Strategic Communications Group

The WBU team has put together a Guide on how to pitch and secure media coverage during the Recovery period. #mediarelations #branding #growthmarketing #howto #smallbusiness

Securing buy-in from stakeholders on content creation and production can often be a challenging task. Without their support, initiatives may lack the necessary resources and momentum to succeed, hindering overall engagement and impact. Effective stakeholder buy-in is crucial for the success of content initiatives. Misalignment on goals or misunderstandings about the value of content can lead to resistance and stalled projects. Start by clearly articulating the objectives and benefits of your content strategy to stakeholders. Use data and case studies to demonstrate how previous content efforts have driven engagement and achieved business goals. Involve stakeholders early in the process, seeking their input and addressing any concerns. Creating a collaborative environment fosters a sense of ownership and investment in the content. Provide regular updates and feedback loops to keep them engaged and informed throughout the production process. By building strong relationships and aligning on common goals, you can secure the buy-in needed to elevate your content initiatives and ensure their success. Need more help? Enhance your skills with the Guild of Communicators (GOC) at https://buff.ly/4eKMfP1. GOC provides high quality resources, extensive training, and a supportive network for communicators striving for excellence. Joining GOC connects you with peers, offers valuable insights, and boosts your ability to drive results in your organisation, solidifying your role as a key business partner in areas such as strategy, sales, product and marketing. Follow us on LinkedIn to receive our weekly newsletter, where we share insights and opinions from a communicator’s perspective. #guildofcommunicators #GOC #gocommunicators #strategiccommunications #publicrelations #PR #marcomms #marketingcommunications #communication #levelup #training #upskilling #lifelonglearning #prstrategy #brandstrategy #marketingstrategy #leadership #storytelling #narrative #branding #stakeholderengagement #stakeholdermanagement #projectmanagement #marketing #crisiscommunications #issuesmanagement #marketingtips #prtips #SMEtips #startuptips

As we approach the new year, many communicators find themselves in a time-poor environment, struggling to dedicate the necessary resources for thorough research and planning when putting together their content calendar strategy for 2025. This limitation can lead to rushed decisions and missed opportunities for meaningful engagement. A well-structured content calendar is essential for aligning your messaging with your strategic goals and audience needs. Failing to plan effectively can result in reactive content creation, leading to burnout and inconsistent branding. Start by setting clear objectives for 2025. Identify key themes, campaigns, and audience touchpoints that align with your organisation’s goals. Conduct a content audit to assess what has worked well in the past, then use these insights to inform your strategy moving forward. Incorporate a mix of content types—blogs, videos, social media posts, and newsletters—to cater to diverse audience preferences. Don’t forget to factor in important dates, events, and industry trends that can provide timely content opportunities. Build flexibility into your calendar to accommodate emerging topics and audience feedback. By taking a proactive and strategic approach, you can create a content calendar that engages your audience and drives your business goals forward. What are your top tips for creating a successful content calendar strategy? Let’s share ideas! Need more help? Enhance your skills with the Guild of Communicators (GOC) at https://buff.ly/4eKMfP1 . GOC provides high quality resources, extensive training, and a supportive network for communicators striving for excellence. Joining GOC connects you with peers, offers valuable insights, and boosts your ability to drive results in your organisation, solidifying your role as a key business partner in areas such as strategy, sales, product and marketing. Follow us on LinkedIn to receive our weekly newsletter, where we share insights and opinions from a communicator’s perspective. #guildofcommunicators #GOC #gocommunicators #strategiccommunications #publicrelations #PR #marcomms #marketingcommunications #communication #levelup #training #upskilling #lifelonglearning #prstrategy #brandstrategy #marketingstrategy #leadership #storytelling #narrative #branding #stakeholderengagement #stakeholdermanagement #projectmanagement #marketing #crisiscommunications #issuesmanagement #marketingtips #prtips #SMEtips #startuptips

