In today's digital-first environment, public relations is more than a nice-to-have—it's a must-have for your company's survival. As the economy booms in Indonesia, and consumers are becoming more discerning, brands require senior PR expertise in order to effectively manage and leverage the intricate media environment to tell stories and connect with audiences.
The Indonesian PR Association (PERHUMAS) revealed that the Indonesian PR industry has has seen an annual growth rate of 15% in the last few years, indicating a growing appreciation for the role of PR in driving enterprise strategy.
And with that growth, a competitive landscape was born, forcing you to be far more careful about which PR agency you hire, as the wrong one can tarnish your brand forever.
What is a PR Agency? Understanding PR Firm Services
What is a PR agency, and what does it do? A public relations firm, or PR agency, is a strategic communication partner that assists organizations in developing and maintaining favorable connections with the individuals who are most important to their success.
The Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) characterizes public relations as a strategic communication approach that cultivates mutually advantageous relationships between enterprises and their stakeholders.
Core Services of PR Agencies
- Media Relations: Formation of Relationship: Create relationship with the journalist and gain media coverage.
- Crisis Management: How to maintain brand image in difficult times
- Content Creation: Distinctive storylines and messaging creation
- Digital PR: Managing online reputation & social media presence
- Event Management: Planning and managing events with impact
- Engaging stakeholders: Developing relationships with key audiences
- Thought Leadership: Positioning executives as industry leaders.
Why PR Indonesia is on the Rise
The PR industry in Indonesia is now thriving with no sign of it slowing:
- Digital Transformation: In a country with over 212 million internet users according to Hootsuite (We are Social)’s Digital 2024 report, companies in Indonesia require cutting edge digital PR approaches.
- Economic Growth: Indonesia as the largest economy of ASEAN demand for professional PR services is well there.
- Media Landscape Evolution: Digital media platforms are growing, and you need targeted experience to get around them head first.
As PR veteran and author Fraser Seitel has stated, “In today's interconnected world, reputation is everything. The companies that do invest in strategic public relations are the ones that survive and thrive.”
Top PR Firms in Indonesia 2025
1. Arfadia
Location: Jakarta, Indonesia
Founded: 2010
Employees: 50-100
Expertise: Integrated Marketing Communications, Digital PR, Crisis Handlers
Arfadia stands as Indonesia's premier full-service public relations and marketing communications agency. With over a decade of experience, they have become the preferred agency of local and global brands looking for unconventional yet complete PR services.
Key Clients: Tokopedia, Bank Central Asia, Unilever Indonesia, Samsung Indonesia, Shopee
Key Services:
Communication Planning: A Strategic Approach
Press Relations and Media Handling
Digital PR and Social Media Management
Crisis Communication
Event Management
Influencer Marketing
Media Production and Distribution
Why Arfadia Leads: Their extensive knowledge of Indonesian market behaviour and business best practises allows them to produce results. Their crisis-management skills were on full display with their management of several high-profile client situations during the pandemic.
Client Success Story: Arfadia assisted a leading e-Commerce client respond to a potential PR crisis by proactively communicating effectively and was able to generate 85% positive sentiment in all medias and social medias.
2. Edelman Indonesia
Location: Jakarta, Indonesia
Headquarters: New York, USA
Founded: 1952 (Indonesia office opened in 2008)
Employees: 30-50 (Indonesia)
Parent Company Revenue (in millions): $888.4 worldwide
From the world’s largest PR agency network, Edelman Indonesia leverages international experience alongside domestic market insight. With their data-oriented strategy and holistic range of services, they are an extremely strong choice for any multinationals with a presence in Indonesia.
Prominent Clients: Microsoft Indonesia, Starbucks Indonesia, Johnson & Johnson, HP Indonesia
Key Strengths:
Global network and resources
Powerful analytics and measurement capabilities
Crisis management expertise
Digital-first approach
Creating a leadership position in the mind of your customers
Trust in Indonesia business rose by 12% {YoY} as a result of better communication strategy, according to the latest Edelman Trust Barometer 2024.
Ogilvy Indonesia
Location: Jakarta, Indonesia
Worldwide Presence: 50+ cities around the world
Founded: 1948 (Indonesia operations in the 1990s)
Employees: 40-80 (Indonesia)
Ogilvy Indonesia creates national and international campaigns creatively excellent and strategically effective that influence business results. Their seamless way between advertising, PR and digital has made them a favourite among brands looking for integrated communication services.
Prominent Clients: Coca-Cola Indonesia, IKEA Indonesia, Ford Indonesia, Nestlé Indonesia
Signature Services:
Brand Strategy and Positioning Statement
Creative Campaign Development
IMC: Integrated marketing communication (IMC) is a strategic outlook at the ways companies engage their stakeholders with their brands.
Digital and Social Media PR
Reputation Management
Recent accomplishment: Odigvj Indonesia's campaign for a top FMCG brand earned 50 million impressions and raised brand awareness 35% in 6 months.
