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To be an effective communicator is a cornerstone of personal and professional success, and just about everyone in every other field can benefit from enhancing their communication skills.
However, as communications professionals, the onus is on us to ensure that we are elevating not just our skills but the industry as a whole. As we navigate this year’s coming challenges and opportunities, honing our communication skills is more crucial than ever.
Fortunately, individuals have various learning opportunities to refine their abilities and connect more meaningfully with others. This article explores three key areas where you can invest in your communication skills and become a better communicator in 2024.
The shift towards remote work has become a permanent fixture in the work landscape. To excel in this environment, it’s essential to develop skills related to virtual collaboration, online meeting etiquette, and effective digital communication.
While not every industry will be compatible with remote work, several organisations in the communications and public relations world have served as great case studies for remote work. One such case is PR management platform Muck Rack, which was recently named Built In 2024 Best Place to Work winner in the Remote Best Places to Work and Remote Best Midsize Places to Work categories.
According to Zoom’s Head of Events Amy Gates, the key to designing successful virtual events is still to “cover a compelling topic and have a great line-up of speakers and panellists.” However, mastering remote collaboration and comcation software can keep the costs down and significantly increase attendance rates for remote and hybrid events as well.
“Zoom is continuing to invest in innovations that will reduce the need to use expensive audio-video consultants and, at the same time, continue the skills upgrade for event organisers,” Gates said in an exclusive op-ed.
Nowadays, digital marketing is a skill that’s just expected of communication specialists to have. Knowing your way around social media platforms, newsletters, and search engine optimisation will allow you to reach your audience whenever and wherever they are.
But one thing that can set you apart from your peers is the ability to make data-driven decisions. This means being able to read, interpret and make decisions based on data.
According to digital data pioneer Datonics, majority of marketers include third-party data in their strategy.
Hubspot defines third party data as information “compiled from multiple different sources and is sold to or bought by companies to learn more about audiences.”
This is as opposed to first party data, which is information about your audience that you gathered directly from them in the form of lead generation campaigns.
“Third-party data remains extremely valuable to brands because of its unique ability to address various factors that other types of data such as zero, first and second-party data can’t due to scale limitations,” said Michael Benedek, CEO, Datonics.
“Our study demonstrates the continued demand for third-party data in the digital marketing and programmatic ecosystems for the special value it brings. It is still the data that marketers are relying on to help them reach new audiences and acquire customers.”
Artificial intelligence is also a hot topic in digital marketing, with the technology bound to disrupt the space. Many have expressed their fears about losing their jobs to AI. That being said, most market leaders believe that AI is best used to complement experienced marketers, not replace them.
Related: How SMBs Can Overcome Digital Marketing Challenge (commsroom.co)
Despite being a relatively nascent field, digital marketing is a dynamic field that is very challenging to keep up with, even for seasoned pros. Therefore, it pays to join professional events that cater to these skills. Social Media for Gov NZ Summit 2024 is specifically geared toward government social media practitioners in New Zealand.
In the age of digital media, storytelling remains a powerful tool for effective communication. In 2024, learning to craft compelling narratives that resonate with your audience is a powerful, not to mention lucrative skill that every communicator can use.
Acclaimed movie and TV commercial director Mo Macrae talks about harnessing the power of video to enhance your corporate communications.
“To all of us who even thought that maybe we could resist being in front of the camera — and that includes me, because I loved being behind it, don’t like being in front of it. But COVID has said ‘you’re not allowed to do that anymore,’” Macrae said.
“Whether it’s external communications, whether it’s brand building and positioning, whether it’s messaging offers, delivery, whether it’s customer service or internal comms. Whether it’s just a meeting, whether it’s catching up with friends and family. We have been told we have to be in video now,” he said.
Related: How to develop compelling storytelling with Jonathan Green (commsroom.co)
If you’re a government communicator looking to enhance their social media chops, don’t miss the chance to learn from established professionals in the field.
This year we will be holding the annual Public Sector Comms Week, a gathering that brings the industry’s top movers together to exchange ideas, best tips and practices, and the latest trends in the communications field.
Embracing a mindset of continuous learning is not just a personal investment but a commitment to staying relevant and contributing meaningfully to the evolving world around us. As we navigate the challenges and opportunities of the coming year, we comms professionals should seize the chance to learn, grow, and shape a future that reflects our collective dedication to knowledge and progress.
