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What Is Business Communication?

Maggie Worth
Maggie Worth

The term "business communication" is a generic term used to describe any medium through which a business communicates. Such communications may be aimed at a variety of audiences and can occur in a number of formats. Advertisements, websites, e-mails, letters, and press releases are all examples of business communications.

Common audiences for business communications include investors, internal constituencies, the media, existing customers, and prospective customers. Businesses often communicate with investors by means of annual or semi-annual reports that can be sent via regular or electronic mail and may, in the case of publicly-held companies, be posted on a website. Communications to internal constituencies can include policies and procedures; employee handbooks; and electronic, verbal, or written announcements. Employee newsletters are another sample of internal business communications.

Video conferencing may help reduce a business's travel expenses.
Video conferencing may help reduce a business's travel expenses.

Business communication directed at customers and prospective customers can include advertisements or sales fliers, particularly for companies selling physical goods. Such communications can also include sales presentations, bids, or proposals. They also include project status reports, notifications of new products, and other such announcements. All of these communications may occur in writing, electronically, or verbally.

Business communications may be conducted through the use of telephones.
Business communications may be conducted through the use of telephones.

Businesses often communicate directly with the media in order to announce new products, events, awards, or other newsworthy items. The most common form of business communication with the media is a press release. This is a document that tells the media about the newsworthy item so that they can decide whether or not to cover it. For example, if a retail business is opening a new location, it may send a press release to the newspapers, radio, and television news programs in the area offering details about the grand opening and providing a contact who can offer additional information or be available for interviews.

The most well-known form of business communication with media outlets is a press release.
The most well-known form of business communication with media outlets is a press release.

The importance of business communication is similar to the importance of other forms of communication. It allows the business to communicate information to a large number of people at the same time. While the primary goal is to inform, it is often also intended to create awareness of or increase interest in a business.

In some cases, the term "business communication" can also be used to refer to the specific communication methods used by a business. This would include the systems and hardware involved in telephone communications, teleconferencing, video conferencing, Internet or intranet communications, and cellular or satellite communications. It can also refer to the policies, business processes, and contracts set up to manage such communication systems or hardware.

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Discussion Comments

Krishna1122

I want to know what is outsourcing and I want to earn money by outsourcing.

SkyWhisperer

@hamje32 - I work for a large corporation. I can tell you that the most important pieces of business communication that we provide to the public are our quarterly and annual reports. Customers, investors and analysts comb over these documents to try to ascertain the true health of the company.

Unfortunately, some of them think that they have to read between the lines to get that information. This is simply not true. We try to be as transparent as we can, but it’s assumed that because we have a public relations department that we will try to gloss over problems in the business.

Believe me, that’s not the case. We have to deal with the SEC if we make any inaccurate statements. At any rate, these reports are the clearest indication of where we stand as a company, and everything else in my opinion just pales in comparison.

hamje32

I think that effective business communications means updating your customers frequently about news that directly relates to your business as well as about the industry you specialize in.

We mainly communicate through press releases and of course news postings on our website. However, we host conferences where we not only update customers and prospects on our latest products, but provide informative forums on rules and regulations impacting the industry that they’re in.

This is a value add, I believe, to the way that we communicate with customers. Since we target a very specialized market we can afford to focus on providing these kinds of specific communications.

Additionally, we will sometimes have someone on our staff write an article that gets published in a trade journal or publication. This helps to educate our customers as well as establishes our credibility in the industry.

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    • Video conferencing may help reduce a business's travel expenses.
      By: apops
      Video conferencing may help reduce a business's travel expenses.
    • Business communications may be conducted through the use of telephones.
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      Business communications may be conducted through the use of telephones.
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      The most well-known form of business communication with media outlets is a press release.
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