Favorite Fashion Videos

Fashion PR Free-for-All

This is an opportunity for you to ask me anything you want  - about getting started in fashion PR, ideas on a current career challenge, thoughts on how fashion PR is changing and the skills and tools to help you be more successful, suggestions for navigating awkward client/agency relationships – it’s an open forum, kittens. So ask away. If you’ve been considering attending Fashion PR Confidential in Los Angeles in early June, I’m open to helping you figure out if it’s the right fit. We’ll chat for as long as the conversation is flowing.

Win Stuff

Since I can’t hand out gift bags, everyone who participates will find out how to be entered to win a 30 minute consulting session (a $75 value) with me, and two other lucky PR pros will win copies of the newly redesigned Pitch Perfect. 

Can’t wait to connect – and clink – later tonight!

What makes Nichols & Beck unique?

I launched Nichols & Beck Public Relations in late 2012. Having worked as global communications director for a luxury knitwear brand, I was the liaison between the fashion house and an outside PR Firm. I really began to see what was missing in the public relations world from the standpoint of a brand. My goal was to fill that missing link and so far we have been successful in doing so.

I treat each fashion designer as I would a public figure because I believe that designers should be publicized just as much as the collections they create.

We differ from other firms because I am a publicist and not just a public relations firm. When I take on new fashion brands, I treat each fashion designer as I would a public figure because I believe that designers should be publicized just as much as the collections they create. There is a story behind every collection and that story needs to be told. Another way that we offer that differ from other firms is that we are aligned with Generalosophy, a fashion sales and marketing firm. The partnership allows us to help the brands we represent expand their profitably in addition to getting exposure.

How did you get started in the industry?

I moved to New York and started dressing and styling runway shows for Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week. I was then referred to a few fashion houses and quickly landed a position as Global Communications Director for a luxury knitwear brand. I immediately fell in love with fashion public relations because I found that it allowed me to do all the things that I loved – working with editors, styling celebrities, photo shoots, branding, marketing and so much more. It also matched my personality, which is high energy, results-driven and passionate.

What is the mood in the office right now? What are you working on?

The mood in the office is always fast-paced and borderline hectic. It is very exciting because we have a lot of new growth happening. Currently we are working on two fashion events, a television interview, three red carpet events, pitching, pitching, pitching and making sure that the social media needs of our clients are met.

You recently did a spring presentation featuring the Ryan Haber Collection and Gemelli Jewelry. What are the key elements of a successful event?

Events are a more interactive way to get designers in front of editors. It is often difficult to get smaller labels noticed by editors and events create opportunities for up-and-coming designers to gain recognition. I haven’t met an editor yet that doesn’t like to escape the office to see something creative and new.

The key to a successful event is to be well organized, know your audience and to be prepared for something to go wrong. Nothing ever goes exactly as planned, but if you are able to just roll with it, everything will work out, as it should. The bottom line is that if your clients get exposure then you have had a successful event.

As well as specializing in fashion, you also offer celebrity representation. What is different about each approach and how do they work together?

Entertainment public relations is about cultivating a public image. In fashion, you shape the public image of the designer while simultaneously promoting each collection. Fashion and celebrity representation work together at Nichols & Beck Public Relations because we are able to immediately seed the fashion labels onto our in-house celebrities when appropriate.  Celebrity placement for a fashion label is key.

As a new agency, what has been your client acquisition and employee growth strategy? What approaches have worked best?

Always be transparent with clients. This approach has always worked best for me. It also helps that I love fashion. This past holiday season I bought a really cool set of bracelets and I called the company and asked who their public relations firm was. They didn’t have one at the time and now I represent them. I don’t wait for labels to contact me; I go after the labels and clientele that I truly love.

How can a prospective intern of employee impress you during an interview? What is an immediate turn-off?

As an owner of a new firm, I always look for candidates who want to grow with Nichols & Beck Public Relations and are invested in its future. I welcome and encourage candidates to bring new ideas to the table and expect everyone to possess the ability to problem solve and multi-task in a fast paced environment.

