FAQs

Careers

• How do I apply for a job?

  Visit our Careers page to find the job that you would like to apply for. Once you have found the job, click on Apply Now in the bottom right hand corner of the job.

• How do I know that you have received my application?

  You will receive a pop-up notification confirming receipt of your application. If you are unsure you can email your application through to info@elevatecom.com.au. 

• What file formats can I use for my resume and covering letter?

  You can upload your resume and covering letter in either PDF (.pdf) or Word format (.docx or .doc). 

Our services

• What is PR?

  Public Relations (PR) is the practice of maintaining and building positive relationships most commonly between an organisation and its stakeholders (think current or potential consumers, site / store team members, suppliers and support office staff). 

  To communicate your message to external stakeholders, such as consumers, this is done often through utilising traditional media channels such as newspapers, magazines, radio and TV.

  During the past 10 or so years this has extended to messages communicated via the digital or social platforms, such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn.

  While this type of online, social communication generally comes under Digital Communications, it is an important part of PR and communications as another channel to maintain and build positive relationships. 

  Life isn't perfect, we know that - that's why good PR practice is also being up-to-date with your industry and when possible pre-empting potentially damaging issues before they arise and dealing with these issues before they transition to crises. 

  See our list of services here. Have another questions? We'd love to hear from you! 

• I can just do this myself? Why should I use a professional company such as Elevate?

  We love your confidence! Even if you had experience in PR and communications in the past, the industry constantly changes. 

  The Elevate team lives and breathes PR. We keep a close eye on the media landscape and know how your news will gain the best traction. 

  We are constantly in touch with journalists, editors and feature writers across various Australian industries so know how to pitch your story to each media outlet to ensure success. 

  An external agency looking at your business certainly has its benefits! Being passionate, dedicated and entrepreneurial are fantastic assets, however, fresh eyes are also important! 

  We can also recommend other services to build your business such as internal, digital or branding communications. Check out our services here. 

• I only have a small company and a limited budget so is there anything you can offer me?

  We have a number of options to suit various budgets from starter packs to longterm PR and communications retainers. 

  At first instance we meet to discuss your goals. We then develop a proposal inclusive of all recommended services, complete with a budget. 

  Our second meeting is discussing the budget and your priorities to arrive at a mutual agreement. 

• What should I expect to pay for a PR program?

  Because each potential client has varying communications requirements, we cannot provide you a 'ball park' figure.

  What we can provide is a promise to meet with you and discuss your objectives to provide the best options for you to succeed. We then draft a proposal outlining an effective PR and communications program and budget. 

  Our second meeting is discussing the budget and your priorities to arrive at a mutual agreement. 

  We know businesses change and grow - that's why we're flexible. We keep in constant contact with you and update the program as your priorities and direction changes. 

  Contact us now to book in a meeting with us! 

• What should I expect to pay for an event?

  Similarly to a PR and communications program, we cannot give you a quote prior to meeting with you and discussing the details of your event. 

  The following points will be discussed at your initial meeting with us. 

  • Number of delegates
  • Would you like a proposal for both overseas or domestic locations? Or both? 
  • Who are your delegates? (Franchisees, suppliers, executive team members?)
  • What sort of activities do your delegates enjoy? (Not sure? That's what we're here for! We'll provide a variety of options)
  • Is this the first time your company has held a conference? If not, we'd love you to tell us about your previous conferences and what you liked or didn't like!

  Look forward to meeting with you and starting the organisation process of your exciting event! Contact us today. 

• Why is a Communication Strategy so important?

  In deciding when your business or organisation is ready for a communication strategy the simple answer is; there’s no time like right now!

  It doesn’t matter whether you’re a sole trader or a large business, you have a story to tell, clients or customers to talk to and a community of like-minded individuals to foster.

  A compelling communication strategy is a ‘must have’ for every business and it needs to take into account your sales strategy, consumer research, competitor analysis and market insights. Its focus should not just be on external communication, it should also include internal communication as well. If your business has employees your communication strategy should also empower them to share good news about your company.

  There are many different approaches to developing a communication strategy but the basic principles are the same. The following seven points outline things you need to consider before your business can develop a strategy.

  1. Define your objective

  2. Determine your targets

  3. Define your story

  4. Choose your channels

  5. Ensure your budget matches your ambitions

  6. Resources and timescales

  7. Measure the outcomes

  The advent of social media and other digital technologies has resulted in an explosion of communication channels. These channels are very dynamic and the speed of change and the amount of content they require to function effectively on behalf of a business can be overwhelming. That’s when businesses turn to Elevate to help develop a communication strategy, and ensure it’s executed effectively. We’d love to talk to you about a communication strategy for your business - no doubt reading this post will have given you a few things to think about before you talk to us!

