Your communications plan
Your communications plan is the written plan of your communications strategy. This strategy refers to your communications with your key stakeholders and audiences throughout the year. All communications should aim to promote the strengths of your organisation and activities, achieve your key objectives, and overcome sensitive issues.
Your communications strategy will include
- target audiences
- key objectives
- issues
- key messages
- timelines for information dispersal and completion of tasks
- channels for distribution
- budgetary information
- mandatories.
Communications may include
- updates and newsletters to stakeholders and clients
- invitations or notification of public relations activities
- reports to boards
- media releases and reports
- website programmes
- participation in discussion or brainstorming groups
- calling campaigns
- publications
- interviews
- marketing initiatives
- discussion groups or forums.
Public Relations
Your annual public relations programme should also feature in your Communications Plan. The programme should complement your marketing and promotional plans for individual events, and provide a structured programme for:
- marketing the strengths and successes of your organisation
- telling clients and key stakeholders of your achievements
- notifying clients and key stakeholders of forthcoming events
- thanking clients, key stakeholders, and sponsors for their support
- mechanisms for sustaining your sponsor
- media planning to increase exposure to wider audiences.