Cision Communications Cloud

Overview
ProductRatingMost Used ByProduct SummaryStarting Price
Cision Communications Cloud
Score 7.6 out of 10
N/A
CIsion Communications Cloud is used for identifying key media and influencers, connecting with audiences, monitoring traditional and social media, and analyzing outcomes.N/A
Pricing
Cision Communications Cloud
Editions & Modules
No answers on this topic
Offerings
Pricing Offerings
Cision Communications Cloud
Free Trial
No
Free/Freemium Version
No
Premium Consulting/Integration Services
No
Entry-level Setup FeeNo setup fee
Additional Details—
More Pricing Information
Community Pulse
Cision Communications Cloud
Considered Both Products
Cision Communications Cloud
Chose Cision Communications Cloud
Cision is a much more complete system. It provides a real depth of media sources and it is extremely user friendly unlike the competition.
Chose Cision Communications Cloud
Purely from a media research (media list) database perspective, Cision provides the best, most robust results in the industry. Most important, however, is that the database is kept current. This is a big deal as reporters and producers tend to move around quite a bit. In …
Chose Cision Communications Cloud
We selected Cision because it has many trade outlets and niche publications that are important for our clients to target.
Chose Cision Communications Cloud
Cision [Communications Cloud] is a familiar platform that works well. Unfortunately, [in my experience], they do not offer the same cost alternatives as Prowly, for example.
Chose Cision Communications Cloud
Hootsuite was limited in its range of contact information and media outlet profiles.
Chose Cision Communications Cloud
Again, we have found the best cost-benefit with [Cision Communications Cloud] as compared with competitors in the market.
Chose Cision Communications Cloud
I found Cision [Communications Cloud] to be much more simple to use, and it offers the ability to track [a] wider array of media placements without additional fees attached to it. Now that it has incorporated TVEyes, it can offer print, online, radio, and TV tracking …
Chose Cision Communications Cloud
Sometimes, our Brazil contracted PR firm resorts to Communique-se mailing distribution list to tap Brazilian journalists. Sometimes, the list is a bit outdated, but most times they get it right.
Chose Cision Communications Cloud
Cision is by far less expensive dollar for dollar and does not demonstrate any lacking comparatively speaking. Where other platforms are difficult to navigate or make sense of, Cision is fairly straight forward. If you can use Facebook, you can use this. Additionally, it is …
Chose Cision Communications Cloud
While other companies like LexisNexis have cool and similar monitoring capabilities, we chose Cision Communications Cloud because we were already familiar with and active in the platform and the annual cost was significantly lower. However, LexisOne has some more advanced …
Chose Cision Communications Cloud
We liked the cost of Cision Communications Cloud (TrendKite)* against its competitors. We also felt the platform was more advanced and intuitive. It was easier to use and included more features. They're always adding something new - even the little things make a difference. I …
Chose Cision Communications Cloud
In full transparency, Cision Communications Cloud was purchased before I arrived at my current job. However, I have been involved in evaluating other options. One of these was Meltwater. In the end, Cision Communications Cloud does what we want it to -- and very effectively -- …
Chose Cision Communications Cloud
Cision Communications Cloud (TrendKite) is much better in my opinion. NASDAQ was not user-friendly and very confusing to set up. They had a more extensive social media monitoring system but we couldn't understand how to use it so it wasn't worth it. Cision Communications Cloud …
Chose Cision Communications Cloud
We picked it because of ease of use and we picked it because it has the largest media database.
Chose Cision Communications Cloud
Cision Communications Cloud, specifically PR Newswire, has a larger group of journalists on their distribution list than any other similar product that we looked into. Beyond that, since Cision Communications Cloud is such a trusted source and domain both in the industry but …
Chose Cision Communications Cloud
Our team has recently started a Muck Rack trial. While there are a few things they can offer that Cision can't, Cision still proves to be the most robust platform currently available. Cision allows for detailed searches that you simply can't get with other platforms, or are …
Chose Cision Communications Cloud
Have not tried any other similar products.
