7 tips for improving your communication style on internal (enterprise) social networks
1. The format is dependant on the response you desire
What do you want the reader to think, feel and do? Are you trying to inspire, inform, educate, or something else? Considerations like these might help you decide whether a sentence, paragraph, Powerpoint, video, or something else would be best.
2. Put the things you most want the reader to see as close to the top as possible
Within the first few words, people may have decided whether or not to continue reading. Try and increase the chances of them seeing what you want them to, while remembering to put yourself in their shoes and see things from their perspective.
3. Videos or images can bring posts to life
Videos and images can be great at drawing attention and communicating in a richer way than with just text. Having said that, sometimes less is more. Tip 1 might help you decide.
4. There’s less expectation of a salutation and sign off
“Dear …” and “Best regards” can seem redundent, and almost as though the poster is still a bit ‘old skool’ ;) Social networking seems to present more opportunity to get straight to the point. Maybe this is because social networking feels more personal and informal than email that we’ve become used to at work.
5. You could post separate points in separate comments
You could make your main point in the first post, then reply to that first post with further points (if you think they’ll add to the effectiveness of your communication). This might help the reader follow the separate points you’re making, and make it easier for people to recognise which of your specific points people are Like-ing or Replying-to. Thanks to Steve Hopkins for this tip.
6. Mention people you want to be notified
To make sure someone is notified of a post, mention them. It’s still their choice as to whether they respond, and sometimes they won’t need to because the openness means others could respond sooner on their behalf.
7. Upload a profile picture
Small things like adding a photo can help develop personal connections, which could in turn help develop your professional connections.
What would your tip be?
Some of these tips are more relevant for internal social networking, and some are applicable to other ways of communicating such as email. What would your tip be?