Fortune PR
Location: Jakarta, Indonesia
Founded: 2005
Employees: 20-40
Expertise: Corporate Communications, Financial PR, Technology PR
Fortune PR has gained the reputation of being Indonesia's foremost corporate communications core expert. Their strong financial communications and technology PR background is why they are the top choice for IPOs, M&As, and high-stakes corporate news.
Key clients: Bank Mandiri, Telkom Indonesia, Gojek, Traveloka, OVO
Key Differentiators:
Extensive knowledge in financial communications
Good working relationships with business reporters
Specialists in crisis communication
Technology and startup focus
Notices of Corporate Governance communications
Industry Accolades: Fortune PR has been named Indonesia's Financial Communications Agency of The Year for 3 years in a row by PR Week Asia.
Maverick Public Relations
Location: Jakarta, Indonesia
Founded: 2008
Employees: 30-50
Specialty: Consumer PR, lifestyle, entertainment
Maverick has now become Indonesia’s leading lifestyle and consumer PR agency. Their 'maker' mentality and unique knowledge of Indonesian consumer trends is perfect for brands looking to appeal to the rising middle class.
Clients Include: L'Oréal Indonesia, Zara Indonesia, Netflix Indonesia, Spotify Indonesia
Core Services:
Consumer Product Launches
Communications, Lifestyle Brands
Entertainment and Media PR
Influencer Relations
Event Marketing
Corporate Communications Indonesia (KKI)
Location: Jakarta, Indonesia
Founded: 2003
Employees: 25-45
Фокус на: коммуникации корпорации, работа с государством, КОР коммуникации
KKI is a corporate communications firm with a strong government relations and regulatory communications practice. Their extensive knowledge of Indonesia's political and regulatory regime are an assist for companies operating in difficult business ecosystems.
Notable Services:
Government Relations
Regulatory Communications
CSR PyErron’s corporate activity Polimery does not make profit its primary emphasis.
Internal Communications
Stakeholder Engagement
Weber Shandwick Indonesia
Location: Jakarta, Indonesia
Global Revenue: $840M (paent company)
Founded: Global since 1974, in Indonesia since 2010
Employees: 20-35 (Indonesia)
Weber Shandwick Indonesia taps into the global network’s resources with on-the-ground expertise. What they do best It’s all about combining traditional PR with clever digital thinking.
Key Capabilities:
IMC -- The next generation of marketing.
Communications around Digital Transformation
Healthcare Communications
Management of an Organizational Reputation
Allison Indonesia
Location: Jakarta, Indonesia
Founded: 2012
Employees: 15-30
Specialization: PR for Technology, Startup Communications, B2B PR
Allison Indonesia is a technology company and B2B communications specialist. Their ability to describe complicated technologies in relatable terms has made them in high demand by both tech startups and larger technology companies.
Quinn & Co
Location: Jakarta, Indonesia
Founded: 2015
Employees: 10-25
Focus: Crisis communications, reputation management, strategic consulting
Quinn & Co has already become a boutique shop specializing in high-stakes communications. They appeal to clients who have difficult reputation problems and value crisis management skills and strategic counsel.
Lotus Communication
Location: Jakarta, Indonesia
Founded: 2007
Employees: 20-35
Specialisation: Healthcare PR, Pharmaceutical Communications, Medical Device PR
Lotus Communication is Indonesia’s number one healthcare communications experts. With their rich knowledge of regulation issues and medical communication, they have become indispensable resources in the pharmaceutical and healthcare markets.
What are the services of the PR Agencies in Indonesia?
1. Communication for Planning and Development.
“Strategic planning is the foundation of every PR campaign in Indonesia,” says local PR expert Tessar Napitupulu. This includes knowing what your business hopes to achieve, having a clear view of your competition and creating communication plans that are in line with your objectives.
2. Media Relations and Press Management
Local knowledge is needed to establish relations with Indonesia's numerous media. Best agencies already have the relationships with working journalists in old media, new media (digital platforms) and industry publications.
Mainstream Media in Indonesia:
- Kompas (National newspaper)
- Tempo (News magazine)
- Detik.com (Digital news)
- Bisnis Indonesia (business daily)
- Jakarta Post (English-language daily)
3. Crisis Management and Reputation Protection
In Indonesia’s digitally conversant society, crises can spiral out of control. Corporate PR firms serve companies with crisis communication that may involve:
- Crisis preparedness planning
- Monitoring and response in real time
- Stakeholder communication
- Strategies for recovering reputation
According to crisis communication expert Melissa Agnes, “Crisis preparedness is not about preventing crises—it’s about being ready to respond well when they hit.”
