6 steps to a robust comms audit

Having a clear vision of how you want to communicate starts with an honest assessment of where you are now.

That means taking an inventory of your communications toolbox and evaluating how your current efforts align – or don’t – with your path forward.

Take these six steps to perform a robust comms audit:

1. Analyze the scope of your current internal and external communications.

You’ll be amazed at the sheer volume of places where you communicate with various contacts. Remember, everything associated with your brand counts. Did you count your email footer? How about the subject line of your emails? Your YouTube channel description?

Whatever makes your list, it should go far beyond website content, social media posts, newsletters and press releases. Every brochure, sign, banner and piece of media coverage – and even your logo – they all contribute to the overall effectiveness of how you communicate.

This step should reveal how many touchpoints you have, which is the first step toward ensuring consistency moving forward. Just as even small expenses count in a financial audit, there are lots of small components of your brand footprint that influence how you are perceived.

2. Evaluate your past comms efforts.