Good communication connects you with your target audience and helps you share your brand’s message in compelling ways. While many online marketing tactics are successful, your business also needs an effective communications strategy. The right approach helps you communicate your message and achieve results.
The benefits of an effective communications strategy include:
- Providing direction on how to communicate with your target audience
- Establishing the best channels for communicating
- Helping you prepare your message and its delivery
- Improving team communication
- Breaking down verbal communication barriers
An effective communication strategy will revamp your communication between company departments and to your target audience. The following tips will help you develop the best strategy.
Five Tips for Your Communications Strategy Plan
1. Establish Your Purpose and Target Audience
Without establishing a purpose for communication, you have no direction. Having a clear goal for your communication plan helps keep departments organized. Your purpose should answer vital questions, including:
- Why are you communicating?
- Who is your target audience?
- What message do you wish to share?
Your target audience is the person or people you will address. This could be an employee, a specific demographic, or even the press. Think about who needs to hear your message and tailor your communication strategies to each audience.
An individualized communications strategy targets the right people effectively. One-size-fits-all methods lack specificity and can convey a lack of effort, making your audience feel less important.
2. Let Everyone Contribute in Meetings
Close collaborating on a marketing project or press release between departments is vital. However, it’s easy for team members to get passed over. Ensure that your team uses active listening skills throughout each meeting and avoid interrupting people to encourage productivity.
Your business’s meetings should have structure and an organized agenda. You should include all critical people in your discussion and allow time for others to voice their opinions equally. Being honest yourself will inspire others’ honesty.
Meetings are an ideal place to improve everyone’s communication skills. Use meetings to improve team communication and encourage honest thought expression.
3. Ask Questions
Misperceptions and miscommunication are barriers to an effective communications strategy. When communicating with coworkers, ask lots of questions. Get concrete answers and make sure you understand each speaker’s message.
By asking questions, you establish your own understanding and indicate your interest. Use questions to dig deeper into new ideas, get feedback, and learn more about important topics. Paraphrase the speaker’s points to get clarification on unclear subjects.
The same guidelines apply when addressing your target audience. Ask questions to establish why they like your brand, what they get out of it, and what needs improving. By showing interest, you’ll connect better with your brand’s consumers.
4. Use Different Communication Channels
Different platforms and communication channels encourage employees’ and target audiences’ responses. Some prefer communication in person, while others are comfortable emailing and calling. Experiment with different channels and see what works.
Being comfortable with multiple communication channels prevents communication limitations or frustrations. Each team member has a preferred communication method. Using different media allows everyone to communicate in ways easiest for them.
Familiarize yourself with different collaborative communication programs and online networking platforms. Consumer audiences commonly voice their opinions on social media. By mastering the most popular communication channels, you’ll be ready for the final message delivery.
5. Delivery is Everything
The way you communicate impacts listeners. The timing and person delivering the message are vital factors in whether the target audience is receptive. Delegate the best person for the job, and schedule final deliveries in advance to give them time to prepare.
The tone of voice should also match your message. Are you announcing an exciting new project or the departure of a well-loved employee? Use your best judgment to incorporate humor in your delivery or remain professional.
Whether your goal is communicating between departments or connecting with your brand’s supporters, you should always prepare. Give yourself time to organize critical points regardless of the communication method.
Barriers to Excellent Verbal Communications Strategies
- Stereotyping: It’s common for listeners to assume generalizations before hearing all the details. Categorizing people or ideas based on first impressions hinders your verbal communication. Approach new ideas with an open mind.
- Lack of clarity: Unnecessarily formal language can be difficult to follow. Explain complex topics in ways everyone can comprehend. Answer questions clearly and confirm that everyone understands.
- Confidence issues: People with low self-esteem or social anxiety struggle to be assertive and ask questions. Your confidence issues may stand in the way of getting the clarification you need.
At Solomon Turner Public Relations in St. Louis, MO, we have years of experience using convincing communications methods. Whether you need a press release or a new product announcement, we develop the most effective communications strategy for your business. Contact us today at 314-668-1950 for more information.
