Cision helps busy PR and content professionals connect the dots
September 06, 2020
Cision helps busy PR and content professionals connect the dots
Score 9 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
Modules Used
- Distribution (PR Newswire)
- Media Database
- Monitoring
Overall Satisfaction with Cision Communications Cloud
We use Cision to distribute news releases, PR pitches, and inquiries to media for several of our key clients. It is primarily used by me, as I lead our PR efforts as well as content management. Since many of the clients I represent are in narrow verticals, the solution allows me to research what influencers have written about specific topics and better target my pitch to them. It also helps me quickly perform follow-ups on my pitches, rather than spending hours cutting and pasting a pitch into email and reformatting and personalizing for each recipient. The amount of time the product has saved me has been amazing. It is the most useful tool in my PR arsenal.
We also use the platform to scan the news for coverage for our clients, and to perform competitive analysis for new clients, or during the discovery process for existing clients. It allows us to provide a summary view of what others are saying about our client and its competitors, and to also share helpful content analysis facts, such as number of mentions, number of publications reached during a time period, key terms used, etc. It is a valued research tool.
We also use the platform to scan the news for coverage for our clients, and to perform competitive analysis for new clients, or during the discovery process for existing clients. It allows us to provide a summary view of what others are saying about our client and its competitors, and to also share helpful content analysis facts, such as number of mentions, number of publications reached during a time period, key terms used, etc. It is a valued research tool.
- Influencer research: I am able to quickly find the right reporter or editor for my pitch because Cision lets me know what they write about, their communications preferences, past articles, etc.
- Distribution: I appreciate a template to help streamline my pitch and press release distribution that allows me to send my news to a targeted list of contacts without having to send individual emails. I can send out communications with just a few steps, in just a few minutes.
- News search: I use Cision to scan for news and monitor for mentions of my clients. I also use this feature to keep tabs on topics and key terms of interest to me and my clients to stay ahead of emerging trends and stay on top of emerging discussions in my clients' industries.
- I would like to see more COVID-19 search terms. This is here to stay. Many of my clients want information specific to this topic.
- Let us monitor for reporters specifically writing about COVID-19. Make this a topic in the influencer search.
- I wish I had more functionality when searching "all news" instead of just "my coverage." There are times I have a search fully set up and get no results back only to realize I am in "my coverage" instead of "all news" and have to start all over again— only to find that I can't do half of what I could have if I was only searching my coverage.
- Time savings, which translate to fewer billable hours in our industry. Better time management for the client, and more responsible and impactful use of budget dollars because I can do more with less.
- A better line of sight on the many discussions being had in our client's space. It has reduced the amount of time I need to spend working my way through the news on my own.
- The improved ability to learn a lot about a new or prospective client quickly.
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.
Do you think Cision Communications Cloud delivers good value for the price?
Yes
Are you happy with Cision Communications Cloud's feature set?
Yes
Did Cision Communications Cloud live up to sales and marketing promises?
Yes
Did implementation of Cision Communications Cloud go as expected?
Yes
Would you buy Cision Communications Cloud again?
Yes