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I love TrendKite but I'm afraid of what will happen following the merger with Cision
Updated March 08, 2019

I love TrendKite but I'm afraid of what will happen following the merger with Cision

Buck Banks | TrustRadius Reviewer
Score 10 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User

Software Version

TrendKite

Overall Satisfaction with Cision Communications Cloud

We use Cision Communications Cloud (TrendKite)* as a media-monitoring tool to create daily newsletters for clients and business associates. We also use the platform to track earned media on campaigns and press releases and to create reports for clients showing results. Finally, we use Cision Communications Cloud to monitor media for reputational management and crisis communications purposes.

*This review was written near the time Cision acquired TrendKite. TrendKite is now part of Cision Communications Cloud.
  • Cision Communications Cloud does a great job at monitoring media worldwide — as long as you create effectively Boolean logic strings.
  • Cision's interactive reports look great and are easy to understand for clients.
  • Cision's widgets enable me to create reports that provide share of voice comparisons between my clients and their competitors.
  • Training/explanation of how to set up effective Boolean search strings could be better.
  • The online help chat function is great, but I feel like too often the help staff are focused on solving the problem and not explaining the solution, so could avoid a similar situation in the future.
  • I don't feel like my account representative is engaged with me to ensure that I am using Cision Communications Cloud to its full extent.
  • I don't feel like I've received sufficient training to use the UnionMetrics functions to their full effect.
  • The primary ROI we've achieved from Cision Communications Cloud is in the form of client trust. Our clients have come to rely on the quality and speed with which we can produce reliable and useful reports that help them assess the effectiveness of their communications.
Meltwater is terrible and Cision Communications Cloud (TrendKite)* is great.
Cision Communications Cloud (TrendKite)* is a great tool for public relations media monitoring and reporting. I have not used it for other applications. The integration of the Union Metrics results into the reports seems unfinished and not very useful at this time.

Transition from TrendKite to Cision Communications Cloud

While I find the support staff responsive, helpful and knowledgeable, as mentioned before, I would appreciate it if they would explain/teach me how they solved my problems.

Using Cision Communications Cloud

4 - We are a public relations agency, and we use Cision Communications Cloud (TrendKite)* for creating reports for clients on the performance of specific press releases, for tracking campaigns and for monitoring crisis and reputation-management issues. We also use Cision Communications Cloud as a news monitor to pull in content for a daily newsletter we produce for middle to upper management executives at Carnival Corporation brands.
1 - I suppose I'm primarily in charge of "support" for Cision (TrendKite)* in that I train my colleagues on how to use the platform and I liaise with Cision regarding product upgrades or problems we are having with the platform. The skills required to use Cision Communications Cloud are basic computer skills, familiarity with Excel documents and a basic understanding of Boolean logic.
  • Results reporting for individual press releases, ongoing campaigns and annual reports
  • Content capture for newsletters
  • Crisis and reputation issues management through media monitoring
  • Competitive comparison of media coverage among cruise line brands
  • Media research on competitors
  • Media research on prospective clients to help create effective pitches.
  • As the platform continues to develop, I'm sure new uses will become apparent
  • As the integration with UnionMetrics improves I expect we'll be able to better use social media measurement along with earned-media assessments
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.

Evaluating Cision Communications Cloud and Competitors

Yes - TrendKite (Cision Communications Cloud) replaced Meltwater. We had Meltwater for a year and it was the worst business decision of my 25-year career in public relations. We were told the platform could do things that it indeed could not. So when it came time to evaluate TrendKite, we were rigorous in looking at the tool and being sure it could produce the results we wanted. We were so impressed and confident in the platform that we signed up for two years for our first contract.
  • Product Features
  • Product Usability
The Cision Communications Platform (TrendKite)* platform did what its salespeople said it would.
I wouldn't change a thing. I felt we were rigorous in evaluating Cision Communications Cloud (TrendKite)* and did our due diligence is speaking to current users.