Many communicators are unsure about how often they can re-use older pieces of content without losing value or audience interest. This uncertainty can lead to either missed opportunities or content fatigue. There’s no one-size-fits-all answer to reusing content. It depends on the nature of the content, audience preferences, and current relevance. Over-recycling can lead to disengagement, while strategic re-use can extend the life of valuable insights and messages. Start by assessing the evergreen nature of your content. If it remains relevant and offers valuable insights, consider how you can repurpose it for different formats or audiences. For instance, transform a well-received blog post into a podcast episode or a social media series. Use analytics to guide your decisions—track engagement metrics to determine when interest wanes and adjust your re-use strategy accordingly. Additionally, refresh old content by updating statistics, adding new insights, or presenting it in a different context to keep it engaging. By strategically re-using content, you can maximise its lifespan and effectiveness, ensuring your audience continues to derive value from it over time. Need more help? Elevate your craft with the Guild of Communicators (GOC) at https://buff.ly/3XpOTTY . As a professional community for communicators, GOC offers access to best-in-class resources, comprehensive training programmes, and a supportive network to help you achieve excellence. By joining, you’ll connect with fellow communicators, gain valuable insights, and enhance your ability to drive measurable outcomes within your organisation, solidifying your role as a key business partner across critical functions like sales, marketing, product, and strategy. Follow me on LinkedIn to receive my weekly newsletter where I share my learnings and opinions from a communicator’s perspective. #strategiccommunications #strtgcommsgrp #levelup #training #upskilling #lifelonglearning #publicrelations #PR #prstrategy #communications #storytelling #narrative #branding #brandstrategy #stakeholderengagement #projectmanagement #marketing #marketingstrategy #leadership #marketingtips #prtips #SMEtips #audiencesegmentation

Do you find it challenging to navigate the “traffic” of competing content in our saturated digital landscape? Without effective interaction and engagement strategies, valuable messages can easily get lost in the noise. Traffic isn’t just about volume; it’s about how effectively your content cuts through and resonates with your audience. Failing to foster genuine interaction can lead to missed opportunities for connection and can diminish the impact of your messaging. To work through traffic, prioritise crafting content that invites interaction. Start by understanding your audience’s interests and pain points, and create content that addresses these directly. Use questions, polls, and calls to action to encourage dialogue and make your audience feel involved. Incorporate diverse formats such as videos, infographics, and live Q&A sessions to maintain engagement and cater to different preferences. Monitor responses closely to adapt your strategies in real-time, ensuring you’re always meeting your audience where they are. Need more help? Elevate your craft with the Guild of Communicators (GOC) at https://buff.ly/3XpOTTY . As a professional community for communicators, GOC offers access to best-in-class resources, comprehensive training programmes, and a supportive network to help you achieve excellence. By joining, you’ll connect with fellow communicators, gain valuable insights, and enhance your ability to drive measurable outcomes within your organisation, solidifying your role as a key business partner across critical functions like sales, marketing, product, and strategy. Follow me on LinkedIn to receive my weekly newsletter where I share my learnings and opinions from a communicator’s perspective. #strategiccommunications #strtgcommsgrp #levelup #training #upskilling #lifelonglearning #publicrelations #PR #prstrategy #communications #storytelling #narrative #branding #brandstrategy #stakeholderengagement #projectmanagement #marketing #marketingstrategy #leadership #marketingtips #prtips #SMEtips

