What is a communication audit?

Communication audit is an evaluation of the effectiveness of the organization of the organization. This effort may include a number of different methods and materials such as advertising and marketing collateral, website, internal communication and shareholder reports. Communication audit will assess the effectiveness of each of these methods. It is often used as a tool that helps in planning or re -evaluating the communication plan or strategy.

There are a number of reasons why a company or organization may decide to undergo a communication audit. It could have found that his methods of communication are spreading too thin. It may feel that basic customer surveys do not provide a comprehensive view of the effectiveness of its communication strategies. The organization may simply want to evaluate the company's report to ensure consistency across the media or to address a new target audience. Whatever the reason, it is important that the organization outlined its Miss, its value or vision and its audience before the audit to be effective to whomthe nowhere of these items adequately assessed.

The organization can carry out its own survey, or can obtain the services of an external agency to perform an audit. It is important that the communication audit is thorough when examining all existing communication strategies and activities. Data can be collected through paper or electronic surveys, focus groups or interviews; The audit can test products for customer usability. It is also important that the information is collected from the inclusive range of individuals, including not only the company's employees, but also of shareholders, clients and customers. Other relevant groups may also be included.

The results of the communication audit are usually presented in the form of a comprehensive message that clearly identifies all the data collected, the methods of survey and interviewed groups. These results should provide the organization with information to helpdetermine what he does right and what he does wrong. It should identify any gaps or other missing links in the information chain that may need to be repaired.

Report on complete communication can provide a better understanding of the way organizational communications are understood within the company or their effectiveness in achieving an external target client or audience. It can provide specific examples that illustrate positive or negative experiences related to its methods or its message. The audit report ideally will provide specific strategies for strengthening communication techniques and policies. This may indicate how to better focus and adapt the organization's message and present it in a useful way. The audit can also propose new ways that communication efforts could be streamlined or simplified in order to reduce the costs and clarify the message of the organization to the future audience.