An immediate turn off is when a candidate is late. It is a severe pet peeve of mine. I am a very schedule oriented and have my day booked down to the last five minutes so when an employee or intern is 15 or 30 minutes late, it throws my whole day off

What are three tools or strategies that help you run your business efficiently?

1) To-do lists are a must! Because we are a boutique public relations firm everyone at Nichols & Beck is given a lot of responsibility. Without our to-do lists, we would not get as much accomplished and it helps me keep track of what my staff is doing on a day-to-day basis so that I can update my clients.

2) My iPad is key. When I am out with editors and stylists, it’s more efficient to have all of my look books and line sheets with me to make a visually stimulating presentation on behalf of my clients.

3) Social media is one of the most important tools for building a successful public relations firm. From building brands to networking with the press, platforms like Twitter have enhanced our business greatly. Even my Twitter handle, @NYCFashionPRGrl is a branding tool!

Thanks Erin!

To celebrate, I have three exciting things!

Virtual Launch Party – Fashion PR Free-For-Fall Spreecast Thursday

Break out the champers!  Join me for a conversation on Thursday, May 16 at 6pm PT. We’ll chat about the new site, the evolution of PR Couture and you can ask chance any questions you may have about fashion PR, the upcoming Fashion PR Confidential workshop, or your career path, or the industry at-large. One lucky PR Girl (or Guy) will win a free 30-minute consulting session (a $75 value), just for hanging out, and two people will receive digital downloads of the newly redesigned ebook Pitch Perfect: The PR Couture Guide Fashion Media Coverage.

Get Pitch Perfect for $9 This Week!

Special launch pricing: download Pitch Perfect: The PR Couture Guide to Fashion Media Coverage for $20 dollars off. Designed to help entry-level PR professionals and fashion designers increase press coverage, the ebook has a brand new cover and an interior layout design I am in love with – it’s like reading a magazine about getting into magazines! Download it to your iPad and devour it. So haute.

Dance Party!

I always love hearing what artists, authors and others listen to when they are launching a big project, so I put together a PR Couture Launch playlist on Spotify of a bunch of songs I’ve been listening to through creative development, copy-edits, and all the random bits and pieces that go into a site overhaul.

One Last Thing

And finally, I wanted to let you know that I’ve left my position as Creative Director at Red Door, where I worked for five years – first building and then managing the social media/content marketing department. It’s a big shift and I’m so excited to explore new projects and spend more time growing and tending to PR Couture. I’m especially interested in working with brands on their social storytelling, content marketing, blogger partnerships and of course, fun brand explorations with PR Couture and our community of passionate, social-savvy early-adopter fashion communicators and creatives. Please reach out if you think there might be a way to work together!

Ta-ta for now kittens. I’m off to enjoy my last day here in New Orleans with the Two Point Oh Plus crew!

With the ongoing debates about content marketing that’s preoccupying the marketing and tech communities, not to mention last week’s PR Couture interview with digital content/copy writer and web editor Hannah Rand, I’ve been thinking a lot about visual content.

Visual content is playing an increasingly important role in brand communication and it’s more important than ever to develop eye-catching images for use on everything from Tumblr to Pinterest. One of the ways that PR professionals can diversify their skill-set and quickly turn around content for the web is with graphic design basics and photo-editing. However, not every publicist can afford the high-price of much of the leading image-editing software, like Photoshop. And even if you are lucky to have the current Adobe Creative Suite, the desktop versions of these programs are on their way out and will now require a monthly fee (more on that in a bit). Much of the editing that publicist’s do on behalf of their clients is pretty basic stuff, however, so we put together a few Adobe alternatives.

GIMP

Seemingly the crowd pleaser of Photoshop alternatives within the creative world, GIMP (GNU Image Manipulation Program) offers a variety of tools at no cost. All of the tools you love about Photoshop: paint tools, color correction, cloning, digital retouching, and photo enhancement for FREE! GIMP also offers a great “fullscreen mode” that not only gives you a realistic preview of your creation, but also allows you to make edits at this expanded, zoomed-out view.

