Choosing the Right Method for the Message

Channels for business communication include meetings, letters, print, radio, television, telephone, word of mouth, and the Internet.

Learning Objective

Indicate the various communication channels available for packaging and delivering business messaging

Key Points

Within those channels are a variety of specific methods. The Internet, for example, could entail a web-based advertising campaign, a social media advertising campaign, or a website.
With the variety of methods available, it is important to choose the right method for the message. A company-wide email detailing the holiday hours is acceptable, but a company-wide email listing terminations is not acceptable.
When choosing the medium, consider the audience and their reaction to the message. For example, if the message is about employee benefits, the audience most likely will have questions, so this message is best presented in a group meeting that would allow for a question and answer session.

Terms

communication
an instance of information transfer; a conversation or discourse
word of mouth
Verbal means of passing of information.

Examples

Meeting - A personal, interactive exchange often succeeded by a written follow-up; Letter - Typically a formal method of communication suited for important messages such as proposals, inquiries, agreements, and recommendations; Video Conference - Allows people in different locations to hold interactive meetings and interviews in real time; Telephone Conference - Enables participants in different locations to share information; E-mail - Instantaneous medium for both formal notices and updates, as well as, informal exchanges; Report - Official documentation of the activities of any department or organization; Presentation - Usually comprises a formal proposal, update, recommendation, or report involving audiovisual material, slideshows, and statistics; Web-based Communication - A method typically suited for leaving contact information (such as address and phone number) or for sharing transaction details (such as order confirmation); Forum: Allows members to post information publicly and efficiently in a centralized location.
E-mail (Electronic Mail) is a fast, reliable way of sending messages and interacting with people. This medium straddles the line between informal communication and formal business interaction. All e-mails are saved and recorded, as well as, potentially read by any number of people.
A memo or memorandum is a communication note that records events or observations on a topic. Memos are typically used as an internal communication tool. They call attention to issues that may need to be resolved.
Business letters are written messages to a person or group within a professional setting. It can address anyone including, but not limited to, prospects, clients and customers, managers, agencies, suppliers, and other business personnel or organizations. It is important to remember that any business letter is a legal document between the interested parties.

Full Text

Choosing the Right Method for the Message

Business communication encompasses various channels of communication, including meetings, letters, memos, print (publications), radio, television, telephone, word of mouth, and the Internet.

Specific Methods

Within those channels is a variety of specific methods. The Internet, for example, could entail a web-based advertising campaign, a social media advertising campaign, or a website.

Other methods of communication include:

Meeting - This is a personal, interactive exchange often succeeded by a written follow-up.
Letter - This is a formal method of communication typically suited for important messages such as proposals, inquiries, agreements, and recommendations.
Video conference - These allow people in different locations to hold interactive meetings and interviews in real time.
Telephone conference - These enable participants in different locations to share information.
E-mail - This is a instantaneous medium for formal notices and updates, as well as informal exchanges.
Report - This is the official documentation of the activities of any department or organization.
Presentation - This method usually comprises a formal proposal, update, recommendation, or report involving audiovisual material, slideshows, and statistics.
Web-based communication - This method is typically suited for leaving contact information (such as address and phone number) or for sharing transaction details (such as order confirmation).
Forum This method allows members to post information publicly and efficiently in a centralized location.

With the variety of methods available, it is important to choose the right method for the message. A company-wide email detailing the holiday hours is acceptable, but a company-wide email listing terminations is not acceptable .

Choosing the right method for the message.

A company wide email detailing the holiday hours is acceptable, but a company wide email listing terminations is not acceptable.

When choosing the medium, consider the audience and their reaction to the message. For example, if the message is about employee benefits, the audience most likely will have questions, so this message is best presented in a group meeting that would allow for a question and answer session.

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