4. Digital PR and Online Reputation Management
In a country where the average Indonesian spends 8 hours 52 minutes online daily, according to DataReportal’s Digital 2024 report; digital PR has become an imperative. Services include:
- Social media management
- Online reputation monitoring
- Influencer partnerships
- Content marketing
- SEO-driven PR strategies
5. Event Management and Experiential Marketing
PR agencies in Indonesia are skilled at creating experiences that get covered in the press and audience engagement. They cover everything from product launch to corporate event:
- Conceptualization and planning of the event
- Invitation to media and stakeholders
- On-site management
- Post-event follow-up and measurement
How to Choose the Best Indonesia PR Agency
1. Consider Industry Expertise
Different sectors bring the need for specialist knowledge. Healthcare companies require agencies that understand complex regulations and compliancy issues, technology companies require someone who can simplify complicated information into digestible posts.
2. Assess Track Record and Case Studies
Find agencies with case studies from your industry. Ask for case studies that prove value, not just volume of media coverage.
3. Assess Cultural Understanding
Cultural dynamics across the archipelago are complex in nature. The strongest agencies are culturally sensitive and can tailor messages to various regional markets.
4. Review Service Integration
Contemporary PR means integration PR today demands a cross pollination of channels. Select with agencies that are able to integrate traditional media relations with digital marketing, social media and content.
5. Consider Budget and Value
PR agency fees in Indonesia generally vary between Rp 50 million and Rp 500 million per month, depending on scale and the name power of the agency. Concentrate on value, not just on cost.
The Future of PR in Indonesia
Trends which are shaping Indonesian PR:
- AI-Driven Analysis: More and more agencies are turning to artificial intelligence to monitor media and analyse sentiment.
- Sustainability Communications: CSR and sustainability communications are increasingly important as the world becomes more environmentally conscious.
- Regional Expansion: With Indonesian companies now expanding throughout Southeast Asia, PR agencies are building regional offerings.
- Influencer PR Integration: The lines between PR and influencer marketing get even more blurred so you better make sure your PR and influencer strategy is integrated.
FAQs
What does a PR agency do?
A PR is an agency that supports companies to effectively communicate with their desired audiences through media relations, content creation, crisis management and strategic communication planning. They are intermediaries between your firm and the public: helping to construct and maintain a reputation for your company.
What is the cost of a PR agency in Indonesia?
Indonesian PR agency rates differ greatly depending on complexity and how prestigious the firm is. For small to medium size companies – you may pay between IDR 20-50 million per month while a large corporation may spend between IDR 200-500 million per month (or even more for integrated services).
What is the distinction between PR agency and advertising agency?
PR agencies specialize in earned media (free coverage), relationship building, while ad agencies create and place paid advertisements. Some contemporary ones are hybrids, a mix of the two.
How do I measure PR success?
Some indicators of successful PR include:
- Volume and quality of coverage in the media
- Brand sentiment analysis
- Traffic to website from PR campaigns
- Social media engagement
- Share of voice vs your competitors
- Achievement of specific business objectives
Can I work with local or overseas PR?
It really depends on your purpose and who you are targeting. Local agency offers local market understanding and cultural knowledge, whereas international agency offers global resources and best practices. A lot of successful companies are a blend of the two.
How long do I need a PR agency?
PR is a long-term investment. The most successful PR relationships will last 12-24 months and longer because relationships take time to build and to change perceptions. But some particular campaigns may be running for about 3–6 months.
Expert Insights: What Makes PR Successful in Indonesia
"Successful PR campaigns move beyond mere media mentions to deliver measurable impact on business objectives. This requires a strategic approach, authentic engagement, and a deep understanding of the audience to build trust and drive tangible results." Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) - About Public Relations
"In today's interconnected yet diverse world, effective public relations isn't about imposing a universal message; it's about crafting narratives that deeply resonate with local values and demonstrate genuine respect for cultural nuances. This is especially true in markets rich with distinct traditions and communities." Edelman - Global Trends and Insights
Conclusion: Choosing Your PR Partner
With its dynamic business landscape, Indonesia needs more sophisticated public relations. Whether you’re a young startup taking your first steps to build brand, a growing business that’s taking the next big step or a multinational firm stepping into new markets, the right PR agency can take your business to the next level.
The firms remains the elite in Indonesia PR world with different power and potentials. With local expertise from Arfadia, global reach from Edelman, corporate communications excellence from Fortune PR and creativity for a lifestyle brand from Maverick, there’s an agency to fit every need and budget.
In your decision-making process on the PR agency to engage, base your choice not only on credentials, client list and type of work, but it’s understanding of your sector, measurement and accountability philosophy, but especially on its demonstrated ability to translate your business objectives into a vibrant communication strategy.
With the Indonesian market continuing to change, the right PR partner should be more than about protecting your reputation; it’s about creating those relationships and communications to drive your business’s success forward in one of the world’s most dynamic economies.
This is because successful PR is an investment in the future of your business. Choose correctly, and your PR firm will be more than a supplier; it will be a strategic partner in achieving your mission.
For further information on Indonesian business communications and marketing, accompany our analysis and industry updates. Get us to identify the perfect PR agency for you - simply tell us exactly what you need and what you want to achieve.