communications jugglerThe world has changed and how we communicate within this changing environment is becoming more complex.

How many people do you know that use the methods below as a primary source of communication?
• Email
• Letters
• Fax
• Facebook/bebo
• Twitter
• RSS feeds
• SMS text messages
• Phone
• Face to face
• Meetings
• Conferences
Does your organisation have the capacity, finance and skills required to use them.

There are no FREE communication systems - at the very least the time costs and infrastructure costs should be taken into account. However, the cost of preparing and posting a letter is around a £1. The cost of an SMS message is 20 pence. Face to face costs £10 per hour.

There should be a communications strategy in place that looks at who you communicate to, how and when.

Over the next few days I will be looking at a number of these options in greater detail.

1. Whose opinions are you interested in and why? This is your target audience.
2. What are their perceptions of your organisation? How can you test this?
3. What communication systems do they currently use? Include both formal and informal methods
4. What are the objectives of your communication strategy? These should be measurable and not just a restatement of your projects objectives.
5. What principles/policies will underpin your communications strategy? E.g. green policy may exclude giving out plastic carrier bags, ethical policy may exclude Party political messages.
6. Develop some simple key messages and phrases - how will these be used, for example if you will be using Twitter, establish a #tag and user name that reflect your message. #wmict
7. Aim messages at your audience.
8. What are the preferred methods your audience prefer to receive messages? What methods are most cost effective for you? As a longer term strategic target where would you prefer people to get their communications from.
9. Use the right channels for maximum impact but include your preferred communications route
10. List all relevant communications activities, how often and when should you communicate.