Why Your Growing Business Needs To Know About The Barcelona Method

If you're investing in PR and content and still measuring success by column inches or social likes, it's time to take a step forward.

The Barcelona Principles – also known as the Barcelona Measurement – are the global standard for evaluating the effectiveness of PR and communication strategies. First introduced in 2010 and updated most recently in 2020, these seven principles help businesses move beyond vanity metrics and focus on what really matters: outcomes over outputs.

Here’s why they matter:

They measure impact, not just activity Instead of counting press mentions, the Barcelona Principles push us to ask:

Did this change behaviour? Did it influence opinion? Did it support business goals?

• They align PR with business strategy Whether you're raising brand awareness, shifting perceptions or driving growth, your communications efforts should tie directly to measurable objectives.

• They apply to all media – paid, earned, shared and owned It’s not just about traditional press. These principles give a full picture across digital, social, and direct channels too.

• They reject outdated metrics like AVEs Advertising Value Equivalents (AVEs) are misleading and don’t reflect real business value. The Barcelona approach focuses on data that drives decisions.

For growing businesses, this framework ensures your time, budget and strategy are aligned with tangible outcomes. It keeps teams and agencies accountable and puts purpose behind every campaign.

If you're building your brand and want your PR efforts to work harder, smarter, and with real impact – this is where to start.