The 7 most useful social media tools for PR (Plus: what reporters want)

by Josiah Mackenzie on December 11, 2009

Much of the conversation around social media is about using it to reach guests and customers, or to connect with other businesses. But savvy “PR 2.0″ organizations are using it to communicate with journalists and increase their media coverage.

First, some tools, then some strategy.

7 Social Media Tools for PR

Help A Reporter Out (HARO) – 3x daily email newsletter with dozens of ‘expert source’ requests from journalists
Social Media Press Release Builder – share stories via the social web
Your Pitch Sucks – get a 3rd-party expert review of your news release
LinkedIn and Jigsaw can be used to find contact info and start conversations
Twellow – a directory of people on Twitter that can be used to find journalists
Media on Twitter – a more focused directory of journalists on Twitter

Now, just because you’re using new media doesn’t change the fundamentals of public relations. Your communications needs to be relevant, and your stories need to be newsworthy.

I receive dozens of press releases each week – most of them having nothing to do with what you would want to read on this blog. Hiring a new manager at your property may interest you, but I probably don’t care…and I know my readers definitely do not want me to publish that.

Please keep that in mind.

How do you use social media for PR?

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Article by Josiah Mackenzie // December 11, 2009 Josiah spends pretty much all day, every day looking for ways you can use new media and the social web to improve your business. To bring him on your team, you should look at our Insider's Circle program here.

Comments

Maria // December 14, 2009 @ 5:42 am Reply

Thank you! I always wondered if I was the only one who wondered why all these “new appointments” were published in the media (do they do that themselves, for their ego??). I was just commenting to some staff that I was disappointed in the poor coverage of the Christmas party we organised for 9 orphanages 170 orphans (everyone cares), and yet there was more coverage on the newly appointed M&S Dir (with a “retouched” pic of the fellow!) (no-one cares)…