CONTINUOUS COMMUNICATION: HOW TO BE PRESENT WITHOUT BECOMING A DISTURBANCE
Companies have never had so many opportunities to communicate with their audiences. Social media, blogs, newsletters, articles or features in the media, podcasts and their own channels enable them to maintain a virtually continuous presence. In this context, maintaining a constant flow of communication has become an important part of many brands’ strategies. Disappearing for months on end and only reappearing when there is a product to sell, a new development to announce or a crisis to manage can make it difficult to build a good relationship with the audience. However, being present does not mean having to speak constantly either. Striking a balance between these two extremes is one of the challenges of corporate communication today. The importance of not disappearing The relationship between a company and its audiences is built up over time. A brand that shares useful information, explains its activities, provides insights into its sector and participates in the conversations that affect it is more likely to be recognised and remembered. This is also relevant in relations with the media. A company that works on its positioning throughout the year has a better chance of becoming a go-to source than one that contacts journalists only when it wants to secure coverage for a launch. Consistency helps build a reputation, but the results are rarely immediate. The aim is to establish a presence that, little by little, helps to associate the organisation with specific areas of expertise. Communicating for the sake of it can have the opposite effect. The problem arises when the need to maintain constant communication turns into an obligation to publish something every day, regardless of whether or not there is a relevant message. Not every development requires a press release, nor does every trend warrant a post on LinkedIn. Nor is it necessary to participate in every conversation simply to demonstrate that the brand is active. When quantity takes precedence over quality, content begins to become repetitive, loses its appeal and may end up overwhelming the audience. Rather than strengthening the company’s presence, an excess of messages can mean they go increasingly unnoticed. The role of agencies: deciding when not to communicate A good strategy also involves knowing how to prioritise topics. Communications agencies can help companies identify which stories are truly of interest, tailor each message to the appropriate channel and draw up a calendar that combines current affairs, original content, expert insight and periods of lower activity. Furthermore, having a plan in place allows a single strategic approach to be explored from different perspectives without falling into repetition. Ongoing communication, therefore, should not be measured by the number of posts published each month. A company can maintain a constant relationship with its audiences without filling every available space. Because being present is important, but ensuring the public wants to keep listening is even more so.



















