Around about this time last year, we ran our "Most Admired PR Agency: The People's Choice" poll. It caused something of a stir at the time, with even the Daily Telegraph getting in on the act.
For those who might be interested, We Are Social picked up the gong in the end, narrowly squeezing Ketchum and Taylor Herring into second and third places.
Well, never to be swayed, we thought that we would revisit it again and once again see who (as the PR Week Awards confirms their Agency of the Year), the People's choice of "Most Admired PR Agency" might be.
Therefore, from the entirely undemocratic list of agencies (which is basically those that were suggested by various folk in Seventy Seven PR), who would you make agency of the year ...?
NB. Once again, if you can avoid voting for your own agency, it might make it a bit more interesting. As with last year, we can't entirely police it, of course, but go on, give it a go ...
UPDATE: Please don't be voting for Ketchum. They are now officially out of the running in this. And at some point, it's possible that Ketchum will ask why they've been excluded from the results of this poll. Just to pre-empt them asking, we offer this, which is today's IP address sources table ... Guys, honestly ...
www.ketchum.com
Posted by: Girish Balachandran | 13 September 2010 at 10:59 AM
I vote Ketchum because it works in the present thinking to the future.
Posted by: walter marion | 13 September 2010 at 11:05 AM
To both of you chaps (Walter Marion, Chief Financial Officer of Ketchum Italy and Girish Balachandran, Associate Director KetchumPleon) I would say that on the one hand I admire your loyalty.
And on the other that you might try re-reading the polite request in the post ...
"Once again, if you can avoid voting for your own agency, it might make it a bit more interesting. As with last year, we can't entirely police it, of course, but go on, give it a go ..."
Thanks, tho, for stopping by ...!
Posted by: James Gordon-MacIntosh | 13 September 2010 at 11:14 AM
Good work Ketchum staff, maybe you can learn something from this story: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-11107843
Posted by: Mark | 13 September 2010 at 11:33 AM
Dim and inane behaviour from Ketchum! I wonder if a Senior Dimwit sent a mass agency email ordering participation...?
Posted by: Martin Ballantine | 13 September 2010 at 11:40 AM
Based on my experience - direct and indirect - with several PR firms, I would vote for Epoch PR. But it is not on the list!
Posted by: Shefaly | 13 September 2010 at 11:43 AM
The vote was gamed by Ketchum last year too? http://t4w.blogs.com/spinningaround/2009/12/the-winners-of-most-admired-agency.html
Posted by: Ben Matthews | 13 September 2010 at 11:44 AM
You'd have thought that might've learned then too, would you not?! Otherwise, I might not have been quite so grumpy.
Posted by: James Gordon-MacIntosh | 13 September 2010 at 11:51 AM
I couldn't vote for my own even if I wanted to!
Posted by: Jon Silk | 13 September 2010 at 11:51 AM
Wait... We Are Social do PR now?
*votes for splendid..
Posted by: Mike | 13 September 2010 at 11:53 AM
Mike ... In a "broad church" sort of way. And am sure that they will be grateful!
Jon ... next year chap, next year.
Posted by: James Gordon-MacIntosh | 13 September 2010 at 11:56 AM
Well if there are so many high decision makers coming on this site because they love their company so much, let me take this opportunity to post my LinkedIn CV. I could be very helpful as a Social Media Analyst/Strategist.
http://uk.linkedin.com/in/joachimschulz
(Personal qualities? Curious and creative)
Posted by: Joachim | 13 September 2010 at 12:09 PM
I think I love Joachim. The best social media chancer going. Gawd bless you, young man ...
Posted by: James Gordon-MacIntosh | 13 September 2010 at 12:23 PM
Lexis PR ;-)
http://www.lexispr.com
http://twitter.com/LexisPR
Why? Because we create stuff like this: http://cokeurl.com/HappinessLondon
Posted by: Jamespoulter | 13 September 2010 at 12:39 PM
James,
Do you know what, I'd probably have included Lexis. You lot are a good outfit, but it's not been a great year financially from what I can make out, so that rather counted against you.
And on the Happiness Machine, c'mon, it won a crop of awards for "Coca-Cola and integrated interactive marketing agency Definition 6" ...
http://designtaxi.com/news/31845/Coca-Cola-Happiness-Machine-Wins-Top-Honors-at-the-2010-CLIO-Awards/
It's an absolutely amazing idea. But as far as I am aware, it wasn't Lexis'?
Posted by: James Gordon-MacIntosh | 13 September 2010 at 01:50 PM
You'd think PR people would be the first to realise the potential pitfalls of being seen to big up their own agency in this way.
Posted by: Rob Mortimer | 13 September 2010 at 02:05 PM
Lexis, Ketchum...who's next for the survey of doom?!
Posted by: Martin Ballantine | 13 September 2010 at 02:18 PM
I'm not claiming it was our 'idea' (as @sean376 has so helpfully pointed out') - but the link i posted above is a project we did for Coke which we shot, edited and seeded all from Lexis as a follow on to the original Definition 6 creative idea.
J
Posted by: Jamespoulter | 13 September 2010 at 03:04 PM
Alright, alright. In the spirit of fairness, let's leave it there on the Lexis baiting.
The reason Lexis was left out was due to its most recently reported numbers.
As to whether you guys are claiming the Coke Happiness Machine idea, well, the original comment suggests that might be the case. But you've clarified and I for one am sure it wasn't meant to read as it does.
All settled, eh?!
Posted by: James Gordon-MacIntosh | 13 September 2010 at 03:32 PM
Heh - only just around to reading the comments. Good to see we're all on form...
Posted by: Robin Grant, We Are Social | 13 September 2010 at 09:34 PM
Hi all. I take full responsibility for unleashing the Ketchum tiger. We love what we do and where we do it, and if you give us a chance to say so, we'll take it. (And there are quite a few of us around the world.) I do apologise if we skewed the numbers or upset anyone in the process. Good luck to the remaining candidates (I like a lot of them but think Three Pipe should have been included originally, and I like Circkle, too).
PS: you may get a few hundred more votes for Ketchum. The tiger is hard restrain.
Posted by: David Gallagher | 14 September 2010 at 07:07 AM
And Joachim - give me a shout on LinkedIn - I like your style (dimwitted as I may be!)
Posted by: David Gallagher | 14 September 2010 at 08:49 AM
David,
A very sensible response, sir, if I may say so. All in all, no harm done. Probably another salutary lesson (for us all).
Oh and, on balance, Threepipe I'd agree are likely an admission - Jim and the boys have done some cute stuff. Next year, lads, next year.
And finally ... Am delighted that Joachim is attracting some interest. The man is a legend (or will be one day, I predict).
Posted by: James Gordon-MacIntosh | 14 September 2010 at 09:14 AM
I see the Morter effect is helping the guys at Cake! He was nominated for 'Marketer of the Year' at the Revolutions for the Rage #1 at Christmas and Save 6Music
Posted by: Anthony McLeay | 14 September 2010 at 10:24 AM
Clarion the "Best", great creativity, professionalism & amazing results!!!
Posted by: Javier | 14 September 2010 at 11:19 AM