PR Agencies & Companies in India
The best PR agency for your business depends on the services you need and your budget. We have handpicked 20 PR agencies in India that offer impeccable service.
Agency Name | Founded Year | Services |
|---|---|---|
| 1992 | Public relations, public affairs, and business divisions | |
| 1997 | Corporate reputation, crisis management, public affairs | |
| 1983 | Brand purpose, product campaigns, crisis and issue management | |
| 2017 | Media Relations, Digital PR, Crisis Management | |
| 2001 | Business marketing, corporate, crisis and issues management | |
| 1952 | Public affairs, media research and analysis | |
| 1989 | Consumer marketing, policy and regulatory communications | |
| 1992 | Advisory and consulting services, investor relations | |
| 2003 | Client services, media strategy, data science | |
| 1988 | Business analytics, advertising, PR and entertainment | |
| 1992 | Brand consultancy, communication, direct, social, digital | |
| 1928 | Brand strategy, advertising, customer engagement and commerce | |
| 1994 | Employee communications, issues and crisis management | |
| 2000 | Brand communication, internal communications | |
| 2013 | Corporate reputation, advocacy & outreach, online image management | |
| 1927 | Behavioral science, content & publishing strategy, issues & crisis management | |
| 2000 | Public relations, media relations, Influencer management | |
| 2012 | Advisory consulting services, reputation counsel | |
| 2008 | Corporate PR, social welfare, media relations, crisis management | |
| 2007 | Investor relations, social media, public relations |
1. Genesis Burson-Marsteller
CEO: Prema Sagar
Services: Public relations, public affairs, and business divisions
Clients served: Dolby Technologies India, Cargill, Pitney Bowes Business Insight, Newby India, and more
Founded Year: 1992
Genesis Burson is considered one of the leading global PR agencies, with a strong presence for over 25 years. They work on a global level across 110 countries.
They leverage their global expertise and experience to help build a targeted, successful campaign. They aim to help clients with strategic thinking and program execution across various services, including reputation and crisis management, public affairs, and digital strategies.
Genesis Burson-Marsteller has set excellent benchmarks with its amazing creativity and imagination.
2. Adfactors PR
Adfactors PR
CEO: Madan Bahal
Services: Corporate reputation, crisis management, public affairs, frontier technology, media relations, and more
Clients served: State Bank of India, ICICI Bank, Bombay Stock Exchange, Vodafone India, Cairn India, Larsen and Toubro (L&T), and more
Founded Year: 1997
Adfactors PR is the fastest-growing and most-awarded PR conglomerate. They are a multi-specialist firm that offers a full gamut of public relations services.
Till now, they have served more than 300 clients in over 40 cities in India. Their client base is spread over various sectors, including largest corporations, conglomerates, financial institutions, young start-ups and unicorns, and governments.
This PR agency in India bagged many awards, such as Asia-Pacific Corporate-PA Consultancy of the Year in 2018, Asia-Pac Financial Consultancy of the Year in 2015 and 2013, and Global Financial Agency in 2015.
3. Waggener Edstrom
CEO: Melissa Waggener Zorkin
Services: Brand purpose, product campaigns, crisis and issue management, corporate communications, and more
Clients served: Allrecipes, Boehringer Ingelheim, VSP, Zoom+, and more
Founded Year: 1983
Waggener Edstrom is rightfully one of the best PR agencies that believe in the power of communications. They help build a strong story around your brand to move audiences to take positive action.
On a global level, they are a team of 1000 PR experts, including social media experts, data scientists, and strategists. They strongly understand the technology, health, and consumer sectors.
Waggener Edstrom aims to help you build a reputation and drive real business results.
4. Public Media Solution
Public Media Solution
CEO: Ravinder Bharti
Services: Media Relations, Digital PR, Crisis Management, Search Engine Optimization, Content Marketing, Fundraising Solutions, PPC Advertising, and more
Clients Served: Techila Global Services, Jack Louis, Rezolve.ai, iSync, KC Overseas Education, and more
Founded Year: 2017
Public Media Company is a renowned agency headquartered in Pune that provides its clients with end-to-end branding and PR services. The company has catered to several clients within and outside India by offering them an ideal bouquet of digital marketing services.
The company’s PR services include media relations, corporate communication, reputation management, and print media. Public Media Solutions helps its clients build their brand and propagate its essence across multiple platforms. Since its incorporation, the company’s content marketing services have delivered lakhs of words to clients.
