Both internal and external communications are key factors to the successful functioning of your business organization. Furthermore, internal and external communication are important resources for business communication and corporate communication.
In particular, internal communication entails ideas and information exchange within your organization. External communication, however, is said to be an exchange of information between your organization and the general public, external audiences, external stakeholders, or the outside world in general.
Read on to understand the key differences between these two forms of communication as used in the corporate world, on social media, in seminars, and in press conferences today.
Internal Communication Versus External Communication
Close Comparison
Internal communication is a form of communication that takes place between employees or members of your organization. It is usually a type of communication that involves the transfer of information from one individual to another or between different departments. This form of communication is both formal and informal.
Objectively, internal communication entails the transfer of information between various departments and business units in your company. Its participants include your team of employees and the management. Plus, its frequency is usually higher than external communication.
On the other hand, external communication happens between your company and the external organization or party. It is mostly a formal communication type whose objective is to maintain the relationship between your company and external parties.
Also, this form of communication helps exchange information with other people outside your organization. Participants are usually your customers, clients, shareholders, investors, suppliers, creditors, and the general public. Its frequency is comparatively lower than that for internal communication. Apart from that, it flows across the vast business environment.
The Main Purpose
Mostly, internal communication revolves around your employees. Through this form of communication, you can talk and listen to your staff members. This is because they deserve to know their position, purpose, and relevance to your company. They also need to know their goals, objectives, and purpose while working for you.
Therefore, you will need to come up with a proper internal communication plan that promotes and sets out all objectives of your business and projects. Your internal communication plan should also devise ways that your employees can achieve their goals. Additionally, this plan should help train, lead, and motivate your workers to perform well in their respective assigned duties.
External communication, however, is tailored toward capturing the attention of external parties. Normally, this type of communication allows you to convey your message and value to your customers. It also enables you to connect with the outside world at large.
A good external communication strategy can make it easy for you to share your marketing ideas with the general public. Better still, it may assist you in focusing on broadcasting and promoting your brand, product, and personality to your current customers and potential customers.
Means of Communication
Relaying information within your organization varies considerably. With that being said, there are several internal communication tools that you can rely on to enhance employee engagement, promote employee communication, and encourage face-to-face communication within all departments.
You can achieve effective internal communication using predefined channels to convey key information and the right message to your target audience. This piece of information explains the importance of internal communication channels. For instance, channels such as presentations, memos, video clips, newsletters, and minutes of meetings are considered the best internal communication strategies used in a work environment. Take advantage of internal communications apps and tools to reach out to both remote and office-based workers.
When it comes to external communication, you need to adopt a formal approach. In this sense, your external messaging should be delivered right from the top leadership, through pre-defined communication channels, and via official documentation. Good examples of external communication means include online platforms, social media posts, press releases, intranet, customer feedback material, annual reports, and the company’s website.
The Target Audience
Internal communication focuses solely on your organization. With this type of communication, you can aim at reaching every single employee starting from remote employees to senior leadership all the way to office-based staff. Your effective internal communication strategies will certainly transmit key information and relevant content between departments, multiple sites, remote workers, and business units. This way, you will be able to ensure that everyone is communicating and operating with the same level of understanding and knowledge.
On the other side, external communication aims at building brand awareness with the general audience. For that reason, don’t forget to use your communication skills for your external messaging. Bear in mind that your external communication targets suppliers, investors, prospects, brand ambassadors, regulators, and anyone who contributes to your business’s success. As such, you need a strategic alignment of your brand messaging to keep the general public and your customer base informed throughout.
The Verdict
Both internal and external communications have similar goals for your organization and employees in their work environment. Good internal communication coupled with your external communication efforts can truly keep your messaging on brand, ensure a free flow of information, keep everyone in line, improve internal comms, and create brand ambassadors.
