Building an Effective Corporate Communication Strategy

What Is A?Corporate Communication?Strategy??

A?Corporate Communication?Strategy is the framework used by organizations to plan out communication with employees, customers, suppliers, and investors. When leveraged properly, a?Corporate Communication?Strategy can be the key to better understanding your?company and?enhancing its reputation with the people whose attitudes and actions influence your success the most.??

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Building a?Corporate Communication?Strategy?

When it comes to constructing your own?Corporate Communication?Strategy, there is no in-depth one-size-fits-all solution. While you can probably find countless?quick-fixes?on the internet,?creating?an effective strategy is not a simple process. If you want your CCS to best suit your organization, and address and solve the communication issues unique to your business, you will need to invest research and time into the process.?

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A Step-by-Step Guide to Developing Your Core Strategy?

Regardless of your industry, there are several aspects that remain universal in core?corporate communication?strategies.?Generally speaking, it?comes in three phases: pre-drafting information and research, formulating the strategy, and then examining examples of other communication strategies for further inspiration. This process can be broken down as follows to help you construct your core?Corporate Communication?Strategy:?

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1. Identify and Prioritize Your Executives’ Key Goals

Aim to first understand what each of your business executives sees for the future of the company, and what areas they are truly invested in. In order to collect this information, one of the most useful methods is to conduct individual interviews with as many of your top-level management employees as possible. In the interviews, ask them to clearly outline their top priorities for the upcoming year, and ensure everyone?agrees?on what message they want to put out for the company.?

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2. Conduct In-Depth Employee Surveys

Your employee insight doesn’t stop at high-level management. Employees are at the forefront of your?business and?are the both the backbone and driving forces for your?organization. Understanding how your own employees perceive your company and brand is critical to understanding?how others perceive it as well. This is how brand ambassadors come to be – while you construct your?Corporate Communication?Strategy, you need to ensure their voices are heard. How they respond will help you uncover the best way to go about communicating with your?team as a whole. Leverage employee surveys to get them involved in the process and gain valuable feedback and insight into what’s working, and what isn’t.?

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3. Research Your Stakeholders’ Input

Stakeholders are one of the most vital parts of your organization, so if you notice that they are communicating something that isn’t confident for the success of your business, you need to adjust your communications strategy to address and fix that perception as quickly as possible. Communicating with stakeholders, shareholders, and investors in a way that is most effective for their own interests in critical for sustaining success and alignment with long-term plans.??

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4. Review Your Customers’ Comments

The insight your customers have to offer when it comes to their perception of how your organization is delivering on its promises should not be overlooked. Leverage the countless online, and often free, measurement tools to not only take advantage of social researching methods, but also to learn how to start conversations that will get consumers and potential clients talking about your brand in a positive light.?

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4. Include Your Suppliers in Your Research

Suppliers and partners that work closely with your brand can also be great resources for gathering useful information about your strategic?corporate communication?strategy. Ideally, your suppliers and partners should firmly believe that affiliating themselves with your business is beneficial for their business as well. If this is the case, take note of what it is they say they enjoy most about working with your company. Utilize that feedback not only to add structure to your partner relationships, but also to help strengthen your?corporate communication?strategy.