Business communication is critical to any company’s success. Personal contacts, telephone talks, text messaging, and other more traditional types of written writing are some of the ways you communicate.
There are several forms of corporate communication to consider, each of which may require a change in tone or content.
Here are the different ways that business communication can be done:
Voice phone calls Traditional newsletters Traditional web/social media information Mailing newsletter Newspaper and faxes.
Types of business communication
Analyzing the different types of business communication available will give your business the information it needs to be successful.
- A company that produces products, such as an automobile manufacturer, should consider, for example, the following types of business communication, which may affect their customers.
- Public relations These types of communication can be structured and have a series of intended goals. Public relations is the process of promoting a product or service through business partnerships and advertising.
Tools for communication
There are different types of business communication tools. These tools include:
- Voice – allows you to convey your message over the telephone. Video – allows you to transmit a document or presentation on a visual medium.
- Email – allows you to communicate with your customers or customers through e-mail.
- Letters – allows you to communicate in writing.
- Speech – allows you to express your ideas in speech.
- Webcasting – allows you to capture and convey your message with a microphone and web camera.
- Tradeshow – allows you to transmit an idea through text and images, in a “stream-of-consciousness” style.
- Digital media – allows you to put your message into a multimedia format, such as a pdf, avi, or jpeg file.
Different types of business communication
While Personal contact, email, and telephone used to be the main form of business communication. Post pandemic in 2021 most communication and collaboration is happening over Microsoft teams, slack, or Zoom calls.
#Personal contact
- A personal contact can include almost anything. Most people know that personal contact includes the telephone, email, and text messaging.
- This form of communication can be appropriate for client meetings or investor presentations. On the other hand, it may be inappropriate to send personal information to a client in an email; instead, use an alternative medium.
- For example, you may want to send a personal email when a client asks a question. This form of contact also includes letter writing, networking events, and personal outings.
- We already discussed the pros and cons of email communication, but when it comes to text messages, the level of control can vary from company to company.
- Email is still a great way to send or receive general business communications. It can be highly targeted and effective if used appropriately.
- Some companies maintain all of their email conversations on corporate email servers and just forward everything to company phones. In this case, employees can receive messages in their phone inboxes, rather than be redirected to a company website for specific emails.
- Depending on the company’s restrictions, this strategy may not work for the company employee. Another idea is to have a server phone company handle the emails to and from the employee.
#Telephone
- Whether you have a support staff or need to hold a conference call with different departments, telephone communication requires serious consideration of tone and substance.
- Telephone calls are often long and rambling; however, they may be the only option available to you for many business functions.
- Should you use jargon and technical words, or should you call in a manager to gain clarification? Text Messages Text messaging is a quick and popular way to communicate and keep in contact with many employees.
- Emails are often considered the best way to send a message to large groups. They are more formal in tone and require you to use “business-speak” when sending the message to a large group. This is not to say that every message should be business-speak.
#Texting
- Text messaging is perhaps one of the most popular forms of business communication. You may already have some familiarity with texting, especially if you have more than one mobile phone, as it is available on both the Apple and Android platforms.
- Depending on the type of company you run, you may even decide to allow your employees to use their personal mobile devices to send and receive texts on company business.
- Using a messaging system like Microsoft Teams or Slack, you can manage your group messaging in a private room or workgroup.
- You may prefer to maintain tight control, which you may require, or you may decide to simply leave everything open for everyone to see. Skype and other video communication tools are also available and used frequently for business communication.
Conclusion
The key to communication success in business is understanding the tools available and using them to communicate effectively. The next time you are tasked with writing, making a presentation, or communicating, take the time to consider how you would like your message conveyed and, most importantly, how to communicate effectively.
Meaning of Business Communication
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