Public Media Solution offers extensive fundraising solutions to capable startups, helping budding entrepreneurs approach investors and raise funds for their dream ventures.
5. Weber Shandwick
Weber Shandwick
CEO: Valerie Pinto
Offer services: Business marketing, corporate, crisis and issues management, consumer marketing, digital communications, media training, and more
Clients served: Qualcomm, Novartis, General Motors, ExxonMobil, Genentech, ExxonMobil and more
Founded Year: 2001
Weber Shandwick is a 20-year-old PR agency aiming to deliver deeper engagement and enduring results for clients.
They have a smart and consistent way of storytelling and building great PR communication with the customers. With almost two decades of experience, they are data-driven and culturally informed to deal with the ever-evolving business landscapes.
They have offices across six continents, providing local expertise and global reach per the client’s requirements.
6. Edelman
Edelman
CEO: Rakesh Thukral
Offer services: Public affairs, media research and analysis, employee engagement, and creative
Clients served: PayPal, Hewlett-Packard, Adobe, ConAgra, and more
Founded Year: 1952
Edelman is one of the leading communication agencies that has helped the world’s largest and most emerging organizations. They have a full-fledged team of 300 professionals carrying expertise in different areas.
They offer clients a truly integrated network and global approach to build a brilliant and robust reputation for the brand. Their diversified team has in-depth knowledge of cultures and issues that can have an impact.
They have been rewarded South Asia PR Agency of the Year – India by Campaign Asia Pacific for 2012, 2013, 2015, and 2017.
7. MSLGroup India
CEO: Amit Misra
Offer services: Consumer marketing, policy and regulatory communications, financial communications, digital and social media, and more
Clients served: Motors, Changi Airport Group, Monster Energy Drink, Videocon D2H, Sobha Developers, and more
Founded Year: 1989
MSL is one of the top PR agencies in India that have made global expansion recently. They provide strategic counseling and creative thinking for building the brand. They develop and help execute effective campaigns that can drive sales and promotion.
Their strength lies in engaging multiple perspectives and holistic thinking to build influence and deliver impact.
The firm has many awards — 2019 South Asia Consultancy of Year by PRWeek and Large Agency of the Year by Kaleido Awards (The Economic Times).
8. Perfect Relations
CEO: Dilip Cherian
Offer services: Advisory and consulting services, investor relations, seminars and conferences, digital and social media networking, and more
Clients served: Nokia, Bharti Airtel Ltd, Honda Motor Co, and more
Founded Year: 1992
Perfect Relation is an image management and communication firm with a deep understanding of South Asia’s market — its preferences and needs.
They have served many clients — a multinational corporate giant, a start-up, an upcoming cultural icon, a visiting sports team, or a pan-South Asia concept campaign. After understanding the brand’s requirements, they create unique strategies around it.
They have company-owned offices in 14 major cities of India, including Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, Chennai, Kolkata, and Hyderabad.
9. GroupM India
GroupM India
CEO: Prasanth Kumar
Services: Client services, media strategy, data science, media investment, & technology development
Clients served: Mindshare, MediaCom, Wavemaker, Essence, m/SIX, Xaxis, Motion Content Group, and more
Founded year: 2003
GroupM is a data-centric digital marketing service provider with six agencies. Their main headquarters is in New York City, with 400 offices worldwide, including India.
The main advantage of working with GroupM India is that they expose their clients to global operations and local expertise. They provide advertising and media services in various domains, such as social media marketing, sponsorships, sports marketing, consumer research, and more.
By investing in technology, GroupM India aims to shape the future in favor of its clients. Some of their popular client lists are Levi’s, Hero, Indian Oil, Tata, and more.
10. Madison Communications
CEO: Vanita Keshwani
Services: Business analytics, advertising, PR and entertainment, media, mobile, and more
Clients served: AIRTEL, GODREJ, ITC, KRAFT FOODS, MARICO, CHEVROLET, and more
Founded year: 1988
Madison World is India’s largest home-grown diversified communication group with over 24 units across 11 specialized functions. Some of their top clients are Uber. Raymond, Indiabulls, Snapdeal, and more.
A communication agency uses insights, expertise, creativity, experience, and business sense to increase their clients’ profits. Madison Communication is one of the best PR agency in India that continually challenges the existing thought process and develops new radical ways to lead.
Their 31-year-old journey began with Godrej & Nelco accounts.
