It used to be that there were writers and there were graphics designers; there were typesetters and there were printers; there were managers and there were data entry operators. Those days are gone.
Today's corporate communication professional writes news releases, designs brochures, edits the video material she shot earlier, and updates her organization's web page all from her desktop computer.
Welcome to the new media world.
Quaintise's Corporate Communications Consulting Service offers government, private industry, and the not-for-profit sector, specialists in the visual and verbal presentation of information. Our consulting service derives from a foundation of communication theory, but we are armed with the tools and skills to examine and analyze components of the communication process -- message, content, audiences, and media. Navigating the new media world, we focus on the learning process -- social learning and modeling, conditioning and reinforcement, etc. We know the strengths and weaknesses of a variety of communication media, from print and video to social networks, mobile communications, computer graphics, and interactive media. We are particularly adept at how to use these media to communicate most specific information to specific audiences most effectively and responsibly.
Experience from Both Sides of the Aisle
Corporate communications consulting has been around a long time. The techniques and methods are fairly standard. What separates Quaintise is our corporate experience outside of the communications profession and our extensive foundation in the classic art of persuasion. We understand business and we understand the corporate environment because we have lived in your shoes. Our consultants hail from all parts of the corporate world, and understand how hard it is for your message to be crafted to say what you want to say, and more importantly, how to get it to your intended audience. Coupling classical communication theory and new technologies with our extensive corporate experience allows Quaintise to bring new perspectives to old techniques and methods.
Harnessing the Timeless Art of Persuasion
We understand that modern corporate communication at the very basic level is, in essence, no different from classical forms of logic and persuasion. Human nature has not changed – only the delivery mechanism to reach and influence people. Our team can bring these age-old teachings to the table in helping you craft a compelling marketing message while working closely with your communications professionals.
What Distinguishes Quaintise
As the delivery mechanisms change and grow, we believe there are several key areas that distinguish Quaintise from other communications consultants. These areas are as follows.
Engaging the Employee: Open communication, motivation, involvement, suggestion systems, team-work, creativity and innovation, culture change, professional development are some of the key elements of engaging employees in your overall corporate communications strategy. Without a comprehensive communications strategy that incorporates the culture of your employees and recognizes their contribution, good or bad, on your corporate message, you may as well stop trying to get your message out to your intended audience. Engaging your employees in your corporate communications program is one of the most effective ways to ensure that you people hear what you want to say.
Communication Planning: Corporate communication planning is as much about how to get the right message delivered to your desired audience as it is about managing misinformation that gets delivered to any audience. It would be easy to view this type of plan as overkill, but there are far more stories of misinformation affecting your business, than there are stories about successful communications improving your business. A plan needs to anticipate contingencies and incorporate informal channels of information dissemination. The communication problems rarely emanate from the formal channels. It is always the informal channels that cause you problems.
The Manager as Communicator: Training managers to play their role as communicators is one of the most important programs you can implement. Your managers serve two critical roles in the flow of information. First, the manager should be trained and provided with the tools to effectively communicate with their staff. Nothing is worse than having your employees learn of new events or plans or problems before your managers are told. Second, your managers should be your most aggressive goodwill ambassadors when it comes to talking about your company and minimizing the impact of misinformation.
Social Media and Web 2.0: The emerging technologies of Web 2.0 are commanding the attention of communicators around the world. These technologies include the use of Blogs to communicate with employees and customers; and the use of platforms like wikis to achieve sharing and collaboration. As more people use social networks, such as MySpace, or even YouTube, information travels faster than most formal corporate communication programs can manage. Using these programs to promote your business have taken new significance as more people embrace these technologies. Furthermore, you use these technologies to create a Blog, Wiki, or Video services to communicate with your clients, prospects, shareholders, and the media.
Presentation Effectiveness: The effectiveness of your presentations may have the biggest impact on how your message is received. A comprehensive communication plan should incorporate guidelines for effective presentations for all types of audiences and messages.
Electronic Publications: The number and type of electronic publications is growing and being able to choose the right format for a particular audience or message is critical to the success of effectively communicating your message. Perhaps one of the most profound developments in electronic publications is the ability to offer formats that reach diverse audiences at a nominal charge compared to traditional print collateral.
Content is Still King: With all the changes in technologies and delivery systems, content remains the most important aspect of a corporate communications program. New delivery mechanisms can reach more people at lower cost, but what matters is what you have to say. Content remains the number one reason that people will pay attention to your message.
Corporate Social Networks: Quaintise helps our clients build relationships among their employees, alumni, and other key constituents. By creating lifelong relationships with your employees spanning over new career opportunities, maternity leave, retirement, etc., you will ensure that you have access to an extended network of connections. Our corporate social networking services not only help you and your users maintain relationships, and help you expand your professional network and keep track of the people who can help you most.
Quaintise Corporate Communications Consulting Service is prepared to guide your company through these new communication trends. Please contact us to learn more.
