How Do I Build an Effective Communications Team?

TL;DR: Building an effective communications team requires recognizing that no one person can have every skill needed to keep up with the demand of effectively sharing your story.. We call the idealization of finding an all encompassing media expert the search fora “unicorn.” By honestly assessing your needs and embracing a creative team approach, you’ll set your organization up for better results. Download our free resource to help build your communications team.

Chances are, you’re passionate about your organization’s brand, story, and purpose…and you want the whole world to know about it. But are you reaching your full potential in sharing that story?

At GP Creative, we believe that telling the story of what you do is as important as what you do. But managing the constant demand for creative communication is not easy. New platforms emerge at lightning speed, and the expertise needed to develop strategy and content while keeping up with trends can be overwhelming.

So, what does your communications team need to do?

Let’s break down what “communications” actually covers. Take a moment and think about applications in your own organization:

• Photography and video content

• Graphic design

• Social media management

• Website optimization and SEO

• Digital and physical marketing

• Print, signage, and other media

• CRM (customer relationship management) systems

• Email marketing and newsletters

• Data analytics and lead generation

• Copywriting and editing

• Overarching strategy

Each of these elements plays a crucial role in helping your organization succeed in today’s crowded landscape. Realizing the breadth of these needs can make even the most seasoned leader sweat!

The Unicorn Dilemma

Too often, organizations rely on a single hire to wear every creative and technical hat. But the truth? That’s asking for a “unicorn” — an impossible task. The level of skill, focus, and expertise required for just one of the areas above is significant. Expecting someone to understand them all is unrealistic and leads to frustration.

Furthermore, the creative work we admire from today’s big brands is almost always the product of expert teams — and often multiple top-tier agencies — representing an investment of millions of dollars!

So, Where Do You Start?

Before you become overwhelmed by resource allocations and staffing considerations, start simple: just identify your true communications needs and desired outcomes. Take inventory of everything listed above. Be honest about where you stand.

We know it’s hard out there for growing organizations, so we put together a FREE video resource to help you get started. Follow this link to answer a few questions, and we’ll send it to you right away.