PR Nerds Don't Leave Home Without These Apps

by Katelyn Powers, Vollmer Public Relations New York City

The following re-enactment is based off of real events:

Situation: A PR rep is writing a press release about the grand opening of a museum, suddenly develops writer’s block and can’t think of another word for “tourist”.

Solution: PR rep highlights the word tourist, right clicks the mouse and finds the angelic “synonym” option glowing on the drop down menu. Magically, the words traveler, sightseer, visitor, holidaymaker, vacationer, day-tripper magically appear. Glorious!|

Outcome: PR rep finishes writing without having to use the word traveler more than once throughout the entire release and has one happy client!

Sound somewhat familiar? C’mon, we’ve all right clicked one too many times and can mostly agree that it’s been ages since we’ve even set eyes on an SAT vocabulary book. In PR, we’re always looking for the perfect words to keep everyone’s attention, making sure information is being distributed in the best way possible for our clients and their customers. Here’s a couple apps that PR folks can take advantage of when in need of writing assistance:

Flash of Genius App - http://www.flash-of-genius.com/iphone.php

Test your vocabulary skills by using this SAT prep app. Flash of Genius makes special lesson cards tailored to the individual, to help them see the connections.

AP Stylebook App - http://www.apstylebook.com/?do=product&pid=iphone

Search the downloadable listings for the main, sports, business and punctuation sections. This app also gives the ability to add custom entries as well as notes on AP listings.

No one is going to judge the over usage of the synonym short cut – it’s just all too convenient. But if not for press releases and writing in general, these apps can certainly help towards completing that darn newspaper’s crossword puzzle that gets indecently difficult by the end of the week. Happy downloading!

SEO: Are you making the most of your news releases?

Monthly digital media tips from Mary Kate Smither, Vollmer Public Relations

While you may find that you're successful in writing a succinct and newsworthy release that grabs media attention, you may be missing additional opportunities for exposure and potential story interest by not making the most of news releases using some of today's search engine optimization, or SEO, tactics. With the goal of receiving top ranking within a search engine's news tabs, press releases using SEO have been proven to provide a variety of successes, ranging from increased website traffic and search engine rankings to increasing publicity, generating sales leads and securing improved media coverage. To effectively maximize releases for wider reach and target not only your longstanding media contacts, but also new contacts, there are several ways for implementing SEO into your standard press releases utilizing keywords and phrases, Google Trends, hyperlinks, your own website and wire services - just to name a few. Have questions or want more details on how to implement SEO? Contact marykate@vollmerpr.com.