Bacon’s MediaSource or Vocus?
Months ago, I wrote a tiny little post about an article on Bacon’s in the Chicago Sun-Times. Since then, I’ve gotten a dozen inquiries from Internet searchers asking whether I think Bacon’s MediaSource or Vocus is the better media relations database product. (Apparently, when you enter the search term “MediaSource vs. Vocus,” my post pops up.)
As I wrote at the time, I’ve had demos of both products and prefer MediaSource. I may be biased because I was a user of MediaMap for many years before it was purchased by Bacon’s in 2003. MediaSource was an easier transition for me.
I’d been meaning to repost this topic because I’m interested in your opinions. Do you prefer Vocus, MediaSource, or your own homegrown system? Which works better for you, and why?
MediaSource is better.
I think Vocus is the more complete product. It has some features that I don’t think MediaSource has. But I’m like you in that I’ve really only used Vocus and have only seen demos for MediaSource
Vocus provides a totally integrated on-demand software suite for PR professionals. The Vocus on-demand software suite manages media and analyst relationships; interactive email campaigns; projects and news; files, documents and other collateral; and online newsrooms. The software also analyzes media coverage and other PR information to provide real-time feedback on the effectiveness of PR campaigns, and early intelligence on trends unfolding in the press. Vocus’ public relations software features the Vocus global media and analyst database, the most comprehensive source of contacts, pitching tips and editorial calendars. Vocus’ public relations software is available in a Professional Edition for small to medium-size PR departments, and in an Enterprise Edition for larger organizations with more complex needs.
Um, Erica, do you work in the PR department at Vocus?
Someone sent me an e-mail asking about this new product, which I was unaware of. Here’s the info from the BurrellesLuce press release:
BurrellesLuce Launches MediaConnect Communications Management Portal
MediaConnect combines all BurrellesLuce offerings in one interconnected location
Livingston, NJ (PRWEB) September 22, 2005 — BurrellesLuce, the nation’s leading media monitoring company, has launched MediaConnect(TM), an online communications management portal, which seamlessly combines media contact information with electronically delivered clipping content. The MediaConnect portal combines contacts, clippings, research and measurement in one interconnected location.
The new, fully integrated MediaConnect portal provides easy access to all of the electronic services customers receive from BurrellesLuce and provides users with the ability to move between services without ever leaving MediaConnect.
MediaContacts(TM), the BurrellesLuce online media directory, is an essential part of the new portal, providing easy access to extensive staff listings and contact preferences for both media outlets and journalists. Building on the successful BurrellesLuce MDOL (Media Directory Online) product, MediaContacts offers many innovative features including Precise Beat Searching and secure personal contact management.
Through an innovative partnership with eNR Services, Inc, a Norwalk, CT based technology company, MediaContacts was designed to interface with eNR’s MediaQ(TM) news analysis engine, providing immediate online access to a journalist’s recent bylined stories. MediaQ offers users the option to review headlines and read an abstract of the content to gain an understanding of each journalist’s hot topics and point of view.
“MediaContacts and the MediaConnect portal mark a strong step forward for BurrellesLuce,” said Robert Waggoner, Chairman and CEO of the company. “We have always employed the latest technological advances to provide the highest level of service to our clients. With MediaContacts and MediaQ, BurrellesLuce provides public relations and communications professionals with a strong, reliable tool for planning and executing programs and campaigns.”
Since the launch of the MediaConnect portal, record numbers of BurrellesLuce clients are choosing to have their press clippings delivered in electronic form to MediaContent(TM), the BurrellesLuce electronic press-clipping platform. MediaContent enables clients to create clip books, and internally distribute their news coverage with personal comments included. While clients can still receive their press coverage through the mail, MediaContent users have discovered that dynamic searching and sorting of news in its electronic form is effortless and provides a functional flexibility that is unmatched by traditional clipping services.
BurrellesLuce news coverage includes print, broadcast, and online news sources, including online publications not available in print, news groups, Web forums and chat rooms. For users who need their news coverage as soon as it is released, BurrellesLuce offers Express(TM), a same-day press clipping service that includes all of the major dailies and network newscasts as well as the thousands of online sources. All press clippings from BurrellesLuce – including those delivered electronically – feature the full article, with any associated photos, charts and graphics.
MediaMeasurement(TM), the companion product to the MediaContent electronic press clipping delivery platform, adds integrated measurement capabilities to the MediaConnect portal. MediaMeasurement is updated at the beginning of each month, providing a free overview of the previous month’s press coverage in the form of presentation-ready charts and graphs as well as Microsoft Excel(TM) spreadsheets.
With a host of ground-breaking new features, the MediaConnect portal represents a sea change for the public relations industry in the way that media content is established, tracked and managed.
About BurrellesLuce:
BurrellesLuce is the world’s leading media monitoring company, offering the most complete coverage and analysis of all media through advanced technology and proven editing processes, providing customers with the knowledge and insight they need to stay ahead of the competition and on top of the marketplace.
As industry pioneers for over 100 years, BurrellesLuce has leveraged its experience to assist companies and organizations worldwide in measuring and assessing the value of media coverage to help them make effective business decisions and gain a competitive edge.
To learn more about MediaContacts, visit BurrellesLuce on the Web at http://www.BurrellesLuce.com/prel, or call Sue Ross at (800) 631-1160.
One thing really troubles me about Vocus. I have not seen any attribution for circulation figures or readership demographic stats in their ‘new’ database. Media Kits ‘always’ give attribution to the source of the survey.
It seems to me that Vocus is ‘borrowing’ the research of the Audit Bureau of Circulation - and dressing it up as their own.
They really should be called on this.
I’ve used a bunch of services (Media Map, Bacon’s, and Vocus), and by far, Vocus is the better “tool” of the services. The reality is that most services that offer you a list of media contacts are never close to 100% accurate, and for me, I’d prefer to cultivate my own media relationships, do some occasional research, but use the best tools to track who I’ve worked with, and who’s writing about me or my client.
I used to use Media Map to manage contacts, and I found it clunky, and the same with MediaSource. I’ve been using Vocus for about a year now, and although it is not perfect, it is a much better software tool for managing MY contacts, and knowing about MY issues and that of our competitors. The data is as good as the Media Source data. Vocus has recently added speaking opportunities and awards to their editorial calendars, which is a real plus. They’ve also got a pretty neat feature that, when I rarely do send a news release to a “new” audience, it let’s me see who has opened my release. Pretty good stuff - I was skeptical at first, but I’ve also found thier technical help, along with their support team is great. Until MediaSource steps it up three nothces, I’ve got to stick with what I’ve got.
I’ve used both and while Vocus has nice software with a lot of great bells and whistles, the content isn’t as good as Bacon’s. If it’s more important to have good media information I’d go with Bacon’s.
When it comes to data, Bacon’s is living off of it’s name only. I finally stopped using them a few years back, after getting upwards of 40% of my lists returned to me as undeliverable. I don’t know if Vocus is any better, but I’ve given up on Bacon’s being reliable in the data department.
How important are the journalist monitoring tools in products like Vocus? Are they more important than a complete source book?
I think Vocus is very difficult to use. For $20,000 - they should be bending over backwards to make sure we like and want to use the system. Instead, they actually wanted to charge us more to train more than 5 people in the department. I would not use them again. It is too complicated a system if you aren’t a pr consulting firm.