I have new and shiny syndrome. As an early adopter, I tend to sign up for and play with as many new platforms and services as possible. Why? Because. New! Shiny! And if it has a fantastic user interface, I am done-zo! Thankfully this syndrome of mine proves to not be a waste of time, every now and then, and a few end up sticking! Recently, I’ve come across a few tools that have really made me more efficient with time and productivity – and today, I’m going to share them with you!

Bananatag

Say it with us… BA-NA-NA. Now that we’ve gotten that out of the way…

This tool has completely revolutionized how I send and receive email, not to mention – it has cut down on some of that awful anxiety that stems from not knowing how the Internet truly treated your email! It works across Gmail, Outlook and several other email clients and offers open and click metrics. Curious if the media kit you sent a reporter was seen? You’ll find out within minutes of the email being opened if the recipient also clicked on any links. This service can be compared to MailChimp and Constant Contact, but for your every day email.

The free account gets you 5 tracked emails daily, but the next level includes 100/day for ONLY $60 annually. Can we talk about how reasonable that is? It’s a recent addition to my productivity suite, and I don’t see it fading anytime soon!

Twilert

I’ll admit. When I first saw the name of this platform, I wanted to not like it… But I gave it an honest chance, and it has been a great tool for monitoring mentions. Twitter is a nonstop beast; and with Twilert, I’m able to spend a fraction of the time each morning sifting through Twitter-based keyword mentions. While it only covers one social channel, its breadth is impressive. It is not an end-all, be-all to online keyword monitoring; but, it does offer a format that’s much easier to consume quickly. Did I mention your report is delivered to you in a daily email? I am for any app that can meet me where I am and deliver what I need to know quickly and efficiently. Looking for another database of information to your social strategy and reputation management process? Look no further. They offer a 30-day free trial, but the lowest package is only $9 a month!

Hemingway App

This app revolutionized they way I write copy. When I worked in the corporate health care world, I had to learn how to rewrite jargon-laden copy. Hemingway was a lifesaver, offering me all the places for which my copy could be better. Right off the bat, it tells you how hard your copy is to read. In addition, it has several variable levels that provide you with the guidance you need to make your piece much easier to read. Too many adverbs? Those are highlighted in blue. Can a better, shorter word be used? Those are highlighted in purple WITH recommendations! The web version is free, but they’ve recently launched their desktop version which comes down to a meager $6.99. You know you spend that on coffee… Save your writing today!

Have you used any of these? Or do you use an app that has helped you immensely manage your day-to-day job role better?

Samantha McCain
PR & Content Manager