The debate over digital versus traditional mediums continues to create divisions among communicators. This struggle hinders collaboration and limits creative, innovative approaches to audience engagement. The argument overlooks their complementary nature. Both digital and traditional platforms have unique strengths and can effectively reach different segments of your audience. Persisting in this argument can lead to missed opportunities for integrating strategies that leverage the best of both worlds. Instead of choosing sides, embrace a blended approach that utilises the strengths of both mediums. Assess your target audience to determine which platforms they engage with most and tailor your messaging accordingly. For instance, use traditional mediums like print or radio to build brand trust, while leveraging digital channels for real-time engagement and data-driven insights. Encourage collaboration within your teams to create campaigns that seamlessly integrate both mediums, ensuring a consistent message that resonates with diverse audiences. Need more help? Elevate your craft with the Guild of Communicators (GOC) at https://buff.ly/3XpOTTY . As a professional community for communicators, GOC offers access to best-in-class resources, comprehensive training programmes, and a supportive network to help you achieve excellence. By joining, you’ll connect with fellow communicators, gain valuable insights, and enhance your ability to drive measurable outcomes within your organisation, solidifying your role as a key business partner across critical functions like sales, marketing, product, and strategy. Follow me on LinkedIn to receive my weekly newsletter where I share my learnings and opinions from a communicator’s perspective. #strategiccommunications #strtgcommsgrp #levelup #training #upskilling #lifelonglearning #publicrelations #PR #prstrategy #communications #storytelling #narrative #branding #brandstrategy #stakeholderengagement #projectmanagement #marketing #marketingstrategy #leadership #marketingtips #prtips #SMEtips

Communicators often struggle with adapting and repurposing content effectively, often leading to diluted messages or mismatched formats. This can confuse audiences and reduce engagement. Adapting and repurposing content isn’t just about recycling old material; it’s about strategically reshaping it to fit different formats and audiences while maintaining its core message. Failing to do this correctly can result in missed opportunities for deeper engagement and brand consistency. Start by evaluating your existing content to identify pieces that have performed well or address ongoing audience interests. Then, consider how these can be adapted for various platforms—turn a popular blog post into an infographic for social media or create a video series from a comprehensive guide. Ensure that each adaptation retains the original message while being tailored to the new format and audience. Use engaging visuals, clear calls to action, and platform-specific best practices to enhance effectiveness. Always monitor audience response and be ready to iterate based on feedback. Need more help? Elevate your craft with the Guild of Communicators (GOC) at https://buff.ly/3XpOTTY . As a professional community for communicators, GOC offers access to best-in-class resources, comprehensive training programmes, and a supportive network to help you achieve excellence. By joining, you’ll connect with fellow communicators, gain valuable insights, and enhance your ability to drive measurable outcomes within your organisation, solidifying your role as a key business partner across critical functions like sales, marketing, product, and strategy. Follow me on LinkedIn to receive my weekly newsletter where I share my learnings and opinions from a communicator’s perspective. #strategiccommunications #strtgcommsgrp #levelup #training #upskilling #lifelonglearning #publicrelations #PR #prstrategy #communications #storytelling #narrative #branding #brandstrategy #stakeholderengagement #projectmanagement #marketing #marketingstrategy #leadership #marketingtips #prtips #SMEtips #audiencesegmentation

The idea that "the medium is the message" suggests that the platform shapes the message's meaning. While this was groundbreaking, clinging to this mindset can hinder effective communication today. Now, engagement goes beyond the medium. It's about creating meaningful interactions with your audience that foster connection and understanding. Relying solely on the medium may lead to superficial engagement and missed opportunities to resonate with your audience on a deeper level. Focus on crafting compelling, relevant content that engages your audience, regardless of the medium. Start by understanding your audience’s needs, preferences, and pain points. Use this insight to create content that speaks directly to them, whether it’s an insightful article, an engaging video, or a thought-provoking podcast. Use storytelling techniques to draw in your audience, making your messages relatable and memorable. Don’t shy away from experimenting with formats and styles that best suit the content while keeping your brand voice consistent. Also, encourage feedback and interaction to create a two-way dialogue that deepens engagement and fosters loyalty. By prioritising clarity, relevance, and connection in your messaging, you can build stronger relationships with your audience, leading to greater impact and effectiveness in your communications. Need more help? Elevate your craft with the Guild of Communicators (GOC) at https://buff.ly/3XpOTTY . As a professional community for communicators, GOC offers access to best-in-class resources, comprehensive training programmes, and a supportive network to help you achieve excellence. By joining, you’ll connect with fellow communicators, gain valuable insights, and enhance your ability to drive measurable outcomes within your organisation, solidifying your role as a key business partner across critical functions like sales, marketing, product, and strategy. Follow me on LinkedIn to receive my weekly newsletter where I share my learnings and opinions from a communicator’s perspective. #strategiccommunications #strtgcommsgrp #levelup #training #upskilling #lifelonglearning #publicrelations #PR #prstrategy #communications #storytelling #narrative #branding #brandstrategy #stakeholderengagement #projectmanagement #marketing #marketingstrategy #leadership #marketingtips #prtips #SMEtips

