In today’s digital age, it’s no secret that we’re constantly glued to our phones. This proves especially true when it comes to publicists: #PRLife is a 24/7 job, and missing an email from a producer or a negative review on a client’s Facebook page could result in major damage. As on-the-go, fast-driven professionals, publicists need to master the art of multi-tasking and organization, making our smartphones one of our greatest power tools.
Check out Senior Publicist Ellen’s must-have apps for thriving in the chaotic – yet incredibly rewarding – world that is PR.
Flipboard – The first app I open every morning on the train. Keeping up with the news is crucial for succeeding in PR. How can you pitch a client if you don’t know even know what’s trending? Flipboard curates news content based on your selected interests, allowing you to browse handpicked articles right from your mobile device. It’s personalized, visually appealing and feels like flipping through a magazine!
Dropbox – An industry must. Representing clients in the entertainment, dining and hotel industries requires us sending hundreds of high-res photos, production b-roll, and MP3 tracks daily. This helps us secure maximum press, but results in an overload of data. Fortunately, Dropbox lets you upload huge media files all at once, that you can then share with anyone. It’s free, easy to use, and accessible, making it the perfect tool for publicists.
Sunrise Calendar – One of the best calendar apps out there. Scheduling early morning TV segments, press interviews, networking events and client meetings can be a challenge. Sunrise Calendar is a free, easy-to-use app that syncs with your email and iPhone. It even includes weather forecasts and Google Map directions based on your location in your morning recap. An app that has my whole day planned out for me before I even wake up? Yes, please.
Flipagram – I think it’s safe to say publicists are Instagram addicts, which makes Flipagram one of my favorite apps out there. This app creates a digital “flip book” which is perfect for compiling multiple photos and videos from different events. Between TV segments, meetings, interviews and press openings, so much can happen in one week. Why not showcase it all?
I couldn’t end this blog post without mentioning a few apps that keep me sane…
Starbucks – Everyone jokes that I always have a venti iced coffee at my desk – yes, even in the winter. I’m honestly a zombie if I don’t have caffeine by 9 a.m. With the Starbucks app’s newest update, I can order ahead of time while I’m still in the elevator of my apartment, and my coffee will be ready by the time I get to the store! The ultimate time saver.
Spotify – I can’t go anywhere without listening to music. It boosts my creativity while also putting me at ease in any situation. Spotify is easy to use, personalized to my favorite artists, and offers suggestions on similar artists I would like.
Map My Run – Let me preface this by saying I am by no means training for a marathon any time soon. But one of the best ways for me to de-stress is to run outdoors. When I’m not running to segments or press events, a typical day could entail sitting in meetings or spending hours at a time in front of a computer, making a simple 30 minutes outdoors after work incredibly refreshing. Map My Run tracks your pace, time, miles and calories, and saves it to your profile – perfect for the OCD in me, another typical trait of being a publicist.
