We live in an age where the sharing and exchange of information seems to happen faster than the speed of light and for African executives in the public relations and communication industries this has had a direct impact on the way we do our work.
This is especially the case as the interest in our continent across all industries grows and we have to ensure we can compete at the same level and pace as our peers in other parts of the world.
The reputation and perception of a brand, company or even an individual can change negatively or positively with just one news item; we are living in an environment where constant content creation is a must for all organizations; our clients and the companies we work for need us to execute at a high-level; we need to be highly informed on all aspects of our business and the list goes on.
The aforementioned tasks and responsibilities have to be executed while maintaining a strategic and create edge in a discipline that has significantly risen in importance across the Continent in the last decade.
To work in an effective and seamless way, African PR and corporate communication executives should adopt the use of mobile Apps and digital tools that help make industry executives work better and faster across the globe. While the life of PR and communications executives will always be busy, there are tools and apps that can help us do our job much quicker and faster and in today’s competitive market efficient and seamless execution is a must.
By leveraging on these tools you can use the extra time to maintain your creativity and strategic thinking and application of your work. With this in mind here are a list of great tools and apps that will enable African PR and corporate communications executives of all levels to work faster and more efficiently, giving them more time to be strategic and creative in the way they execute their work.
Yesware
Dealing with media and influencers, tracking your email communications is key and Yesware is a gmail add-on for sales executives that PR and communications executives can use too. The software monitors responses, opens and clicks to each of your emails. Replication is also easier as you can create templates to assist with automating your outreach and tracking the feedback. Being able to track and analyse your emails is great
Buffer
In 2016 nobody should be posting social media updates manually. Any efficient and effective social media strategy should have a content calendar in place. Having said that, this does have to be carefully balanced with awareness of changes based on news cycles to maintain an authentic voice. If you work for any agency or organizations where you are responsible for the social media content for several accounts Buffer is a great tool and most importantly allows you to schedule content distribution and provides analytics. For individuals using this tool the great news is that it is free. For up to 10 social profiles per platform the price is $10.
Buzzstream
I always say that in PR, reporters, journalists and influencers are almost like our sales target list. They are the group of folks we want to connect and build relationships with.. Building media and influencer lists can be an arduous task but Buzzstream is a bookmarking tool that enables PR executives to change a blog or website post into a contact recorded in their database. Here is a great video by the Buzzstream team that demonstrates exactly how to use the tool.
ZNews Africa App
ZNews is a full-featured mobile app that provides the latest news content across Africa in French and English. The app aggregates stories from 150 plus sources covering vital emerging markets including Nigeria, Kenya, Ghana, South Africa, Guinea, Senegal, Burkino Faso, Cameroon, Cote D’Ivoire and more. Z News Africa features an attractive visual design and rich content experience for users while they stay current on global matters and local stories.
Twilert
Twilert is like a google alert but for twitter. You can search real-time alerts of search terms, hashtags and brand mentions. Twilert distributes a schedule or real-time email alert. The most popular package is the Pro which allows one to have up to 20 searches with daily, hourly and near real-time alerts.
Claudine Moore (@ClaudineMoore) is a writer and award-winning global public relations and communications expert. She consults under the umbrella C Moore Media providing global communication services. She is also a writer with top business and trade media outlets including CNN, PR Week, Black Enterprise and more. Claudine spends a significant amount of her time traveling across Africa for both business and pleasure.
Source: Afkinsider.com
