oes your organization know how to best to communicate with your target audience? Or, do you have amazing content but have no idea where and how to share it to maximize engagement? Do you find yourself trying a bunch of “stuff” to see what works?
If you answered “yes” to any of those questions, or if you’re simply ready to create a new way to reach your audience, you, my friend, are in need of a communications strategy.
And the first step in a creating a new communications strategy is to assess four main areas: your target audience, your goals, your resources and your current communication vehicles. Asking yourself and your organization key questions about these areas can help you (and any experts you’re working with) develop a new, shiny plan that’s bound for success.
After all…Without strategy, content is just stuff, and the world has enough stuff. ~ Arjun BasuHere are 10 questions that will help assess your current state of communication affairs:Target Audience
1. Do you have a clear understanding of who your target audience is and what their communication preferences are?
2. Are people, including your own employees, supporters and target audience, motivated and equipped to act as brand ambassadors on your behalf?
Goals
3. What is the ONE main goal of your communication strategy? (i.e. what action do you want your target audience to take?)
4. What measurable numbers are associated with that goal?
5. How do you define success overall?
Resources
6. What budget will you have available to implement a new plan?
7. What personnel will be available to execute a communications strategy?
Your Current Vehicles
8. What are the communication vehicles you currently employ?
9. What level of resources does your current plan require (both time and money)?
10. Which communication vehicles are most effective at engaging your target audience and why?Answers to these questions should help guide and inform any new plan. After all, you don’t want a plan that can’t be supported by resources, or doesn’t meet your organization’s goals.
What other questions do you ask when creating a new communications strategy?