Q4 2024 Observer Newsletter

Volume 1, issue 4 Quarterly — November 2024

 

🌟 Welcome back to PRToolFinder’s “Observer” newsletter! We’re excited to bring you the latest edition, brimming with exciting updates, innovative enhancements, and the hottest trends in PR tools. Get ready to discover what’s new and noteworthy in the world of PR!

Tool News:

Muck Rack Acquires Keyhole to Add Social Listening to its PR Software:  Muck Rack announced that it has acquired Keyhole, the social listening and analytics platform that provides real-time insights on social media data. The purchase closed on August 31, 2024 and marks Muck Rack’s first acquisition. Cision Expands into APAC Media Monitoring Market with CisionOne Platform Launch: This expansion marks Cision’s inaugural entry into full-service media monitoring in APAC, providing a comprehensive solution to complement its established Brandwatch, and PR Newswire brands. PRophet Releases New InfluencerMarketing.ai Products: New AI-Powered Solutions Aim to Protect Brands and Predict an Influencer’s Commercial Impact; leverages advanced AI to analyze historical and real-time content across influencer and creator images, videos, and text going back several years to proactively identify and mitigate potential reputational risks. GlobeNewswire Helps German Public Companies Streamline Regulatory Filing and News Distribution: Notified, the provider of GlobeNewswire, expanded its presence in Germany. PeakMetrics Launches New AI-Powered Platform to Help Organizations Upgrade Their Risk and Threat Intelligence: PeakMetrics 2.0 introduces powerful features, including new narrative clustering algorithms and customizable threat score alerts, pushing beyond the limits of traditional media monitoring tools to offer a more comprehensive solution. Prowly News: This latest addition is thanks to our partnerships with the most credible service providers—LexisNexis and TVEyes. Semrush acquires Third Door Media: Leading SaaS platform Semrush acquired MarTech, MarTech Conference and all of their sibling publications. Stagwell’s PRophet Adds Management and Monitoring Tools: Stagwell has enhanced its predictive AI SaaS PR platform PRophet with the addition of new features under the brand names PRophet Earn, Influence, and Monitor, can be used together or as standalone solutions. PRophet Monitor uses the tech of machine learning-powered media monitoring and narrative analytics platform PeakMetrics Dazzle Launch: Dazzle is the first AI-driven, chat-based PR platform and does the heavy lifting in media contact research, so us PR pros can focus on getting coverage. Connectively (Cision’s re-imagined HARO) will cease Dec 9: But as PRToolFinder readers already know, Peter Shankman, the original HARO creator launched a service similar to his original that is now called Source of Sources or (SOS). Connectively has been removed from the PRToolFinder database. RIP Connectively; sometimes we should just leave well enough alone. Muck Rack has a partnership with Source of Sources (SOS), the platform founded by Peter Shankman. SOS is used by journalists to connect with sources. Through this partnership, Muck Rack journalist profiles are integrated into SOS’s daily emails. This allows PR pros to research journalists with a single click for more targeted and effective pitches.

PRToolFinder: Less Searching, More Succeeding

PR Trends:

• • Bluesky Sees Surge In Users As X Plans To Allow Viewing Of Blocked Accounts’ Posts: Bluesky is experiencing a surge in new users as X, formerly known as Twitter, plans to introduce a controversial update that will allow users to view posts from accounts they have blocked.
  • AI in PR Measurement: It’s Not an Either-Or Approach: Strategically combining the strengths of AI with the critical thinking and creativity of PR professionals allows organizations to accelerate and enhance media analysis efforts, leading to more informed decision-making and impactful communication strategies. (The Institute for PR)
  • Hey AI, what can you do for journalism? MHM interviewed Gemini, Google’s AI conversation tool, to try to find out how AI views its relationship with journalism. (Media Helping Media)
  • Bloomberg Government: Intriguing new resource for PR Pros who need to keep up with all thing’s politics. Bloomberg Government covers all the key policy areas – keeping you informed directly from Capitol Hill, state capitols, courtrooms, and agencies.

PRToolFinder Database Adds & Moves:

New Tool Category: The PR Management Tools Category offers solutions that streamline operations and drive strategic outcomes. Unlike other PRToolFinder categories that allow for direct comparisons, you won’t be comparing “apples to apples.” This category gathers diverse tools tailored for senior PR practitioners and management teams, focusing on maximizing efficiency and delivering impactful results. Examples are tools that automate or streamline proposal writing, and the development of communications plans – activities common to all PR programs.

Editorial Calendar & Journalist Networks:

·       Cision’s Connectively (Deleted)

Media Contact Databases 

·       Dazzle.ai: (Added) Launched mid-November Dazzle is the first AI-driven, chat-based PR platform and does the heavy lifting in media contact research, so us PR pros can focus on getting coverage.

·       Media List Pro: (Added) This isn’t really a tool, but PR Pros with only 1-2 clients will find this service useful. It’s an on-demand list development service. Years ago, Cision offered a 1-off list building option, but as far as I know Media List Pro is the only service available today. Correct me if I’m wrong.   

 Link Building & Influencer Marketing

·       Ainfluencer (Added) end-to-end marketplace never costs businesses any fees or subscriptions and is 100% free. Useful demo on website.

 Media Monitoring & Measurement

·       Pendulum AI: (Added) Pendulum started by focusing on threat detection but quickly uncovered a broader need for PR professionals: in an increasingly interconnected, digital world, we’re now seeing critical conversations unfold on audio and video platforms, not just in text. (Links to blog post)

Press Release Distribution

·       Cision/PRWeb Alert: Cision introduced a new version of their PRWeb; however, if you had a previous account with PRWeb and plan to use it in the future, be aware that you can’t access your account unless you create a new profile. Sounds easy, but users have reported that when trying to create a new account, they get an error message saying “that email is already in use.” There is no customer service contact aside from editorial on the website and while it has a password reset function, that doesn’t solve the issue. It would appear the only way to continue using the platform would be to use a new email but you won’t be able to access any of the data in your old account.

Thank you for reading and, most of all, thank you for being a

part of our PRToolFinder Community!   

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!