The secret to measuring PR

June 19, 2025

By James Saville, Partner at Goldbug. James leads media and press strategy across PR campaigns.

Brands increasingly want to know they’re getting bang for their buck – and so they should.

While budgets are being scrutinised more than ever, it’s our job as an agency to define and demonstrate the impact and engagement-factor of our work, whether that’s brand awareness or perception change.

Requests for different metrics evolve as different channels emerge. But the consistent gradual change is the need to see impact over reach.

If it’s press coverage you’re after, it must be good quality with the messaging pulling through loud and clear – not just a mention of the campaign or client name.

It must serve a purpose.

The other expectation is value – ensuring there’s something that can add substance to the business internally and for stakeholders and customers, beyond press coverage.

This means integrating with internal comms, marketing and brand while also being helpful to sales teams and frontline employees.

So what is the secret to PR measurement?

It’s understanding exactly what you want to measure, why, and laying out what good looks like versus exceptional.

It’s strategic-thinking, value for money but also high-quality delivery on engagement and impact.

‘The 5 As’ are a good start, based on the AMEC Measurement Framework:

  • ALIGN. What does the business need to achieve – whether that’s a change of position or uptake of a new product? Now what are the communication objectives that can help?
  • AUDIENCE. Which audience is your absolute priority? And stop saying ‘everyone’. Now work out where they are, how they consume information or entertainment. How are you going to get to them?
  • APPROACH. Set clear and specific targets next to a plan of attack. For example, getting press coverage in a particular publication so you are able to influence a specific group of people.
  • ACTION. Creating a combination of assets that serve the goal and only the goal.
  • AFTERS. Measuring impact and outcome as well as output and outtakes. In other words, not only measuring the amount of press coverage, reach, Opportunity To See and engagement but what happened as a result, whether that’s a change of perception, brand awareness or sign-ups/conversions. Even if it’s understanding how people feel about your brand.

         

             You should expect nothing less from your agency.

Goldbug
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