Working with a PR agency

• How do I know I have found the right PR agency for my business?

  If you’re in Brisbane and looking for PR agencies, you’re in luck! From global conglomerates to boutique PR and freelancers, there really is something for everyone in the River City. But with so many choices, where do you start? If you’re a medium to large business, you will want to make sure your PR counsel has all 3 Cs to support you – capability, capacity and connection.

  Here’s what you should ask your prospective PR partner, whether you are seeking a competitive pitch, or simply meeting with someone based off a referral.

  1. Capability

  Firstly, you need to make sure they are capable. Not all PR agencies are created equal so here’s what you should ask to make sure the PR managers on your account can propel you forward:

  • Scope of work – are they experienced in what you need done? Some agencies excel in traditional media relations, others community engagement. Make sure they’ve done the work you’re asking them to do and ask for examples.
  • Sector – in addition to knowing they can do the work, do they know enough about your industry to be compelling in their execution? This is particularly important if your area is niche or complex, because the PR manager needs to be able to articulate your story well to journalists and other stakeholders. Technology, health, science and infrastructure related industries should really look for agencies that have worked in those spaces before.
  • Individual – ask who will be on your account and if they have the experience needed to deliver the KPIS. Sometimes agencies can pitch past account experience if it’s a really specialised area, but all those staff may have since left the business. This is ok as long as the General Manager understands the business as they can guide their team.

  2. Capacity

  The Government tender process does this really well, and it’s something private enterprise can engage in too – that is, to check the agency has the resources to manage the work.

  • Personnel available – it’s always a good idea to make sure your agency has accommodated for the possibility of working with you. You don’t want to sign on with an agency only to find out every staff member is under the pump with their own clients, and can’t manage the extra workload. Agencies should have a capacity plan in place that they can speak to, demonstrating the ability to take on your account effectively.

  3. Connection

  This has a dual meaning - you want to make sure you connect well with the agency team and you also want to make sure the agency has the right connections in business to amplify your cause.

  • Connection with the team – agency cultures vary from highly corporate right through to super casual and everything in between, so it’s a great idea to meet at least once with a prospective PR agency to get a feel for fit. Try to meet with the General Manager and at least one other member who is likely to be on the account, as its normal for the Manager to step away from the day to day activity and focus on supervisory and top line strategy moving forward.
  • Connections in the industry – ask the team the kind of media and journalists they would recommend you getting to know, suss out their other clients who you might be able to leverage a business relationship with and listen to the experiences and brands they mention that you could draw from. Relationships are so important in PR. By engaging in established relationships, more time can be spent on what matters most, rather than trying to build those connections to start with.

  Remember as a client you’re in the driver’s seat when it comes to selecting the best PR agency to work with. You know your business the best so you will know who feels right when you start meeting and speaking further. Make sure you feel confident in the agency’s ability and that you trust them with your business IP – as they really should become an extension of your team. That’s what we strive to be at Elevate! If you’re looking for PR, email us here and we’d be happy to meet.

• What is more beneficial - a retainer or project fee?

  The services PR agencies offer for retained clients versus projects are very similar for the most part. Obviously the goals, objectives and the scope of work will dictate what is required, but for the most part they are speaking the same language. Where things start to really differentiate is when the conversation moves to timings and budget. Projects work to a set deadline (that often feels like a countdown) and a fixed budget, while retainers are ongoing with the budget set every month which also comes with the opportunity to adjust the scope of work to accommodate for overflow work from a new project or other ad hoc activity.

  It seems almost standard to keep projects and retainers very separate, but as the industry continues to move further into an integrated offering, it makes more sense to bring both together and look at what the overarching goal is. This question needs to be upfront and answered during the conceptual stage of the project and should flow into the briefing process for the benefit of the business but also the PR, marketing, creative or advertising agencies being offered the opportunity to pitch.

  The benefits of appointing an agency and having one of their consultants embedded within your own team are greater than just having an extra body on the ground. Apart from having an experienced practitioner within arms reach, you also get access to an agency who can provide you with insights, intelligence and creative thinking without having to source additional resources or approach additional suppliers unnecessarily 

  For any business or organisation getting ready to embark on a project, it is worth taking the time to meet with an agency such as Elevate and discussing your project as well as the wider goals of the business.