11. Leo Burnett
CEO: Dheeraj Sinha
Offer services: Brand consultancy, communication, direct, social, digital, mobile, eCommerce, retail, and shopper marketing.
Clients served: Amazon, Colors, Wipro, Emami, lingerie brand Amante, ITC Foods, Jyothy Laboratories, and more
Founded year: 1992
Leo Burnett is a multi-disciplinary solutions company that believes in having a purpose while designing a marketing campaign. Some of their top clients are Amazon India, HDFC Bank, and OLX.in.
Their primary focus is on integration and specialization, which makes them unique in the market. They have served clients from various sectors, including FMCG, Insurance service providers, petroleum leaders, and more.
This PR agency in India is powered by its HumanKind operating system that brings together data, creativity, and technology to drive success for clients.
12. Ogilvy PR
CEO: Kunal Jeswani
Offer services: Brand strategy, advertising, customer engagement and commerce, digital transformation, PR and influence, and partnerships
Clients served: NASCAR, Philips, Coke Zero, IKEA, UPS, Nationwide and Tiffany & Co, and more
Founded year: 1928
Ogilvy PR first opened up its office in New York. Since then, they have branched out their operation across 131 offices in 83 countries.
Ogilvy India is one of India’s largest and most awarded communication agencies that aim to help their client’s businesses grow. They use an integrated approach and assess the brand’s needs before designing their campaign.
They are well-known for producing iconic, culture-changing marketing campaigns since their inception.
13. Ketchum Sampark
Ketchum Sampark
CEO: Girish Huria
Services: Employee communications, issues and crisis management, public affairs, and digital
Clients Served: Earnest Towers Pvt. Ltd., Indian Metals & Ferro Alloys Limited (IMFA), Netmeds Marketplace Limited, and more
Founded year: 1994
Ketchum Sampark is a part of Ketchum Inc., a leading global communications firm with operations in more than 70 countries across six continents. They are one of the most trusted communication and digital consultancies in India.
With a proven track of 25 years, they have consistently appeared in the top 10 consultancies in India. They have served clients across various domains, including technology, corporate, healthcare, and finance.
They thoroughly understand the commercial, political, and media characteristics of the Indian market.
14. The PRactice
CEO: Nandita Lakshmanan
Services: Brand communication, internal communications, corporate reputation management, social responsibility and impact, and communication design
Clients Served: ReshaMandi, Amazon, Pallium India, MFAR, and more
Founded Year: 2000
The PRactice is one of the top public relations companies in the country and has been delivering exceptional results for over two decades. Not only do they have a proven strategy to enhance business reputation, but they also help build strong employee morale, thereby increasing retention.
For businesses with a plan to support the environment and improve sustainability, The PRactice has a dedicated team to ideate and implement. With offices in Mumbai, Delhi, and Bangalore, their network is spread over 160+ cities in India.
15. Saints Art
CEO: Puneet Sharma
Services: Corporate reputation, advocacy & outreach, online image management, the share of voice, crisis communications, perception mapping, and analytics & brand performance
Clients Served: Muthoot Microfin, Bose, Barista, Builder.ai, Likee, and more
Founded Year: 2013
Saints Art is a top PR agency in India that offers strategic PR solutions for various industries and regions. With over 500 brands in their portfolio, the agency’s team of skilled PR and communication experts has helped create successful campaigns and strategies for Indian and international brands, businesses, and individual personalities.
With a keen focus on innovation and leveraging their deep understanding of various sectors, Saints Art has become one of India’s leading strategic PR firms, offering novel ideas and unconventional solutions driving disruption.
16. Hill & Knowlton
CEO: AnnaMaria DeSalva
Services: Behavioral science, content & publishing strategy, issues & crisis management, media relations, partnership marketing, and public affairs
Clients Served: Ford, GSK, Gillette, Shell, SABIC, and more
Founded Year: 1927
H+K is a global communications company that partners with clients in over 70 offices across 40 markets. The company’s approach combines performance and purpose to help clients achieve their business objectives and manage risks effectively. H+K leverages owned, earned, and shared media to create integrated communication campaigns that bring stories to life and achieve measurable impact.
With sector-focused teams with deep industry knowledge and expertise, H+K delivers insight-led ideas underpinned by data and analytics, creativity, and storytelling. The company’s innovative approach enables them to address unique client challenges and drive the future of public relations.