Communicators often struggle to choose the right channels for content distribution. We often feel trapped by the same range of options - traditional, digital, in-person, etc. Yet within the range, there are multiple channels to consider, so how do you ensure your message reaches the intended audience? Defining distribution is more than just selecting platforms; it’s about understanding your audience, their preferences, and the unique characteristics of each channel. Tailoring your approach can significantly amplify your content’s impact. Start by mapping out your audience’s behaviour across different channels. Are they more active on social media, or do they prefer newsletters? Use this insight to select the most effective channels for distribution, ensuring your message resonates where it matters most. Need more help? Elevate your craft with the Guild of Communicators (GOC) at https://buff.ly/3XpOTTY . As a professional community for communicators, GOC offers access to best-in-class resources, comprehensive training programmes, and a supportive network to help you achieve excellence. By joining, you’ll connect with fellow communicators, gain valuable insights, and enhance your ability to drive measurable outcomes within your organisation, solidifying your role as a key business partner across critical functions like sales, marketing, product, and strategy. Follow me on LinkedIn to receive my weekly newsletter where I share my learnings and opinions from a communicator’s perspective. #strategiccommunications #strtgcommsgrp #levelup #training #upskilling #lifelonglearning #publicrelations #PR #prstrategy #communications #storytelling #narrative #branding #brandstrategy #stakeholderengagement #projectmanagement #marketing #marketingstrategy #leadership #marketingtips #prtips #SMEtips

What value does educational content truly offer? Many organisations produce content without fully understanding the specific solutions it can provide, leading to missed opportunities for engagement and impact. When educational content lacks clear solutions, it can result in frustration for both creators and audiences. Prospects may find themselves overwhelmed or disengaged, unsure of how the information applies to their needs. This disconnection can hinder brand trust and limit the effectiveness of your content strategy. Educational content can offer one or some of these solutions to interested prospects: - Knowledge Building: It empowers audiences with insights and information, positioning your brand as a trusted resource. - Problem Solving: By addressing common challenges within your industry, it demonstrates how your products or services can effectively meet their needs. - Guidance and Support: It provides actionable steps that lead prospects toward making informed decisions, encouraging them to engage further with your brand. By clearly articulating these solutions, your educational content can drive meaningful connection and engagement. Need more help? Elevate your craft with the Guild of Communicators (GOC) at https://buff.ly/3XpOTTY . As a professional community for communicators, GOC offers access to best-in-class resources, comprehensive training programmes, and a supportive network to help you achieve excellence. By joining, you’ll connect with fellow communicators, gain valuable insights, and enhance your ability to drive measurable outcomes within your organisation, solidifying your role as a key business partner across critical functions like sales, marketing, product, and strategy. Follow me on LinkedIn to receive my weekly newsletter where I share my learnings and opinions from a communicator’s perspective. #strategiccommunications #strtgcommsgrp #levelup #training #upskilling #lifelonglearning #publicrelations #PR #prstrategy #communications #storytelling #narrative #branding #brandstrategy #stakeholderengagement #projectmanagement #marketing #marketingstrategy #leadership #marketingtips #prtips #SMEtips