01 Nov Business Communications: What it means, how to do it, and why bother

Communicating to your target audience can be difficult at the best of times, but when you are in a cold economic climate with lots of competitors attempting to shout above each other, it’s important to do it properly.

This is why it’s crucial to talk with your audience before doing anything else. Finding out what your current customers need, will not only maintain loyalty but will give you an insight into what your potential customers want, a perfect starting point for a strong communications and marketing plan!

How do I get in touch with my customer and encourage them to talk back?

If you’re making changes within your business e.g. introducing additional services, losing or recruiting staff, loyal customers can often feel uneasy about these changes so making sure you keep them informed throughout the process and even getting them involved in plans moving forward can be the start of a fruitful relationship that benefits all. 

Utilising your current marketing platforms such as social media, email, website, events and promotional material is a great place to start asking your customers questions but you may wish to take a more direct approach and use free online survey software, such as SurveyMonkey.

Communications – Why bother? 

When it comes to communications, why should an organisation bother doing anything more than the bare minimum? Well it’s simple really, in such a competitive marketplace; the reputation of a business is seen as one of its most important assets. Protecting and strengthening this reputation will require a much more thorough approach to communications. 

What is communication?

Marketing plans can often sound a little daunting and possibly unnecessary for SME’s (small to medium sized enterprises), however this is in fact your communications plan, addressing all of the essential platforms of communication and organisational messages that can be easily used by any of your staff throughout the year. This may include email marketing, blogs, taking morning tea to show your appreciation for loyal customers, offering informative seminars or events and even timely promotions such as Christmas cards or Birthday vouchers. You can even be proactive in getting a story about your business in the news by creating press releases.

In conclusion, a strategic and more comprehensive approach is required if you are to keep pace with a fast-changing and financially challenging world. The internet has changed the speed, scale and nature of communications and we must accelerate our approach to keep up. To get help and support with creating your communications plan, get in touch today.

“To effectively communicate, we must realise that we are all different in the way we perceive the world and use this understanding as a guide to our communication with others.”

Anthony Robbins