Chose Cision Communications Cloud
We added Cision and HPE to our PR cloud usage in order to review as well as expand our R&D service reach. Cision seems to work better for smaller companies, and not really for research and development. I don't believe we will continue with Cision.
Chose Cision Communications Cloud
Cision Communications Cloud is the best of what's available and out there. There are many companies doing segments of what they do, but Cision brings the entire package together in an efficient and attractive interface, combined with proven success and connections. I haven't …
Chose Cision Communications Cloud
We thought it would be the best platform out there, reaching the most media outlets. It was a no brainer to go with PR Web and the program associated with it for our public relations. Easy to use, helpful associates makes all the difference when choosing a platform like Cision.
Chose Cision Communications Cloud
While platforms like Meltwater seem impressive, functions like the "zip code radius" were important to us and weren't offered through those platforms. In addition, the price point seemed a lot higher with other platforms, especially if we wanted to track print clips (via …
Chose Cision Communications Cloud
Muck Rack has a better database of contacts and the media profiles seem to be more comprehensive and detailed than Cision's. However, distribution and building lists are more time-consuming on Muck Rack over Cision and the platform takes a longer time to learn than Cision does.
Chose Cision Communications Cloud
I also used Social Media Targeting and Monitoring briefly when it was TrendKite. It was a good tool, but we weren't a large enough company to derive value from it.
Chose Cision Communications Cloud
Cision is easier to use. Their pricing is better than their competition, especially because they have an unlimited word count which is very important to us. Their customer service is amazing and they will answer questions quickly, approve press releases quickly, and work with …
Top Pros
Top Cons
Best Alternatives
Cision Communications Cloud
Small Businesses
Newswire
Newswire
Score 8.3 out of 10
Medium-sized Companies
Newswire
Newswire
Score 8.3 out of 10
Enterprises
Meltwater
Meltwater
Score 6.6 out of 10
All AlternativesView all alternatives
User Ratings
Cision Communications Cloud
Likelihood to Recommend
8.5
(279 ratings)
Likelihood to Renew
7.0
(17 ratings)
Usability
7.0
(53 ratings)
Availability
9.1
(2 ratings)
Performance
9.1
(2 ratings)
Support Rating
9.0
(192 ratings)
Online Training
8.0
(3 ratings)
Implementation Rating
10.0
(3 ratings)
Product Scalability
7.3
(1 ratings)
Vendor post-sale
9.1
(1 ratings)
Vendor pre-sale
9.1
(1 ratings)
User Testimonials
Cision Communications Cloud
Likelihood to Recommend
Cision
For a small start-up, the cost-benefit to add lift to press releases [and] particular milestone accomplishments is definitely there with the Cision [Communications] Cloud. Much of what we do, by necessity, is done internally without the benefit of outsourced press folks, so the Cision [Communications] Cloud ease of use and reporting is very important.
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Pros
Cision
  • Their upgraded press release templates and ability [to] pull in an entire, completed release makes the [process] faster and easier, and allows for more graphics, such as company mastheads, [are done well].
  • The media tracking offers the ability to find relevant placements across the entire country.
  • The journalist database streamlines the process of finding relevant reporters to directly connect [to] on news releases that are relevant to their beats.
  • The process of setting up, creating, and distributing a release is seamless, easy to use, and not labor-intensive.
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Cons
Cision
  • In the media influencer database, the classic Cision allowed us to do a zip code radius search to really drill down to the neighborhood level. That's because we do localized media advisories and press releases for events at neighborhood schools. One part of a big city like Chicago really doesn't care what's happening in another part of Chicago that's too far away. The zip code radius search was a feature in the classic Cision but not with the current Cision Communications Cloud. We've asked for this to be restored several times, but nothing's happened. In fact, we were told to use DMA — which actually goes wider in a search (bigger than a city), not more narrow as needed. This reflects a basic misunderstanding of what we need.
  • Another missing feature involves a merge field when sending out an email press release through Cision. This is the "select insert field" button in the upper right that's used to personalize a release with the media contact's name and other information. This is key for localization of the release. Many media outlets won't run a release unless it's local. While "county" is a feature in the influencer database when putting together a media list in Cision, "county" is not available to insert into a press release as a merge field. Counties are important because this is how many newspapers and health departments are organized and identify themselves. I've asked for this to be implemented, to no avail. As a workaround, we've had to use "contact city" or "outlet city."
