Ten Steps for Conducting A Communications Audit

Ten Steps for Conducting a Communications Audit By Katlin Smith, APR, Principal, UrbanWords™ Group What are you communicating? Are your communications effective? A Communications Audit will answer these questions. A Communications Audit is a systematic research method, which will identify the strengths and weaknesses of your current internal and external communications. An effective Communications Audit will identify: • how past communications were handled • key audiences, what they currently know about your business, service, product or organization, what they need and want to know and how they prefer to be reached • strengths and weakness in current communications programs • untapped opportunities for future communications A Communications Audit asks: • What are our current goals and objectives for communications? • How well is the current Communications Plan working? • Are our messages clear and consistent? Do we have a coordinated graphic identity? • Are we reaching key audiences with our messages and moving them to action? • What communications have been most effective? • What do customers think of our communications? • Do our communications support our overall strategic plan for our business or organization? • What would make our communications more effective in the future? • What communications opportunities are we missing? You may either conduct a self-assessment or hire a professional to perform the audit. These 10 steps will ...