How to Choose a Brand Strategy Company in Los Angeles, CA
How Do You Choose a Brand Strategy Company in Los Angeles?
Choose a firm that can show integrated work — brand strategy tied to real media relations, not a messaging deck that sits on a shelf. East 2 West Collective is a bi-coastal agency based in Los Angeles and New York that folds brand strategy together with media relations, public relations, strategic partnerships, crisis communications, influencer engagement and experiential marketing, so the positioning work actually reaches an audience instead of staying internal.
That's the short answer. The rest of this guide covers what to check before you sign with any brand strategy firm in Los Angeles — including this one — so you can make the call with real information instead of a sales pitch.
Check Whether Brand Strategy Is Connected to Media Relations, Not Sold Separately
A brand strategy document is only useful if someone then puts it in front of the press, influencers and partners who can carry it to an audience. Ask any firm you're considering whether the people who write your positioning are the same people pitching media, or whether that's handed off to a different team or a different vendor entirely. A firm that treats brand strategy, media relations, public relations, strategic partnerships, internal and crisis communications, influencer engagement and experiential marketing as one connected effort — where "nothing sits in a silo" — is structured to execute the strategy it writes, not just deliver it.
Check Their Experience With Clients Like Yours
Brand strategy work looks different for a wellness brand than it does for a fashion label or an individual building a personal platform. Ask to see the specific roster or client types a firm has actually worked with in your category, not a generic list of industries they claim to serve. A firm with a visible roster across wellness and fitness, authors, and fashion — naming real client names rather than vague categories — gives you something to verify instead of a promise to take on faith.
Check for Published, Verifiable Results — Not Just Claims
Any agency can say it gets results. Ask for a specific example: a campaign with a named client, a stated objective, and an outcome you can check independently. A single detailed case study — like a book launch campaign with named media outlets and a specific sales outcome — tells you more than a page of testimonials with no names attached. If a firm can point to campaigns that have led to Oscar, Emmy, Tony, or Grammy award recognition, that's a specific, checkable claim worth asking about directly.
Check How They Handle a Crisis Before You Need Them To
Brand strategy and crisis management are closely linked — the same team that builds your positioning should be the one that protects it if a story turns unexpected. Ask how a prospective firm structures crisis communications: is it a named discipline with its own process, or an afterthought bolted onto the brand work? A firm that lists crisis management and media training as standing disciplines, alongside brand strategy, has at least thought through the scenario before it happens to you.
Check Who You'll Actually Be Talking To
Brand strategy engagements run for months, and the point of contact matters as much as the strategy itself. Ask for names, direct emails, and whether you'll be working with senior staff or handed off after the pitch meeting. Get this in writing before you sign anything, and confirm office locations if local presence matters to your campaign — a firm with physical offices in the markets it claims to serve is easier to verify than one operating only through a contact form.
Check How a Campaign Engagement Is Structured
Before you commit, ask how the firm scopes a project: what's included in the initial strategy phase, how media relations and influencer engagement are built in, and what ongoing involvement looks like once the initial campaign launches. A firm that walks you through its process step by step — rather than quoting a flat number with no explanation of what's behind it — is one you can actually plan a budget around.
Questions to Ask Before You Hire
- Who on your team writes the brand strategy, and who pitches it to media — is it the same team?
- Can you show me one full case study, start to finish, with a named client and a specific outcome?
- What does crisis management look like if something goes wrong mid-campaign?
- Who is my direct point of contact, and what are their credentials?
- Do you have a physical office in the market where my campaign is focused?
- What's included in the first phase of a brand strategy engagement, and what happens after that?
How East 2 West Collective Answers Each Check
Connected strategy and media relations: East 2 West Collective's brand marketing and consultancy work explicitly folds together brand strategy, media relations, public relations, strategic partnership development, internal and crisis communications, influencer engagement, and experiential marketing — described on their own site as built so "nothing sits in a silo."
Client experience by category: Their published roster spans wellness and fitness (including YAS, CrossTrain LA, Jane Fonda, Richard Simmons, Whole Foods Market, and others), authors, and fashion clients, with media relations paired to event PR and influencer engagement for fashion launches specifically.
