
It is important to treat the telephone as a business tool. This line should have the capability to take messages in case it is not answered personally. While you may have a telephone already, you should start with at least one line that is unique to your business. Even the standard telephone (landline) that is installed in your office has many options. There are many types of telephones, and only you can decide which type is right for you. The cornerstone of your business communication, both external and internal, may be your telephone. For example, you could host on one of the email platforms by paying an extra fee. For additional cost, these platforms will set up your own business email address. Platforms for hosting email include Gmail, Outlook, and Yahoo. You can also postpone sending outgoing email, filter incoming email, and set-up automatic responses with different types of accounts. For example, for some accounts you can track email to ensure the recipient reads it. There are many email features available depending on the type of account you have.
Checking email on a daily basis is essential. You can compare costs to get the best combination of price, delivery date, and tracking options.Īlthough you may already have a personal email that you use, having a business email will be helpful in communicating with customers, vendors, and internal teammates. Be sure to learn which carriers are most reliable in each region where you conduct business. If you are sending mail internationally, there are a number of carriers available. A convenient way to handle mail from your own home or office is through a or account (in the U.S.), which allows you to print postage from your own computer. It adds a personal touch, and is often used for delivering secure documents and contracts and for delivering purchased items to customers. We begin with some basic communication tools and then discuss computers.Įven with all the modern methods of communication, regular postal mail is still a powerful tool for a business. These tools include mail, email, telephones, cell phones, smartphones, computers, video and web conferencing tools, social networking, as well as online collaboration and productivity platforms. In this session, we will discuss those tools, as well as planning guidelines, to facilitate business communication.Ī wide variety of communication tools are used for external and internal communication. Effective communication requires careful planning and uses many different tools.
Many large companies print key messages and goals on employee badges and ID cards so that every person in the organization has the same words at their fingertips.ĭon’t take communication for granted. Use the same words and messages with all members of your team to make sure everyone is on the same page. As with external communication, consistency is very important. The importance of an advisory board is covered in the Getting Your Team in Place session of the Business Expansion course. Periodic meetings with top project management groups, including your board of directors and advisory board, should be planned for regular intervals every year.
Methods for communicating internally include performance awards, newsletters, meetings, telephone calls, and both formal and informal discussions. Internal communication can be designed to motivate your team. Consistent communication about business goals will provide direction to the people in your company and make sure everyone is working toward the same objective.
Internal communication with team members is essential to attracting and retaining a talented staff and monitoring business performance. Use the same words and messages to communicate externally about your business. Image is extremely important in external corporate communications! Your logo should represent who you are. A couple of things to remember about external communication: This type of communication includes brochures, advertising, contact letters/direct mail, telephone calls, business cards, Web sites, and anything else that makes the public aware of what you do. External communication reaches out to the customer to make him or her aware of your product or service and provide a reason to buy. Two types of communication, external and internal, have different objectives: Internal communication between employees, teams, partners, and leaders is essential to making the business run smoothly and efficiently. Strong external communication helps build your brand and sell your product or service by making customers aware of your company and what it has to offer. Communication is key to any business success.