Why it might be right for you? The GIMP team of developers values compatibility; you’ll have no problems working between a variety of popular file formats, made even easier by GIMP’s built-in file manager that functions similarly to Adobe’s Bridge. With a large community of users and super helpful tutorials on the GIMP site, you’ll feel right at home in no time. Still unwilling to part with Photoshop? GIMP now offers a version of its services that mimics Adobe’s look and feel. Plus, did we mention that it’s FREE??!

Things to keep in mind: There’s no CMYK support in GIMP because it’s not intended for print use. What does that mean? CMYK color model (Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, and Black mode) is the standard for print items – postcards, table tents, etc. You can use RGB with most printers however, but just know you might have some issues with color matching. Critics of GIMP have mentioned that issues with color correction and calibration…We say give it a test; let us know how it goes!

Available for Mac, Windows, and Linux

Pixlr

The biggest benefit of Pixlr can be summed up on one word: accessibility. This great web-based app image editor is mobile-compatible and allows you to make anything from small changes on near-perfect graphics to extreme makeovers for those poorly lit event photos. As Tim Gunn would say, when it comes to creating impressive and visually appealing digital images for your brand, you can “make it work” from just about anywhere. All you need is your smartphone, cell service, and the Pixlr app.

Why it might be right for you? If you are looking for an easy-to-use, explanatory service with great image results, but are not interested in devoting a lot of time to learning a new tool, Pixlr’s clean and simple interface is the way to go. This app is the ultimate clean, mean, digital image-retouching machine: edit multiple images in full screen mode and use keyboard shortcuts similar to Photoshop’s for quick and easy changes. 100% free with no registration needed; simply download the app and get get it done.

Things to keep in mind: While Pixlr might have all the solutions to your editing needs, its weaker than its competition when it comes to import/export options. With limited upload capabilities, images have to be saved to a user’s hard drive before they can be uploaded, so you need to take a few extra steps before being able to share those images. 

Available for iOS or Android

FlauntR

It’s all in the name. FlauntR is a free online photo editing program that offers one of the more comprehensive lists of editing and styling tools, not to mention unique embellishments (most of which we recommend staying far away from!) and text options. Another big benefit is FlauntR’s social integration and  instant export to mobile. It’s also available as an application on Facebook! (can we “Facebook like” that?)

Why it might be right for you? What’s most unique about FlauntR is its online photo printing service. With one-step batch uploads, prints, posters, wall decals, greeting cards, etc. can be ordered directly from the program. Goodbye long lines at Kinko’s, hello flexibility and freedom with FlauntR.

Things to Consider: Some reviewers have had complaints with the FlauntR interface, but such specs often come down to personal preference. Finding what works for you and your brand is what’s most important.

Available for Mac and Windows

Cloud Nine with the New Adobe Cloud?

Just launched this month, meet Adobe’s newest contribution to the creative world: The Creative Cloud. This revamped version of its ever-popular Creative Suite means the end of desktop versions of CS. As you might imagine, people are freaking out.

Why it might be right for you?  If you’ve been following our posts, you should know by now that we are ALL about community engagement and relationship-building! The Creative Cloud, which will be powered by Behance, recently acquired by Adobe, functions as an online community or social network. Publish your artistry, and get feedback from your brand’s community or trusted experts within the industry.

Things to Keep in Mind: At $49.99 per month as part of an annual plan, it’s important to make sure that the cost is justified.

Available for Mac and Windows

Finally, if you are looking to improve your proficiency in Photoshop, Illustrator, or gain a better understanding of Typography, the PR Couture team are big fans of Nicole’s Classes.

About Christina

LA native Christina Goswiller traded palm trees for the Stanford tree, where she studied political science and graduated with honors in 2012. She is currently living in San Francisco, and aside from her love for fashion and technology, enjoys traveling, painting, blogging, and exploring the city. Connect with Christina at Christina[at]tribedynamics.com or the team@TribeDynamics.

For more information about how Tribe Dynamics can help PR professionals manage and monitor media outreach, visit this exclusive offer for PR Couture readers.

