As if juggling campaigns, clients, and strategies is not enough, public relations is an industry where you must have effective communication. A publicist also needs to be able to collaborate to achieve success. Although there are many options, the Slack app fosters and excels in seamless teamwork. Many apps were explored but found that Slack stood out for several reasons. In this review, we dive into why Slack is a tool for PR professionals to incorporate into their daily routines.
Real-Time Communication
If you are a publicist that works within a team, then Slack is for you. In the fast-paced world of PR, you have to stay connected, and communication is key. It is a powerful team collaboration platform that offers real-time messaging. You can also share files. The app includes private messaging and group discussion options. Conversations can be organized by projects, topics, or teams. You can also integrate other apps and tools with it, such as Google Drive and Trello. This is also very useful and can help manage multiple tasks on one platform.
Slack has an instant messaging service that PR professionals can find useful. This helps to stay connected and have fast communication. Slack is not limited to just PR and their teams. It can be used to stay connected to clients by creating different channels. This can be used to create channels for campaigns and departments so that discussions can be focused on, and they can carry out sharing relevant files among each other.
So how much is Slack? Is it Accessible from anywhere?
Slack offers a free plan, and it offers paid plans as well. The free version is a good fit for individuals or very small public relations teams. It has the essential features that will be needed. It gives you the opportunity to try it out and see if it will work for you. The message and DM history are limited.
There are four paid versions. The Pro (for small teams), you will have unlimited apps and workflow, audio & video conversations with screen sharing for up to 50 people, secure collaborations with outside organizations, and unlimited canvases with 30 days of history. Business Plus helps you to scale your business, increase productivity and keep your teams connected. You will get advanced identity management, SSo, and real-time Active Directory sync with OneLogin, 90-day unlimited canvases history, and 24/7 support with a four-hour response time. The Enterprise Grid has all flexibility to meet your regulatory requirements. Large-scale collaborations of up to 500,000 users, streamlined administration with centralized controls, unlimited canvases, and version history are included. Lastly, GovSlack is an option for additional security for government agencies and their external partners to be able to work together. It runs in an AWS GovCloud data center and offers Slack Connect so that your team can sync with other organizations that you have the same plan.
Pros and Cons
Let’s start with the pros. Slack offers real-time messaging. This is good because it provides instant communication. This helps so that you can contact someone immediately versus waiting on an email. Another good feature is that you can integrate various apps and choose whether you need the basics or upgrade to a more functional plan.
Now, let’s dive into a con. The free version is limited although it offers a good start to necessary features. If you are a larger PR team, you will need to upgrade to get the additional features. So, keep that in mind. Slack can be used on computers and mobile devices. The mobile option is best used to primarily keep engaged with your team or clients. It’s good for when you are away from your desk. The desktop version gives access to channels, messages, and files.
In Conclusion
Although there are many options for a publicist to use. The Slack app prove to be useful due to its seamless communication, collaboration, and organization features. The real-time interactions with clients and team members, streamlines media outreach, and enables an effective and efficient communication method. Slack enhances a publicist’s ability to manage campaigns, maintain client relationships, and stay updated in the fast-paced world of media and publicity. Give Slack a try for yourself. After-all, you can not go wrong with at least trying out the free version. To learn more about how Slack can transform your team’s collaboration experience, visit the official website at https://www.slack.com/.
Reference:
Slack Technologies, Inc. (n.d.). Slack: Be less busy. Retrieved August 20, 2023, from https://www.slack.com/