Every day a new tool is introduced into the world of communications. From a new social media app to a media monitoring program, it’s hard to keep them all straight. To help you on your journey to find all the right tools, here’s my top five list of PR gems.

5. Associated Press Style Guide
Writing is a critical element to PR. Did you know the 2016 AP Style Guide features 280 new or revised entries? With writing styles updating so frequently, it’s important to stay ahead of the curve on issues like capitalization, abbreviation, punctuation, spelling and numerals. For those who like to go paperless, AP also offers an online Guide.

4. Social Media
In my opinion, it’s not only important to use social media outlets like LinkedIn to network, but to understand the bigger impact of social media on the PR industry. For example, we use apps like Twitter and Instagram to interact with influentials, but we use apps like Facebook and Snapchat to help our clients interact with their customers. This ever-innovating world requires us to be smart about the best tools for engaging in the outside world.

Photo From Push Advocacy.

Photo From Push Advocacy.

3. Google Alerts
Google Alerts monitors the web for keywords selected by you. I use this tool to monitor news coverage from the outlets that feature our firm, our clients and their competitors. While I think it is important to do my own news searches for coverage, this tool has the ability to alert you as soon as coverage hits the web. Plus, it is really great to keep up on the latest industry trends. Set up your own keywords for free on its website here.

2. Help A Reporter Out (HARO)
HARO provides journalists with a database of sources for upcoming stories and daily opportunities for sources like me to secure media coverage. This massive communication channel has more than 475,000 sources and 35,000 journalists participating. To get in on this, sign up for free and receive three daily emails from journalists seeking interviews.

Logo From HARO

Logo From HARO

1. PR Database
This frequently updated database is my number one essential tool for successful media relations. Having the ability to thoroughly research publications, reporters and editorial calendars on a reliable system is just as important as crafting the right pitch. There are a number of good databases available online, including Cision/Vocus and MyMediaInfo.

What are the must-haves in your PR toolbox?