Photo Credit: Sanctuary photography

Favorite Fashion Videos

While their educational background taught the basics in brand positioning, public relations was another story. “In the beginning we didn’t have any real-world experience to understand that there were PR firms out there whose entire job was pitching the story.  We just thought “stuff will come” and then we kept seeing all these other brands with these great press hits. So we started actively searching for an agency to help us.” Initially, Leoluca worked with Elle Communications, noting that “Elle did so much for us. We went to New York with them. We went to Vogue with them. That was big for us.”

“We like to think that our target customer is like us…Someone who appreciates style and trends but isn’t overly trendy. But we’ve learned that while everyone likes our pieces, it’s actually an older woman who often makes a purchase. We’re do surveys and ask our customers through social media to tell us what they are interested in. As a result, we’redesigning a lot more for what our customer wants.”

“On certain sites we have seen that a blogger placement has driven substantial traffic and sales. We want to increase our e-commerce and have started to do some sidebar advertising, which we would like to increase to help with online sales.”

For PR Girls who are more interested in craftsmanship and functionality than a designer name, the on-trend yet utilitarian shape of a Leoluca handbag (their dual-colored envelope clutch fits your iPad), not only offers an instant “where’d you get it” among curious co-workers and editors, but a slightly smug knowledge that the purchase also supports female entrepreneurship, friendship and materials and labor sourced completely in the United States. For an everyday bag full of wow and just enough hardware, I’m not sure you could do better than the red Lincoln duffel bag, (pictured above), complete with two cell phones pockets made, I’m postulating, just for hard-working publicists with more than one phone – I know you’re out there!

Connect with Emma and Lauren on Twitter @loveleoluca

The battle for dollars among PR agencies and digital agencies is nothing new, the Weber Shandwick article references figures that in China, 44% of online PR budgets are going to digital agencies and an article by Aspectus PR in which the agency states, “Our core business now involves message creation, management of message consistency and content marketing. Media relations still has a key part to play, but really only in the context of anchoring original content to a recognisable and respected source point.”  it’s the particular skill-set of at the helm of digital content development that tickles my fancy. To learn more about it, I asked Hannah Rand, a digital content/copy writer and web editor with experience working with Vogue and the Starworks Group, among others.

What exactly do you do, and how did you come to do it?

I’m a web editor and content/copy writer who specializes in building and supporting digital content for fashion brands and websites. My background is in print journalism but I started out online back in 2000. My first job was on the UK’s first women’s interest website called handbag.com, which was a start-up by Boots PLC and Hollinger Digital (Boots is like the UK’s Duane Reade and Hollinger Digital put the first major newspaper online in the UK, telegraph.co.uk). Handbag is now owned by Hearst. It was a great place to start my career as I learned a lot about online brand building. My interest in that never waned.

I moved into magazines to develop my writing and editing skills and stayed there, writing for the likes of Vogue, GQ and a Sunday newspaper supplement at News Corp in Sydney, Australia, where I lived for six years. When I returned to London in 2010, I began to explore the online arena again – mainly because when I went for interviews, the digital jobs always seemed to be more exciting than those offered by the traditional magazines, from a editing and management perspective. I was lucky enough to work on Vogue.co.uk, which, in my opinion, is one of the best online sites associated with a traditional magazine. I also was the editor of a fashion website for the UK’s Channel 4 – a television network that excels at multiplatform lifestyle programming.

Since moving to New York, I’ve found that the biggest demand for my editorial and content skills has been from brands, agencies and e-commerce sites.

I find the online fashion e-commerce world a really vibrant place to work. There is still so much to explore and I love the mix of stats and analytics with the almost infinite possibilities for creativity.

What are the differences between a copywriter and a content producer?

My background makes me more content than marketing-focused but the lines do blur depending on the job you go for. I would say that a content producer needs to be very aware of how content is delivered. You have to have your social media/delivery strategy sorted out before the content is created, which is slightly different from the ‘content is king’ ethos. You have to be aware of SEO, SMO and user journey/experience, for example.

In my experience, a content producer also needs to be more of a “Jane-of-all-Trades” and lend their hand to picture resizing, design, subbing etc. You have to be prepared to get amongst it, even on the biggest websites.

What are the biggest opportunities for fashion brands when it comes to digital content development?

