Ten Top Apps For Comms Pro's...

Exactly one month ago I posted a list of 10 top Twitter apps for PR and Communications people.

A month is a LONG time in Twitterville, so here's the updated list with some very significant new editions.

Also listed are some resources that, although aren't strictly classified as 'applications', are still great tools.


1. Hootsuite

This didn't feature at all in last month's list, but has skyrocketed to the top of the chart for September. Why? If you're a 'sharer' and time poor, this allows you to set all your tweets up first thing in the morning an periodically distribute them during the day.

It also provides real-time stats on all your linked accounts and for individual tweets.

Highly recommended.

2. Twitter Search

This remains in 2nd spot for a very good reason - it provides you with the simplest way to see what is on the minds of the broader public, and comes in especially handy if there is a topic you are tracking.

3. Newspaper People On Twitter

Compiled by the team at Media UK, this is updated in real-time and gives you an idea of which journalists are using Twitter and how influential they are.

List are also available for Radio and Magazine people on Twitter and many more.

4. UK Media Tweeple

Operated by @LitmanLive this is a list of UK PR folk on Twitter and comes in handy if you like to keep an eye on what the rest of the breed is up to.

5. Twhirl

Although TweetDeck is popular, I find it a a little over-consuming, constantly 'bleeping' away at my desk all day. Twhirl, on the other hand, still gives you your regular updates but in a less intrusive way.

6. Tweetmeme - aggregates links on Twitter to work out which are the most popular.

7. Twitterfeed -a favourite amongst journalists, this feeds articles / blog posts straight into your Twitter feed.

8. Tweetarium - Only just been put on to this. Tweetarium is a Twitter application which helps you manage your twitter stream and ensures you don't miss a tweet. Great way to group your followers.

9. CoTweet - Another one that I've only stumbled across of late, this is a platform that helps companies reach and engage customers using Twitter.

10. Who Follows Whom - If communications is about influencing and 'influencers', then this is well worth a look - amazing how many followers you'll have in common with your colleagues.

Like any Top 10 list this is very subjective so if you have any comments / feedback, please post below.

Are you being tricked into watching the X Factor?

(Perhaps this one still applies the night after the day before...)

If you plan on watching the X Factor tonight, try and watch it with the following perspective / mindset...I think you might feel a little bit different about it afterwards...

Conflict. Rarity. Prominence. Consequence. Topicality. Personality. Proximity. Action.

Hmmm, that's odd. I could have sworn that those 8 reasons are the criteria for what 'makes' news.

But this is just a TV show isn't? Yes and no.

If you were the editor of The Sun newspaper, you would make sure that the criteria listed above featured in every story in your paper.

Maybe not all at once, but these are the things that what we (the reader) are interested in.

The world's shortest man (rarity). A local resident has won an award (proximity). Jordan and Peter Andre split up (prominence).

This is what gets our attention, and the X Factor is a great example of life imitating art...on occasion (let's be honest, some of the acts could hardly be considered artistic!).

Are you being 'tricked' into watching the X Factor?

Again the answer is yes and no.

On one hand, its just enjoyable, escapism-type TV.

On the other, is a very cleverly designed framework which keeps you interested in the show not only on the weekend but everyday of the week via other media.

The reason why is that each of the criteria listed above feature in the 'product' - some are natural, while some are manufactured.

The main one I want to look at is conflict.

Do you really think Cheryl ad Dannii don't get along? Hmmm.

Do you really think Simon Cowell says what he says because he means it? Well, he is honest, but he also knows that one of the reasons you tune in each week is to see him give someone a b*llocking.

I'm not saying Simon is fake. Far from it. He is just incredibly clever. He gives us what we want every week without fail.

Without being too cynical (maybe that ship has sailed) I think we'd feel very differently about the show if we let ourselves see it for what is really is: a very well structured, scripted, and planned 'super story.'

As it happens, we love the escapism and the fun it provides, but tonight, just see if you can spot examples of conflict, rarity, prominence, consequence, personality, topicality, proximity and action.

My bet is that you'll tick 'em all off after the first 5 minutes.

P.S John and Edward annoy the hell out of me (rarity...in the worst possible way!).