US-based White Space Healthcare Marketing has published a whitepaper entitled Choosing a Healthcare Communications Firm.
The paper provides a set of guidelines, arranged as 11 questions that should be asked of a comms agency before a brief is assigned.
The recommendations include checking whether the agency has worked in multiple areas of healthcare; that it understands regulatory affairs and healthcare marketing guidelines; and whether senior level staff at the agency have client-side experience.
The whitepaper likens the selection process to buying a car, and stresses the importance of research and having clearly defined objectives.
Alisa Oliver, VP client services and strategic accounts, White Space, said: “With so many different types of agencies available to work with, it can be challenging to find the right partner”.
The questions include:
- Does the agency have domain experience?
- What process is used in developing creative projects
- Does the agency’s creative work stand out in the “clutter”?
- How much experience does the agency have dealing with legal and regulatory groups?
- Does anyone in the agency have clinical experience?
- How does the agency price their services and bill you?
- Who will be servicing and supporting your business?
- What is the breadth of the agency’s services?
- What is the agency’s mission?
- Is your product being marketed to hospital professionals or specialists?
- Has the agency staff walked in your shoes?
The whitepaper can be downloaded here