14 terrific—and affordable—tools for PR pros

Editor’s note: This article is a re-run as part of our countdown of top stories from the past year.

Many small-business owners and freelancers seek ways to streamline projects and squeeze more productivity out of the workday.

As a PR consultant and freelance writer who sometimes dons a reporter’s hat, I’m always interested in trying out tools that allow me to get more done—but as a solopreneur, I’m also cost-conscious.  I’m often asked what my favorite free or low-cost solutions are to accomplish communications-related tasks.

Here are 14 top picks:

Buffer is like the “crockpot” of posting. You can set it up to post for you at any time. It keeps your feed current when you may not be online, for example, overnight, on the weekends, while you’re on vacation, etc. It’s helped me attract Twitter followers.

It’s simple to use. I use the paid version, but the basic version is free if you want to try it out.

One note: Even though Buffer makes posting consistently much easier, remember to engage with your followers. Social media isn’t a “set it and forget it” type of initiative. Buffer isn’t a substitute for true interaction.