Understanding The Types of Strategic Communications Plans

Strategic communication is the process writing and delivering messages that advance an organization’s objectives.

It involves understanding the audience, crafting the message, and using the most effective channels to deliver it.

Organizations use strategic communication to achieve a variety of goals, such as raising awareness, changing perceptions, or influencing behavior. Communicating messages with your target audience helps stakeholders know more about your business.

When done effectively, a communications strategy can help organizations build support, facilitate relationships, achieve their objectives, and create lasting impact.

There are many different approaches to strategic communication, but all share an essential part and common goal for business success: to create key messages for the target audience that are relevant and effective.

The most successful campaigns and communications strategy are those that are well-planned and carefully executed even when limited resources exist for media outlets while achieving their communication goals.

Types of Strategic Communications Plans

There are four types of strategic communication plans for an audience: informative, persuasive, collaborative, and emergency.

Informative plans use a strategy that lays out the facts and provides information to help people make informed decisions. Persuasive plans aim to change people’s attitudes or behavior through the way they communicate their messages. 

Persuasive elements include arguments, stories, and data to convince people to act for their communications objectives in their media.

Collaborative plans involve two or more parties communicating and working together to achieve a common goal. The messages for these plans must be in sync for this communications strategy.

Emergency plans are created to prepare for and respond to unforeseen events and the plans needed to communicate with important stakeholders and media with an appropriate message and strategy during these times.

While emergencies and crisis are never ideal, having a communication strategy and knowing the primary communication objectives helps develop key messages for your communications plan to communicate effectively in times of high stress. 

Support during times like these with resources for your business can be the lifeline needed during chaotic times. It is always important to communicate rather than to remain silent with no messages to share.

Each type of communication strategy has its own purpose and use, so it’s important to choose the right one for your audience needs and media to utilize. 

Having a knowledge team like Futurist Society can help ensure that your strategy meets all of the stakeholders needs and delivers the media attention you deserve.

With multiple projects across the business organizations often require a strategic communications plan that encompasses multiple elements of communication strategy.

Informative Plans

Informative plans are all about providing people with information and resources. This type of plan is often used to create a strategy that raises awareness about an issue or to educate people about a topic.

This communications strategy can help you ensure that key elements of your value proposition are stated and understood, a way to connect the dots.

For example, an informative communication plan might have a message designed to raise awareness about the dangers of smoking through the media.

The goal of an informative plan is to provide people with the facts so they can make informed decisions.

To create an informative plan, you’ll need to gather data and develop messaging that is clear and easy to understand along with a media outlet or targets to pursue for your strategy.

After you have identified the primary focus of your strategic communications plan you can then develop the message and key components as needed for marketing activities.

Persuasive Plans

Persuasive plans use messages designed to change people’s attitudes or behavior. This type of communications strategy uses elements like arguments, stories, and data to convince people to act.

For example, a persuasive communication plan might be used to convince people to vote for a particular candidate using a specific communication channel.

The goal of a persuasive plan is to change the way people think or behave. Communicating with tactics like this is sometimes used as a final step to hook interest and can be a risky strategy.

To create a persuasive plan, you’ll need to develop strong arguments and find ways to connect with your audience on an emotional level.

This is not always the best approach for a communications team as controversy can generate negative press rather than success stories, but appealing to emotion has long been a tried and true approach in the world of generating consumer appeal.

Collaborative Plans

Collaborative plans involve two or more parties working together to achieve a common goal. This type of plan is often used when multiple organizations need to work together to solve a problem.

For example, a collaborative communication plan might be used to coordinate relief efforts after a natural disaster. The example goal of a collaborative plan is to bring people together to achieve a common goal.

To create a collaborative plan, you’ll need to develop clear goals and objectives and find ways to get everyone on board.

This is something that requires you hold all members of the team accountable across communication channels for communication activities and to measure success it will be critical all members of the team are on the same page.

Emergency Plans

Emergency plans are created to prepare for and respond to unforeseen events. This type of plan is often used by businesses and organizations to ensure they are prepared for anything.

For example, an emergency communication plan might be used to coordinate a response to a major weather event or breaking legislation from government officials.

The goal of an emergency plan is to be prepared for anything that might happen to your business.

To create an emergency plan, you’ll need to identify potential risks and develop contingency plans for each one.

Communication Objectives

No matter what type of strategic communication plan you create, it’s important to have a clear understanding of your goals and objectives.

You’ll also need to develop messaging that is tailored to your audience and designed to achieve your desired results.

Creating a communication plan can be a complex process, but a communication strategy is essential for any organization that wants to be successful.

Research your communication channels, identify key stakeholders and plan communication activities as they occur for a rock-solid communications strategy that delivers results.

Strategic Communication Plans For Key Stakeholders

There are many different types of strategic communication plans, and the type of plan and strategy that is right for your organization will depend on your specific objectives.

Following your business plan and the roadmap you have designed can integrate directly into your communications activities.

Some of the most common types of plans include branding, marketing, issue management and crisis communication.

Branding Plans

A branding plan is designed to help an organization create or improve its brand identity. This type of plan often includes elements like market research, target audience analysis, and messaging.

The goal of a branding plan is to create a strong, recognizable brand that will resonate with your target audience.

To create a branding plan, you’ll need to have a clear understanding of your organization’s mission and values.

Marketing Plans

A marketing plan is designed to promote a product, service, or cause. This type of plan often includes elements like advertising, public relations, and promotions.

The goal of a marketing plan is to generate interest and awareness for your product, service, or cause.

Something like a new article about your latest release that helps communicate the value effectively or add increased audience and stakeholders.

To create a marketing plan, you’ll need to identify your target audience and develop messaging that resonates with them.

After they have been identified you can evaluate the resources at y our disposal and create an action plan for communicating with the audiences among the group of projects.

Issue Management Plans

An issue management plan is designed to address a specific problem or concern. This type of plan often includes elements like research, analysis, and stakeholder engagement.

The goal of an issue management plan is to resolve the issue at hand and prevent it from happening again in the future.

To create an issue management plan, you’ll need to identify the root cause of the problem and develop a strategy for addressing it.

Crisis Communication Plans

A crisis communication plan is designed to prepare for and respond to an unexpected event. This type of plan often includes elements like media relations, social media, and reputation management.

The goal of a crisis communication plan is to minimize the negative impact of the event and protect your organization’s reputation.

To create a crisis communication plan, you’ll need to identify potential risks and develop contingency plans for each one.

Choose The Right Strategic Communications Plan to Deliver Key Messages for Your Target Audience

Each type of strategic communication plan has its own purpose and use, so it’s important to choose the right type of plan for your organization and project team.

Once you’ve selected the right type of plan, you’ll need to develop clear goals and objectives. Knowing your target audiences plays a key role in achieving your communication goals.

You’ll also need to create messaging that is tailored to your audience and designed to achieve your desired results.

Whether its email marketing, press releases or internal communications, relevant information should be conveyed in a way that it reaches key audiences while understanding that the message and different audiences vary depending on the priorities, progress and support services.

Understanding Communications Strategy

A strategic communication plan is an essential tool for any organization that wants to be successful. The type of plan that is right for your organization will depend on your specific objectives.

SWOT analysis and situational analysis can help ensure you are on the right track for more success with your messaging.

Once you’ve selected the right type of plan, you’ll need to develop clear goals and objectives.

You’ll also need to create messaging that is tailored to your audience and designed to achieve your desired results.

Creating a strategic communication plan can be a complex process, but it’s essential for any organization that wants to be successful.

If you’re ready to get started, contact us today. We’ll help you create a plan that is tailored to your specific needs and objectives.