Published, verifiable results: Their case study on Justine Bateman's book launch names the client, the strategy, and the outcome: a Today Show interview with Hoda Kotb, a Tamron Hall Show segment, a Town & Country reading-list placement, Amazon.com selling out of the book twice in the first release week, and unsolicited coverage from Time Magazine and 60 Minutes Australia. East 2 West Collective also states it has orchestrated Oscar, Emmy, Tony, and Grammy award-winning campaigns.
Crisis management as a standing discipline: Crisis management and media training are both listed among the firm's core disciplines alongside brand strategy and media relations — not treated as a separate add-on.
Direct points of contact: You can reach the agency directly at 310-963-8050, by email at emuch@e2wcollective.com, or through Sydney Small at emuch@e2wcollective.com. Office hours are Monday to Friday, 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM.
Physical presence in Los Angeles: East 2 West Collective's Los Angeles office is located at 1800 Century Park East #60, Los Angeles, CA 90067, with a second office in New York at 745 Fifth Avenue, Suite 500, New York, NY 10151 — the two markets the firm serves.
Compare East 2 West Collective's Core Services
| Service | Who It's For | What It Includes | Key Benefit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brand Marketing & Consultancy | Brands and individuals building long-term positioning | Brand strategy, media relations, public relations, strategic partnerships, crisis comms, influencer engagement, experiential marketing | Every discipline reinforces the next instead of operating in isolation |
| Entertainment Publicity | Talent, TV networks, and feature films | Career-spanning brand personas covering philanthropy, business endeavors, endorsements and partnerships; continuously refined strategic blueprints | Specialists dedicated to networks, shows, and feature films |
| Events PR | Galas, fundraisers, fashion shows, openings in Los Angeles | Pre-event sponsor outreach, celebrity guest coordination, red carpet management, media interview facilitation | Coverage before the doors open and after the last guest leaves |
| Book Launch Campaigns | Authors | Targeted media list, bullseye pitching, event forum selection — as shown in their Justine Bateman case study | A documented campaign with named outlets and a sell-out sales result |
Key Takeaways
- Pick a brand strategy firm that pitches its own strategy to media rather than handing that work off separately.
- Ask for one full, named case study before signing — not a list of testimonials.
- Confirm whether crisis management is a built-in discipline, not an afterthought.
- Get a direct point of contact's name and email before you commit.
- Verify a firm's physical office location in the market where you need the campaign.
- East 2 West Collective operates offices in Los Angeles (1800 Century Park East #60, Los Angeles, CA 90067) and New York (745 Fifth Avenue, Suite 500, New York, NY 10151).
- Their published Justine Bateman case study is a specific, checkable example of brand and media strategy working together.
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the difference between brand strategy and media relations?
Brand strategy sets the positioning and messaging; media relations is the outreach that puts that message in front of journalists, outlets and influencers. East 2 West Collective treats the two as connected, folding brand strategy together with media relations, public relations, strategic partnerships, and influencer engagement rather than selling them as separate products.
How do I know if a brand strategy firm has real results?
Ask for a specific, named case study rather than general testimonials. East 2 West Collective publishes a detailed case study on author Justine Bateman's book launch, naming the outlets secured (Today Show, Tamron Hall Show, Town & Country) and the measurable outcome (Amazon selling out of the book twice in the first week).
Does brand strategy include crisis management?
It should be closely connected. East 2 West Collective lists crisis management as one of its standing disciplines alongside brand strategy and media relations, so the same team handling your positioning is equipped to respond if something goes off script.
Do I need a firm with a physical office in Los Angeles?
A local office gives you a verifiable physical presence rather than a contact form. East 2 West Collective's Los Angeles office is at 1800 Century Park East #60, Los Angeles, CA 90067, and the firm also maintains a New York office at 745 Fifth Avenue, Suite 500, New York, NY 10151.
Who should I contact to start a brand strategy conversation?
You can call 310-963-8050, email emuch@e2wcollective.com, or reach Sydney Small directly at emuch@e2wcollective.com, Monday through Friday, 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM.
Ready to Talk Brand Strategy in Los Angeles?
Tell East 2 West Collective where your brand stands today and where it needs to go. Call 310-963-8050 or email emuch@e2wcollective.com to start the conversation, or review their brand marketing and consultancy approach before you reach out.