Public relations executives face unique challenges and opportunities that professionals in other spaces may never even consider, much less encounter, from landing challenging media placements to executing communications strategies for organizations in crisis. To master these wide-ranging tasks, PR leaders rely not only upon their deep experience and insights, but also various technologies.
For PR executives who want help staying organized, relevant and up to date on the latest movements and trends in their industry, there’s usually an app for that. Here, 10 members of Forbes Agency Council share their favorite apps for PR execs and explain why leveraging them in this context is so useful.
Forbes Agency Council members share their favorite apps for staying organized and up to date.
Photos courtesy of the individual members.
1. Notified
There are many great apps, but Notified, by Intrado, integrates GlobeNewswire press release distribution, and it is like the Swiss Army knife of apps. It offers many features, including the ability to listen to PR opportunities, get an in-depth clipping report and, for SEO-minded PR professionals, find more opportunities to report back success. – Qamar Zaman, KISSPR.COM
2. LinkedIn
My go-to is LinkedIn. Reaching like-minded individuals, targeting content to certain groups, and building and maintaining networks of prospects, customers and influencers is essential for any PR professional. We have also found that this platform leads qualified talent to our company to either fill full-time positions or become valued resources for special project work. – Dave Wendland, Hamacher Resource Group
3. Asana, Google Calendar And Monday.com
There are so many apps and tools out there to stay organized, but it’s also overwhelming to choose one. So I tell new PR pros to work backward. First, create the internal system that works for your brain. In my case, it’s writing stuff down in a notebook or on my tablet—to-do lists, tasks, story ideas and more. And from there, I supplement with apps such as Asana, Google Calendar and Monday.com. – Arleigh Vasconcellos, The Agency
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4. Bizversity
Bizversity would be my No. 1 app choice for PR executives. It’s like the Netflix of business training and keeps me up to date with my skills. With episodes on everything from the latest project management software to setting up systems in your business, it can help you stay organized and on top of your game. – Adrian Falk, Believe Advertising & PR
5. Apple News
I use the Apple News app to stay on top of what’s happening in the industry and the world. I customize it to my specific need—the publications and companies I want to follow, as well as topics I need to keep up with or that I just enjoy. It’s easily digestible and eliminates the need to go from site to site to feel up to date. – Scott Baradell, Idea Grove
6. Trello
Hands down, it is Trello! We have the pleasure of taking care of 15 clients at our agency, and juggling them all across a relatively small team of just 20 requires us to be exceptionally organized. Trello helps us with that and also brings what we do to life. There is nothing more satisfying than seeing a massive “done” column at the end of each month. For an output-driven agency, Trello is key. – Julia Linehan, The Digital Voice PR Agency Ltd
7. Feedly
Feedly is a wonderful app to keep your ear to the rail in terms of what is trending and news that is breaking on the internet. It is an aggregator that you set up, and it is specific to your needs. It can create lots of ideas in terms of angles, positioning and thought leadership opportunities. – Christopher Tompkins, The Go! Agency
8. Cision
One thing that is so important to remember in PR is that things are constantly changing. What that means is that it is a requirement for people to always spend time working to learn and always stay ahead of the curve, and that is something that is not common in other fields. When working in PR, one of the most critical apps is Cision, which is helpful for storytelling. – Jon James, Ignited Results
9. Twitter And Skype
I love Twitter. I pull it up on my iPhone whenever there’s a lull in my daily work plan. I can skim down, absorb all sorts of relevant content, see what my competitors are up to, engage with VIPs and influencers in my sphere and watch for media opportunities. I use Skype to instantly message various team members with intel, insights and requests. I use it to contribute and try to build rapport. – Marie Swift, Impact Communications, Inc.
10. Moments Of Space And Calm
Answering this question in a slightly different way, I try to encourage my team to use apps that give them headspace at work. By the very nature of what they deliver, this allows them to stay organized and up to date while taking time away from the laptop. Meditation apps, such as Moments of Space and Calm, that enable you to recharge throughout the day do wonders for organization and focus. – Jules Herd, Five in a Boat
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Author: Expert Panel®, Forbes Councils Member