17. Mediagraphix
CEO: Neena Gulati
Services: Public relations, media relations, Influencer management, event PR, digital PR, media training, and content marketing
Clients Served: Puma, The Palette, Reebok, NudeAudio, Blue Mount, and more
Founded Year: 2000
Mediagraphix PR has more than 20 years of experience in the Public Relations industry, making them one of the leading PR agencies in India. Their services assist small businesses, startups, corporate houses, and medium enterprises establish a brand position in the market.
Mediagraphix PR’s personalized approach and expertise in building credibility-driven business conversions make them a one-stop favorite PR firm for renowned brands across various industries. They assign a personal strategist, a team of professional journalists, and PR experts to execute clients’ communications plans for their media goals.
18. PG Communication
CEO: Pallavi Goorha Kashyup
Services: Advisory consulting services, reputation counsel,
Clients Served: Vibgyor Brand Services, Bharat Flooring, Sunstone Business School, Brandlogist, and more
Founded: 2012
PG Communication is a PR agency with experience in journalism and communications, offering comprehensive solutions to clients from planning to delivery. They specialize in building communication strategies and providing cost-effective plans adaptable to changing market conditions.
They have worked with various companies in different industries, delivering successful assignments for over a decade. They have recently expanded their communication to digital platforms through a new wing called PG Digital, a digital marketing agency with a dedicated team of digital marketers focused on delivering customized solutions and results.
19. Carmine Communications
CEO: Minesh Raja
Services: Corporate PR, social welfare, media relations, crisis management, internal communication, public affairs & advocacy, and CSR advisory
Clients Served: Nutralite, Everest, Piramal, Abbott, and more
Founded: 2008
Carmine Communication is a leading consultancy firm that specializes in corporate reputation management. They offer expert advice and innovative solutions to help companies build and sustain a positive image.
With a team of experienced professionals, Carmine Communication has successfully executed effective corporate communication campaigns and created participative platforms for various respected businesses, social organizations, government authorities, and ministries in India. Their commitment to customer satisfaction and delivering excellent work has earned them numerous accolades, happy clients, and unmatched growth.
20. Value 360
CEO: Kunal Kishore Sinha
Services: Investor relations, social media, public relations, crisis management, content marketing, influencer marketing, and internal communications
Clients Served: MG Motor, Evocus, Oriflame, Droom, Groww, and more
Founded: 2007
Value 360 Communications is a full-service communications firm with technology at its core. They have built several brands from scratch, helping market-leading and emerging businesses to establish themselves in the Indian market.
Over the years, Value 360 Communications has grown significantly and continuously expanded its presence across geographies and sectors. The company is evolving to become an end-to-end comms-tech firm that offers traditional PR services and cutting-edge communication tools.
Also read: A Beginner’s Guide to Internet Branding
Wrapping Up
India is home to some of the best PR agencies in the world that offer a wide range of services to cater to clients’ diverse needs. From crisis management to brand building, these agencies have proven their expertise time and time again, helping businesses achieve their goals and maintain a positive reputation in the market. By understanding the client’s needs and providing tailor-made solutions, these agencies have earned a reputation for being reliable and trustworthy partners for any communication-related needs.
Frequently Asked Questions
A PR agency is responsible for managing the reputation and communication of a company or individual. They create and implement strategies to promote positive news, manage negative images, build relationships with journalists and media outlets, and organize events to generate publicity.
A PR agency can help your business by creating and implementing a comprehensive PR strategy that improves your brand reputation, increases your visibility and credibility, and enhances your relationships with your audience. They can also help you respond to negative news and crises before they become problematic.
Some common mistakes PR agencies make include not understanding their client's brand or target audience, not tailoring their strategies to specific media outlets or channels, and not measuring the effectiveness of their campaigns.
The timeline for seeing results from PR efforts varies depending on the specific goals and strategies. However, it typically takes at least a few months to see meaningful results, and ongoing efforts are necessary to maintain and build upon those results.
The cost of PR agencies in India varies depending on the agency's scope of work, experience, and reputation. Generally, PR agencies charge based on a retainer fee, ranging from a few thousand rupees per month for smaller businesses to lakhs of rupees per month for larger companies.
Rohit Rajpal is an accomplished writer and data enthusiast passionate about unraveling the intricacies of information and data. With a deep understanding of the subject matter, Rohit strives to simplify complex concepts and make them accessible to readers. Rohit’s expertise in the field and his knack for clear and concise communication make his blog an invaluable resource for those seeking clarity in the data-driven world.
