Choosing a Communication Partner is not a Bargain Hunt
It’s not like pasta shapes – the biggest and cheapest package isn’t the best
Recently 4TC was invited to tender for a piece of business – it doesn’t matter who or what it was, or in what sector, or the specific services that were required – suffice it to say that it required full-service communication counsel.
Ultimately, we weren’t appointed to manage the account – but it’s a competitive marketplace and, to borrow a phrase, you can’t win them all.
However.
A comparison between the scores awarded to the 4TC tender submission and that of the successful tenderer showed that ours had outperformed in all areas related to the delivery of services – understanding the client’s requirements, programme effectiveness, the quality of the proposed team, and account management.
In fact, in every area except day-rate cost 4TC’s submission scored noticeably higher.
Despite an annual budget for fees being provided within which all tenders had to fit, a decision was made to spend on quantity, rather than quality. The implication is that the larger the number of hours provided, the greater the value of the service.
Professional communication services – PR, corporate affairs, public affairs, internal communication, crisis and issues management – are not one-size-fits-all.
All providers and practitioners are not equal.
Communication services are not like own-label dried pasta shapes – the bigger and cheaper the packet, Tesco, Aldi or Lidl, the better.
Choosing a communication partner should be based on a series of factors, before taking cost into consideration. They are:
- The people running your account, their experience and expertise. What have they done and what can they do?
- The quality of the team’s thinking and their understanding of the environment in which you operate.
- The quality of the team’s proposed programme, their ability to deliver on the programme and to work well with you.
- The team’s ability to add value, as well as their flexibility and commitment.
“This is where the value of communication lies.
Of course, price matters and if all of these factors are taken into account and your potential partners are deemed to be equally competent then – but only then – should day-rate cost become a factor.
But if your potential partners are not equally competent according to these criteria, and yet they are all proposing to work within your overall budget parameters, then day-rate is unimportant.
Value – not cost – is what drives the decision.”