Fax me! No really, Fax me!
Believe it or not, “faxing” is as prevalent today as it was during its heyday of the 80s and 90s.
Financial services, healthcare, government and manufacturing industries still rely on fax technology, mostly because of security and regulatory reasons.
For many corporate communications veterans, the fax machine used to be a lifesaver. No more sending press releases via snail mail.
While cloud-based fax services have advanced the standalone fax machine, the basic principle of sending information between two dedicated points remains the same.
The same goes for corporate communications. Social media, cable and other innovations have transformed how we communicate, but what we say is still paramount.
Consider these vital communications imperatives still relevant today:
- Make the story interesting. Whether targeting Wall Street or Main Street, the narrative needs to be noteworthy. Not every company or organization will be doing super exciting work. Leverage a unique characteristic to help cut through the media clutter.
- Know thy audience. Rule number one when it comes to communications. Deeply understand the various stakeholders within a company or brand’s ecosystem.
- Communicate clearly. Keep it simple and refrain from too much jargon and industry buzz words. Sometimes the use of technical terminology is required, but it’s important to explain in layman’s terms.
- Stay on message. Keep it tight. Generally, too many action items or message points can confuse an audience.
Spell check. Apparently good grammar and correct spelling seem to have been forgotten, particularly when communicating on social media. Review before sending. Period.
The communications industry will continue to undergo technological innovations that will alter the way Information is conveyed. But whether spoken or written, communicating effectively is a priority that should never change.
— George Medici, gmedici@pondel.com