  • After refining a media list in Cision using filters, I've had to download the list and take it offline to see the big picture, screen for duplicates, etc. While there is a button on the bottom left intended to help with this, it doesn't do the trick. That's because there may be multiple contacts with the same email address. In addition, one media contact may represent numerous media outlets, so this same contact could show up several times. It would be nice to have a better way to see the whole list online and eliminate both duplicates as well as those who previously opted out.
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Likelihood to Renew
Cision
While I am happy with the product performance overall, TrendKite's recent merger with Cision is cause for concern. When we first signed on with TrendKite, I spoke with several users and the best response I received was that the company was a startup and we could expect there to be hiccups along the way as the company grew and the platform got more robust. That has certainly been the case. However, now that they have merged with Cision — a company that has grown too fast, has not focused on improving its product and has poor customer service — I have concerns that TrendKite will lose some of the qualities that have made it a great company and great product to work with.
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Usability
Cision
The flexibility and customization of Cision Communications Cloud (TrendKite)* is among its most important features. Changing the dashboards, using keywords in the saved searches to pull out the best stories and the integration with marketing automation tools gives me confidence that I will able to continue using this tool well into the future. The future implementation and integration of the media contact database will complete the suite, making list management and email marketing programs much smoother. *This review was written before Cision acquired TrendKite. TrendKite is now part of Cision Communications Cloud.
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Reliability and Availability
Cision
Easily accessible 24/7.
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Performance
Cision
Generally, Cision performs well day to day, but it's got some annoying bugs that slow down usage/require user workarounds which is inefficient. More seriously, a few months ago, as a result of a major system upgrade, certain critical functionality was not working and I was unable to use the service for more than a day when I had time-sensitive work to execute
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Support Rating
Cision
For Cision TrendKite in particilar, support always responded, but it was sometimes slow. For some of our booleans and search queries, we would need help refining and excluding terms/phrases that weren't relevant to our client or campaign. This sometimes took 1-2 days just to get a response back, which sometimes was too late when a last-minute report was due. This was only with the support staff, not necessarily our customer success manager or sales rep.
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Online Training
Cision
The online training sessions available for the Cision Communications Cloud are helpful and informative. There's more than one option - initially, I signed up for the live webinar classes on basic functions and that is what I recommend other new users do as well. If I have specific questions or something I want to learn more about, I can search the online database and find article or online training videos to get the information I need.
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Implementation Rating
Cision
There is no implementation at the customer's end so this doesn't really apply to my instance of Cision (possibly to all instances of it).
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Alternatives Considered
Cision
It's a similar product. I think Meltwater sells itself as being a bit more niche, but I have not found many significant differences between Meltwater and Cision. Meltwater's sales process is a very high pressure and their prices are inflated.
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Scalability
Cision
Easy to use, but still room for improvement.
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Return on Investment
Cision
  • Cision has a net positive impact on time savings for staff so we can be quicker to market
  • Cision has a positive impact on internal savings as it is used internally across multiple accounts and with the internal PR team
  • Cision is extremely useful when it comes to resourcing and conducting outreach in those DMA's where our agency doesn't have a physical presence
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ScreenShots

Cision Communications Cloud Screenshots

Screenshot of Media Monitoring and Analytics are just part of the complete Comms Cloud. It combines deep data dive with a database of journalists and influencers, and a media relationship management tool.Screenshot of Track brand mentions in real time across the millions of online stories on the internet. Monitor millions of stories and breaking news happening daily across the web. Professional services consultants teams are in place to ensure best practices while setting up a monitoring account.Screenshot of Cision’s media and influencer relationship management tools include audience insights, combined with a pitchable database that enables brands to uncover the best media contacts and social influencers to reach their target audience.Screenshot of Identify the social conversations and influencers that are impacting a brand. Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and YouTube monitoring capabilities track brand mentions across all major social channels. Analyze results for social mentions or campaigns on the fly with its reporting features.