Some of the most exciting fashion content out there is happening on fashion ecommerce sites. It’s ironic that magazines, which should have the strongest independent voice (because they supposedly aren’t limited to what they write about), sometimes feel so unadventurous in their ideas and copy delivery. And, of course, digital possibilities include exciting things like fashion films and television-quality video, and real-time content like blogging from the front row. Plus, many fashion brands have embraced other forms of connecting with an audience like Vine, Twitter and Tumblr.

Mobile is a massive opportunity for fashion brands. Something like 72million people own smartphones and increasingly, use them to engage and participate online and in social media.  Mobile sites are still often quite functional – in the way websites perhaps used to be. The goal should be to create an inspiring and handy fashion mobile destination. Mobile sites can offer that offers coupons and competitions and other membership bonuses to encourage a community. One of my favorite mobile fashion experiences, Go Try It on, gives me the experience of  shopping with friends on a Saturday afternoon.

Bringing in external bloggers has been another popular way to extend a community. This can be great but shouldn’t be done just to hijack user figures. Fashion brands shouldn’t be afraid to use their own resources and experts – buyers, stylists, even patternmakers – to create content and conversations that really engage with the customer base. Chanel recently made a video about the design history and process of their iconic jacket. If I am going to spend $800 on a jacket, I want to know how it is made! Fashion has become so democratized that fashion houses must be very careful to understand their customer. Sure, the luxury shopper could be the bored wife of a Russian oligarch, but she or he could also be someone who really loves fashion and has worked damn hard to buy that jacket. It shows to respect to the customer to acknowledge that they’ve chosen to spend their cash on your brand out of many others. I think digital allows you to do that more effectively than anything else. OfaKind has made this the whole ethos of their site and take the designer ‘behind-the-scenes’ experience a step further. The Fancy and AHALife also have created inspiration destinations, which are (on the surface) secondly for commerce.

How does your approach differ when creating branded content vs editorial content?

In many ways, there are many similarities to the way I approach both. I think of the audience and follow the brief, and write something original and interesting within those guidelines. The scope for creativity depends less on the job and more on the person who has hired me (or the brand/publication they work for). I’ve had briefs for editorial content that have been much more prescribed than copywriting work I’ve done elsewhere.

Obviously, you have to be much more concise and targeted with your brand message with content as you have to relay a message very quickly and effectively. There is often little time to build a story to a crescendo of a point or polemic, as you would in longer editorial work. And, of course, it is less about your ideas and more about delivering a message that has been created by a whole team of people.

I do think it’s imperative that online producers continue to be honest about if their content is branded or not. You don’t have to have an ‘advertorial’ stamp on the article or video, but don’t fool the reader (you won’t be able to for long). Sometimes the reader doesn’t care anyway – as with a Google Glass feature on Mashable. It’s still of interest and worth flicking around blogs and social media.

Who is doing it right and why?

Because of the quantity of fashion brands out there, companies need to offer something more than simple copy or video. They should become a ‘platform owner’ or destination in their own right, rather than just fishing for users on Twitter, Facebook etc, in the hope they’ll take a bite.

ASOS, Polyvore, TopShop – all are places you can hang out, get advice, window shop for inspiration or, of course, shop. Increasingly, when I want to read about show reports from fashion week, I won’t automatically go to a fashion magazine or newspaper website. I’ll go to Net-a-Porter, for example, because I trust their brand and buyers will deliver an intelligent message that matches my needs/style. It’s not high fashion but Target have achieved this quite successfully with their ‘A Bullseye View’ online magazine – they don’t just talk about Target products and offer a lot of home decorating advice that gets retweeted and blogged around. In fashion, content doesn’t always have to be so useful or productive either. Anthropologie have created a beautiful experience with the Anthropologist magazine. It’s a journey into a brand experience and if you happen to click through to the e-commerce site, that’s a bonus, but it’s not the (ostensive) goal of the project. I l also ove the silly side of fashion or lifestyle too – especially if it’s clever and irreverent. Mattel did a good job with their Genuine Ken campaign; kitsch but certainly engaging.

What skills or experience should a fashion brand look for in a potential content producer?

