You have been conducting research at Presscloud for a few months now. How have those months been for you?
Mega good, honestly. They were a few incredibly educational months. Previously, I mostly worked in sales, so in a completely different discipline than PR. This was completely new territory for me and therefore extra interesting. That fresh perspective turned out to be really valuable. Since I wasn't stuck in ‘this is how we always do it’, I could look at how things are done with an open mind and see where improvements could be made. This ultimately played an important role in the recommendations that came out of my research.
Speaking of that research. What have you primarily been researching?
A bit of everything actually, from smaller analyses to larger issues. But the core of my research revolved around one main question: how can we make new users experience the value of Presscloud as quickly as possible? We all know here how powerful the platform is, and thankfully our customers do too, but for new users, that's not always immediately clear. I investigated how those initial moments on the platform can be made even more efficient and powerful so that users quickly think: okay, this works for me.
And has Presscloud done anything with your findings?
Certainly. Many changes involve small tweaks here and there. Some changes are immediately noticeable, others happen more behind the scenes. A large portion of the adjustments is at the start of the process, even before someone becomes a customer. Not everyone will notice that. What is visible for the attentive user: the new branding of Presscloud. I have been able to develop this in recent months and it is now being gradually implemented on the platform. So, feel free to take a look around, there's a good chance you'll spot something new.
Are there things in the world of PR that have surprised you (positively or negatively)?
How complex PR actually is if you want to do it well. Especially if you have to figure it out yourself. When does a press release really have news value? When is it relevant to journalists? And who exactly do you need? Just finding and reaching the right journalists takes a lot of time, not to mention monitoring publications. This realization has only increased the value of Presscloud for me. It removes uncertainty, automates complex steps, and ensures that you reach much more relevant media in one go than you could ever do manually.
To what extent have you gained experiences that you can use in the rest of your career?
Presscloud operates in PR, but is at the same time a typical SaaS product. And that makes it broader than just this sector. For me, a world has opened up in terms of how software helps companies use time more intelligently and make processes more efficient. Understanding how such a product works, how you position it, and how you make value visible to users is experience that I will definitely take with me into my future career.
In short: learned a lot, tested a lot, and occasionally been consciously critical. The result? A successful research and a Presscloud experience that is just a bit sharper.
