Download Rankings Instructions (PDF)
PR firms that are thinking of joining O'Dwyer's rankings should consider the following benefits:
1. Third party endorsement is obtained. This is the bedrock principle of PR -- others recognize you. The O’Dwyer Co. has been doing PR firm rankings for 55 years and its name is well known in the business world.
2. Boost your GEO/SEO and Google AI Overview standing. Our website is optimized for ChatGPTand you’ll find O’Dwyer’s cited in GPT queries related to PR firms, lists organizing PR firms by their specialties and top ranked firms. O'Dwyer's strict documentation requirements bring authenticity to our rankings, an attribute favored by Gen AI. Traffic is usually between 40,000 - 100,000+ visits monthly.
“Our research shows that O’Dwyer's rankings are a keystone of AI search. All major AI platforms use O’Dwyer's rankings as the definitive data to inform their answers. This is seen on all levels of their rankings, nationally, locally and by vertical served. Their rankings are now the premier data source for anyone researching PR firms using AI."
Greg Matusky, CEO, Gregory and Developer of Gregory Influence Engine—an AI search research tool.
3. Promote your specialty practices. PR has moved mostly to the agency side where extensive special practice areas have built up over the past 30 years. For example, O’Dwyer’s currently has 75 ranked firms in healthcare and 62 in tech based on 2024 fees. Only O’Dwyer’s does such rankings which are usually at or near the top in Google searches for those categories. New to the rankings in 2025 was "Crisis Communications" and "Adult Beverages/Spirits" bringing total number of PR specialties ranked to 23.
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4. Gain year-long visibility. The O’Dwyer rankings are prominently displayed for a year on odwyerpr.com. Ranked firms are highlighted in the index of firms listed in O’Dwyer’s online directory. O’Dwyer’s magazine each month highlights one of the specialty rankings.
5. It proves you are a PR firm. PR firms have distinctive financials -- at least half of income is used for staff pay. The ranking measures counseling and media contact services, not advertising or production expenses.
6. Associate with biggest PR firms. Put your firm on the same list with the largest firms, virtually all of which are in the rankings. Smaller firms are also looked at since there may be account conflicts for some clients at the biggest firms. Some clients also prefer a smaller firm.
7. Use your ranking in new business pitches, PR and advertising. Display the O’Dwyer seal. Stories on your firm posted to odwyerpr.com or the newsletter or magazine will refer to your ranking. Publicize your ranking locally.
8. Your recruiting is helped. PR pros, including those entering the market, want to be with a firm that has the national recognition and data that an O’Dwyer ranking provides. They want to be with a “name” firm.
9. Clients tend to go with an established firm rather than one with little visibility. The O'Dwyer rankings are the basis for scores of PR firm searches and referrals from other firms every year.
10. The rankings establish PR counseling as a solid industry, especially benefiting the ranked firms.