A content producer needs to be able to tell a powerful story. This is specialty that is different from creating photography or video, or other visual work with which the fashion industry has traditionally excelled. An experienced journalist, trained to meet tight deadlines with a demanding editor breathing down their neck, will often be able to turn around copy effectively and quickly.

But a content producer should also be brand savvy and experienced enough to speak the language of their customer/audience – and if necessary to switch between voices – and not slip into their own speak while under pressure. It helps if they have a nerdy obsession for analytics too. The best bit about writing for the web – be it editorial or branded content – is that you can drill down into the audience response in almost real time, via CMS and Omniture etc. It can be incredibly exciting to see that in motion.

In reverse, for me an ideal client comes in many shapes and sizes but a good one understands that you can’t just plonk content on a website and hope it translates into sales. Nor can you just send out random tweets and hope to build a community. Ideal clients look beyond the transaction and undersand that a good brand experience doesn’t necessarily result in immediate sales but has a lasting, subtle effect.

What are some suggestions for fashion brands when it comes to content strategy?

I hope, by now, most fashion brands would agree that content shouldn’t just be ‘tarted up’ marketing spiel. The customer is savvier than that. It’s easy to say, but you must know your audience and say something interesting to pull them in. Then, be consistent and regular with your output, and be honest with your message (don’t just create content for SEO wins; it creates a horrible mess with your message and makes a depressing creative environment).

Don’t be afraid to talk outside your brand – it makes your voice more authentic, less like a hard sell. The web is very democratic and inclusive. Think of the way blogs continually link to ‘rival’ blogs to build their audience. Brands can do that too. But also, don’t be afraid to talk about your brand – that is why the customer has come to your website in the first place. If you’ve got your voice right, then the customer won’t mind. Nowness is probably the best example of this in the fashion market. You wouldn’t necessarily know that it is created by Louis Vuitton Moet Hennessy, but it’s very much a meeting point for the type of person who engages in that type of the luxury brands the company represents.

What do you wish more fashion brands understood about content development?

Fashion used to be so exclusive that brand messages could get away with being opaque and lofty (think of the perfume ads of the 80s!), but fashion has opened up so much now that it’s important to make your customer’s experience efficient and useful too. There needs to be a takeaway from a digital brand experience – that could be ‘5 tips on what to wear to work this week’, or a beautiful video that has transforms my mood on the subway commute, or a Q&A with a zeitgeist I didn’t know about before. The key to the web is interactivity, so use it and engage with your customer.

Thanks so much to Hannah for providing such great insight into the world of digital content development.  Connect with her @hannah_rand

Photo Credit: Joel Bedford via Compfight cc

We hear it said all the time: PR is all about relationships. In support of your need to constantly grow and nurture your connections, and in follow-up to last week’s article on 15 conference opportunities perfect for fashion publicists, we’ve put together some techy tips to help making the most of your in-person networking and ongoing relationship management, aka world domination via your electric magnetism. Go get ‘em.

Identify Nearby Influencers

You’ve got a cup of bad hotel coffee in hand and are anxious to get networking, but where to start? Wishing you could know who on your PR hit-list is in attendance at the event? Check out Here On Biz, which serves as a quasi tracking device to facilitate networking through LinkedIn. The app shows you other LinkedIn members within your current geographical location and to connect add or chat with them. Already at the conference? Check into the event itself or conversations and begin the device-to-device networking with others attending. The app also alerts you when other LinkedIn group members or those in your network are nearby while you’re on the move and traveling, so you never miss an opportunity to take the online offline.

Compatible: iOS
Price: Free

We also recommend UberSocial, a popular tool which helps you connect with your network and find contacts via Twitter. The app optimizes your twitter experience away from the office: check event hashtags, view early adopters and power users with vine, and post/tweet more effectively from the road.

Compatible: iOS/Android
Price:Free

Scan Business Cards

Ever find yourself wondering what the equivalent number of trees would the to the number of business cards spilling out of your purse, desk drawers, blazer pockets and somehow, the floor of your car? We know the feeling.  It’s time to start scanning cards, and then putting them immediately into the recycling bin.We love CardMunch. Snap and upload a photo of a business card, type in your new contact’s information and store it as a clean, mobile contact. Recently acquired by LinkedIn, the app syncs with your LinkedIn Account, automatically pulling the person’s profile, shared connections, and key information from their bio. In other words, snap.

