Communications Audits

Communications Audits 

A communications audit systematically reviews and evaluates an organization's internal and external communications channels and processes. A communications audit aims to assess the effectiveness of an organization's current communications strategies and identify any areas that need improvement.

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During a communications audit, we will examine various aspects of its communication practices, including the types of communication channels it uses, the content and messaging of its communications, the frequency and timing, 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 needs of the organization and the existing communications plans, but here are a few things we will evaluate.

Review 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 in place and any project management tools to ensure you are optimizing your teams' time and work.

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Analyze the 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. We will look at the communications tools and channels your company uses. 

1. Communication Channels: We will examine how the organization communicates with its employees, customers, partners, and other stakeholders and evaluate the effectiveness of these channels.

2. Content and Messaging: We will evaluate the clarity, relevance, and accuracy of the information communicated to different audiences.

3. Timing and Frequency: We will evaluate whether the organization is communicating with its stakeholders at the right times and in the right way.

4. Internal Communications: We will review how the organization shares information internally and how well employees are engaged and activated within your organization. 

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Gather and Review Stakeholder 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 gather this feedback in one-on-one interviews, group interviews, focus groups, and surveys. We summarize and analyze the information to determine what is working well and what needs improvement. 

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Assess Communications Measurements and Outputs

We will ensure you have the right measurements to evaluate progress against your goals based on your communications plans. We'll suggest better measurements and help refine your goals to be specific, measurable, actionable, and time-limited.

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Findings and Recommendations 

After we gather information, we will review and summarize it into a findings report with distinct findings and recommendations as well as additional tools like a SWOT analysis and a quantitative review of the organization's communications channels. We will provide feedback on the internal communications strategy as well as the external communications strategy. Most importantly, we will provide recommendations for how to improve efforts whether it is better protocols and approvals, new technology, or messaging changes. We will provide recommendations on changes to your current communications plan to make sure it aligns with your organization's goals. 

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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.