If you’ve spent much time in PR or social media you know the importance of organization all-too well. Life in PR moves pretty fast. If you don’t stop and look around once in a while – your client could miss a great press opportunity.
All apologies to Ferris Bueller, the truth is, staying organized is half the battle in PR. When meetings are scheduled on top of one another, we squeeze them to fit in our fully-synced, cloud-based calendars. As PR professionals we learn how to juggle impossible deadlines and keep everyone smiling. It feels something like the speed of certain superheroes, sans capes.
How do we do it? I’d like to say coffee. It’s more than that.
In the office here at Franco and offsite at client meetings you’ll find me clutching a smart phone, lugging a laptop, likely with an iPad buried in my bag, too. They’re all armed with apps meant to keep me organized and on task.
Account Manager Stephanie Casola knows it takes more than just a great cup of coffee to make it through the day in the busy world of PR. Here are some ways she uses technology to stay organized.
Here are a few of my favorite ways to keep the PR work flowing, and save some time to enjoy life, too:
- On Task – It started with a hard cover planner in high school and the concept is still the same. I jot everything down in one of three calendars – iCal, Google or Exchange – all of which are synced to my phone. Alerts are my everything. This information is all backed up to the cloud so I can see it on my laptop or iPad, just in case. How Type A is that?
- Taking Note – As a former reporter, I’m apt to grab a pen and flip pad at my desk or for a conversation, but I do enjoy the concept and features of Evernote on-the-go. When you want to remember something or share it – with someone else or yourself – it’s sleek and efficient.
- Getting there – When running from one meeting to another, some days it feels like I don’t have a chance to think about how to get where I am going before stepping into the car. I am too focused on the exciting ideas our team has come up with, or the results we have to report. That’s when I appreciate driving directions assistance apps likes Waze, Google Maps, even Siri on Apple Maps for assistance. Just plot in your destination and follow along – it’s magic. Add handy parking options once I arrive, like Parkmobile and I can make it on time.
- Letting it all go – Turning the day off can be just as important as being present, tuning in and focusing on the task at hand. When you need a quick 5 minute reset or rest at the end of a long day, apps like Happify or Headspace make it possible.
What are your ways of working it all out? Share them in the comments.
Stephanie Angelyn Casola is an account manager on the run at Franco Public Relations Group. She leads the consumer and social media teams and can be reached at 313-567-5048 or [email protected]. Tweet her at @stephcasola.
