How do you set up a communication feedback system?

1 Assess your needs

The first step to set up a communication feedback system is to assess your needs and objectives. What are you trying to communicate, to whom, and why? What are the expected outcomes and indicators of success? How will you measure and evaluate the feedback you receive? How will you use the feedback to improve your communication strategy and tactics? Answering these questions will help you define the scope, purpose, and criteria of your communication feedback system.

2 Choose your methods

The next step is to choose the methods and tools that you will use to collect, analyze, and respond to feedback. There are many options available, depending on your communication channel, format, and style. For example, you can use surveys, polls, quizzes, ratings, reviews, comments, likes, shares, reactions, testimonials, case studies, interviews, focus groups, observations, or audits. You can also use online platforms, software, apps, or widgets that facilitate feedback collection and analysis. The key is to select the methods that are relevant, reliable, and easy to use for both you and your audience.

3 Design your questions

The third step is to design the questions that you will ask your audience to elicit feedback. The questions should be clear, concise, and specific. They should also be aligned with your communication objectives and feedback criteria. You can use different types of questions, such as open-ended, closed-ended, multiple-choice, or scale-based, depending on the level of detail and complexity you want to obtain. You can also use different formats, such as text, audio, video, or graphics, depending on the channel and audience preferences.

4 Implement your system

The fourth step is to implement your communication feedback system in your communication activities. This means integrating the feedback methods and tools into your communication plan, schedule, and budget. It also means informing and engaging your audience about the feedback process and its benefits. You can use various strategies to motivate and incentivize your audience to provide feedback, such as offering rewards, recognition, or personalization. You can also use different techniques to make the feedback process easy, fun, and interactive, such as gamification, storytelling, or humor.

5 Monitor and adjust your system

The fifth step is to monitor and adjust your communication feedback system as you receive and analyze feedback. This means tracking and measuring the feedback data and results, using quantitative and qualitative methods. It also means identifying and addressing any issues, gaps, or opportunities that emerge from the feedback. You can use various tools and frameworks to organize and visualize the feedback data and insights, such as dashboards, charts, graphs, or tables. You can also use different methods and models to interpret and evaluate the feedback data and insights, such as SWOT analysis, SMART goals, or PDCA cycle.

6 Act on your feedback

The sixth and final step is to act on your feedback and use it to improve your communication performance and outcomes. This means communicating and sharing the feedback results and insights with your audience and stakeholders, using appropriate channels and formats. It also means implementing and testing the feedback-based changes and improvements in your communication strategy and tactics, using evidence-based and data-driven approaches. You can use various methods and principles to guide and inform your feedback-based actions and decisions, such as feedback loops, feedback culture, or feedback literacy.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?