DIGITAL COMMUNICATION IS KEY IN SUCCESSFUL BUSINESS COMMUNICATION
JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA – This afternoon Monash University and Stone hosted the second Monash Business Communication Forum with a focus was on digital communication as an essential part of business communication. The Forum, hosted on the Monash SA campus, is part of the Monash Business Communication Initiative to add value to the quality of business communication in South Africa and provide a thought leadership platform for critical engagement on the application and importance of good corporate communication in business and the public sector.“
The attendees gained insights into how to make digital communication a key component of business communication in their environments. The speakers shared their knowledge and experience on how to integrate digital communication into an effective communication mix within an organisation and measuring the success and effectiveness of a company’s reputation in cyberspace. Like with the other topics we cover in the Forums, the intention is to add value and share learning on topics that are crucial in communication for the public and private sector,” states Willem Eksteen, Stone Founder and host at today’s Monash Business Communication Forum.
According to Kate Elphick of Digital Bridges business’ relationships with clients, employees and other stakeholders are a powerful driver in successful organisations, thus effective communication necessitates a two way flow of information and knowledge between parties. “Digital Communication therefore, provides businesses with the opportunity to close the feedback loop and cement relationships with all stakeholders through two way communication,” states Elphick.
There are differences in digital communication and other channels. It is important to evaluate the trends, social technographics and the success or failure of the channel in terms of critics and collectors and how to use the information available online.“The key to achieving the benefits of digital communication are embedded in realizing that this channel facilitates a dialogue between you and your clients where you are able to view the entire interactive relationship with your clients over time. It also reduces the cost to serve clients and enables the business to monitor relationships and facilitates data mining for information to inform and customise marketing & sales campaigns,” says Elphick.
Maureen Russell, Major Account Manager for Dow Jones Solutions in Sub Saharan Africa, indicated that social media is a big part of our lives and this has been demonstrated over time various news captions that provide information on economic statics and consumer behaviour. “This is also demonstrated by the fact that our purchasing behaviour is now instinctively interactive in most cases, for example, internet banking, online weather updates, downloading music or radio streaming are the norm,” continues Russell. “The fact that clients are now Global means that businesses should be able to know where they are or what they are saying in order to be able to ensure that you are not powerless to stop brand value being destroyed,” means Russell. “
Dow Jones is also a leader in strategic media evaluation, online reputation and information management. Practising strategic media evaluation is critical to any business as it enables you to identify reputation drivers, in other words, the vehicles through which communication departments can draw more on internal positives and start to shape press coverage in the media in a way that reflects the internal goals. This is also critical in ensuring that communicating internally will be done in the same language so as to provide a consistent measurement tool that allows comparison and to be able to spot opportunity, strengths and weaknesses and take appropriate action,” concludes Russell. END
MEDIA RELEASE ISSUED BY PERUSHA SINGH OF STONE ON BEHALF OF THE MONASH BUSINESS COMMUNICATION INITIATIVE, MONASH SA AND STONE DETAILS FOR FURTHER MEDIA INFORMATION:
· Please e-mail This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it for media enquiries or interview requests. Alternatively call Perusha on +27 (0) 739406222 to arrange an interview with one of the spokespeople of the Monash Business Communication Initiative.
· Visit the media section of www.commsinitiative.co.za for regular updates and progress on the Monash Business Communication Initiative or to download images from the launch and other initiative events. Please find the Fact Sheet on the Monash Business Communication Initiative or visit www.commsinitiative.co.za for more detail.
· See www.stoneconsult.net and www.monash.ac.za for information on the partners in the Monash Business Communication Initiative.