Compatible: iOS/Android
Price: Free
Not for you? Here are some other options to check out: CamCard; ScanBizCards; Bump; CardFlick; WorldCard Mobile

Sync Notes Across Devices

You had a great conversation with an up-and-coming style blogger who has recently caught the attention of the print mags. You gave her a quick pitch on your client roster and you connected over the lack of vegetarian options at the lunch buffet. She mentioned a love of polka-dots, shared that she actually mixes her own perfume – jasmine and vanilla – and that she’s planning a trip to Greece later in the summer. She also verbally gave you her email address because she doesn’t have business cards. Put that (innocuous to anyone not in the PR) conversation to good use for future you (future-self-self-five!), and jot down those notes for future follow-up. How many times have you had a great conversation with someone, and then…well, dropped the ball? As Oreo proved with it’s now-famous Super Bowl spot, timing is everything!

Instead of scribbling notes in your fancy purple moleskin, we suggest Evernote for storing all of your of-the-moment pitchideas. Easy-to-use, the app allows you to save ideas, capture images and share those notes across devices and to other people. Take notes and photos, record discussions with your smartphone’s speakers, create checklists and voice reminders and access them anywhere! Not convinced? Did we mention that the app was on the New York Times ‘Top 10 Must-Have App’ list; and a winner at the TechCrunch Crunchies, Mashable Awards, and the Webbys? (Can you say three-peat?!)

Compatible: iOS/Android
Price: Free *Evernote Premium is also available for $4.99 a month subscription plus the cost of add-ons.

Alternatives: Penultimate; Tape-A-Talk

Keep Co-workers in the Loop

Congrats on being the lucky one who gets to spend a day out of the office soaking in some good conversation and expert ideas. But what about your teammates back in the office? Keep them in the loop by sharing your notes with LogMeIn, an app that allows you to view, edit, and share Microsoft Office products from anywhere. Like Evernote, this app allows you to sync and share files in real time across your multiple devices. With free remote access, you can open/save files, run various programs, and check email. The app also shares the encryption settings of online banks which takes care of any security issues for on-the-go management of your company’s budget and finances.

Compatible: LogMeIn (iPhone); LogMeIn Ignition (Android)
Price: Free

Alternatives: CloudOn; GoToMeeting

Follow Up with Flavor

Networking mission accomplished! Bask in your accomplishments and as Amy Poehler says, “treat yo’ self!” Then, tomorrow, or whenever you’re back to the grind, don’t let those pitch ideas, new tool discoveries and of course, new contacts go cold! Try CallFlakes. Once you finish a call, the CallFlakes menu will pop up on your screen showing you different choices for following up on a call: text message, call back, email, set a reminder, schedule a calendar event, or share (Twitter/Facebook). With the share option, once you affiliate your Facebook ID with CallFlakes, you can also take advantage of the app’s caller ID replacement screen to view your friends’ Facebook profile pictures and latest Wall activities. It’s a pretty convenient way to set up a process to continue to reach out to new contacts; save your brain power and personal hard drive for PR strategy!

Compatible: Android
Price: Free

While you’re the one whose job it is to show up and creatively mine experiences for opportunities for partnership and connection, the days of the paper rolodex and five-inch stacks of business cards are long-past – as you upgrade the strategies and tactics you use for client success, so is it time to upgrade your own networking process – it will help you do what you do, better.

About Christina

LA native Christina Goswiller traded palm trees for the Stanford tree, where she studied political science and graduated with honors in 2012. She is currently living in San Francisco, and aside from her love for fashion and technology, enjoys traveling, painting, blogging, and exploring the city. Connect with Christina at Christina[at]tribedynamics.com or the team@TribeDynamics.

For more information about how Tribe Dynamics can help PR professionals manage and monitor media outreach, visit this exclusive offer for PR Couture readers.

Favorite Fashion Videos