It can be helpful to get an outside perspective on your organization. That's where a communications audit by an outside firm can help. At Fitler Square Strategies, we specialize in communications audits that help organization drive positive change.
What is a communications audit?
A communications audit systematically reviews and evaluates an organization's internal and external communications channels and processes. Its aim is to assess the effectiveness of its current communications strategies and identify areas for improvement.
During a communications audit, we will examine various aspects of the organization's communication practices, including the types of communication channels it uses, the content and messaging of its communications, the frequency and timing of its communications, and the target audience for its communications. The audit may also involve gathering feedback from stakeholders, such as employees, customers, and other external audiences, to understand how well the organization's communications are being received.
The results of a communications audit can help an organization identify and address any weaknesses in its communication practices, improve the effectiveness of its communication efforts, and better align its communication strategies with its overall business goals.
Every communications audit varies based on the organization's needs and existing communications plans, but here are a few things we will evaluate.
Communications Organization and Personnel
One of the first tasks is to understand the structure and personnel of the organization. How are decisions made? How do materials get approved? Are people and roles matched to strengths, or can an organization optimize its talent? We'll interview personnel and stakeholders to learn more and make sure the organization charts make sense and your staff is in the right place, doing the right job. We'll also look at the processes and procedures and any project management tools to ensure you optimize your teams' time and work.
Communications Plan
We will look at your organization's communications plan (if you have one) and dig into the goals, audiences, messages, and tactics. We will take a close look at three things to make sure your efforts are meeting your goals.
Communication Channels: We will examine how the organization communicates with its employees, customers, partners, and other stakeholders and evaluate the effectiveness of these channels.
Content and Messaging: We will evaluate the clarity, relevance, and accuracy of the information communicated to different audiences.
Timing and Frequency: We will evaluate whether the organization is communicating with its stakeholders at the right times and in the right way.
Measurements and Outputs
We will ensure you have the correct measurements to evaluate progress against your goals based on your communications plans. We'll suggest better measurements and help refine your specific, measurable, actionable, and time-limited goals.
Stakeholders Feedback
We will also talk with key stakeholders. We will survey employees, customers, and other stakeholders to get their thoughts on the organization's communication practices and identify any areas for improvement.
We’ve led teams as large as 120 communicators, so we have experience with managing, planning, and executing. We managed Paid, Earned, Shared, and Owned media channels. Every organization is different, but we can apply our experience to help maximize your staff and resources.
Conclusion
Fitler Square Strategies has performed communications audits for organizations of all sizes across sectors. We can help you build a more robust communications office that elevates your brand and strengthens your organization.
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