2021’s Best Platforms to Utilize for Public Relation Pros
By: Kylie Shannon
Clubhouse - Where Public Relation pros exclusively meet.
You’ve probably seen the topic “Clubhouse” trending on Twitter, or maybe heard about the platform but never realized the benefits it has to offer, specifically for public relation professionals and students. The member-by-invite-only club has an array of exclusive perks, such as hosts and guest speakers that allow you to network and exchange information across industries or use it for entertainment purposes. From business networking to exchanging your LinkedIn, Clubhouse provides the perfect opportunity for PR professionals and students to network. The only catch is that nothing on the platform is ever recorded. Clubhouse is your private virtual networking event, only if you are a member, of course.
Upitch - Pitching, re-classified.
Upitch, the platform that takes a new approach to general pitching. It allows current journalists to pitch their work to the public and have potential outlets respond to them instead of vice versa. The beauty of this platform is that it allows the journalist to focus on their pitch. If they are picked up by a company or an organization, it removes the element of being rejected. Plus, once a journalist is chosen by a company or an organization, both parties can communicate through the platform to move their project forward.
LinkedIn - It’s more than just your professional profile.
Let’s face it. We all know we need it, but do we actually understand how to utilize the platform to its greatest potential? LinkedIn offers a multitude of not-so-obvious opportunities to network, research your industry, and improve your skills. Courses and certification modules can range from “Media Training” to “Writing a Press Release'' which provides an array of options to choose from. In addition to connecting with professionals, you are able to view descriptions to potential jobs and stay on top of trends based on your current industry news. (Not to mention, if you have a student email account, you may qualify for FREE LinkedIn Learning. Thank us later!)
Hootsuite - The one-stop social media management platform.
Staying on top of all social media platforms, such as Instagram, Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn, can be stressful on a public relations team. And, realistically speaking, no one can keep track of all the trends from their analytics on a daily basis. Platforms like Hootsuite provide tools from scheduling social media posts to being able to respond to feedback including direct messages and/or comments. Not to mention, it has other features that allow you to view specific metrics and analytics which is essential for any PR or social media team. Amongst other general features, Hootsuite also provides communication via their dashboard allowing others on the team to collaborate and share ideas.
Notion - A platform customized for planning ideas, staying up to date on notifications, organizing content and more.
Many of us are part of the daily struggle of staying up to date on our communication channels, such as Slack, creating ideas and moving them into fruition, or maybe just crossing stuff off our to-do lists. The handy platform, Notion, allows for just that. Notion provides PR individuals to enable notifications from Slack and allows them to focus on one platform at a time. Think of Notion as the ultimate task management system that allows you to take advantage of features like creating unique lists, calendars, schedules, open collaboration, editing and so much more. If you are not on Notion, what are you waiting for?
