Corporate communication refers to how organizations exchange information with audiences. But did you know there are different types of corporate communication? In this guide, learn more about how organizations communicate internally and externally and discover how a professional video hosting platform can make information exchange easier in various scenarios.
Corporate Communication Types, Explained
At the broadest level, corporate communication can be internal or external and formal or informal. Here is a brief explanation of these different types of corporate communication:
Internal vs. External Communication
Internal corporate communication refers to communication that takes place inside an organization. It happens when companies exchange information internally, allowing employees to do their jobs better. Businesses don't share internal communications with people outside the company because those communications might include sensitive information.
External corporate communication, on the other hand, refers to communication between an organization and someone in the outside world. It happens when companies exchange information externally with customers, clients, stakeholders, suppliers, partners, and the media.
Related Reading: Why You Should Create Internal Communication Videos
Formal vs. Informal Communication
Formal corporate communication happens through pre-defined or official channels. Typically, this communication is written on documents and follows a 'chain of command,' where a business takes several steps to communicate a message.
Informal corporate communication, however, happens through unofficial channels and can happen at any time. Typically, this communication is oral and less time-consuming than exchanging information formally.
Related Reading: What You Need To Host Internal Communication Training at Work
What are the Four Different Types of Corporate Communication?
Corporate communication can be broken down even further into four distinct types:
- Internal formal communication
- Internal informal communication
- External formal communication
- External informal communication
Employees use these different types of corporate communication to convey information, depending on the scenario.
Internal Formal Communication
Internal formal communication is the first of the four different types of corporate communication used by organizations in various niches. It can travel:
- Upward: When employees exchange information with management
- Downward: When management exchanges information with employees
Internal formal communication helps businesses convey information through pre-defined routes. For example, a manager might communicate workplace policies and procedures in an employee handbook, which HR teams give to new hires during the orientation process. Other examples of internal formal communication include newsletters and emails. Businesses can document and control each of these communication methods.
Learning and development corporate videos are another example of internal formal communication. Managers can create non-advertisement-based videos for training and orientation and improve workplace productivity and skills development. These managers can then upload videos to an enterprise-level hosting platform and share those videos with employees. Internal videos are formal in nature because they are available for future reference and abide by a clear set of rules.
Viostream is an enterprise-level platform that lets you host, share, and manage internal formal communication videos with employees. The tool provides world-class security, analytics, and video management features, helping you communicate internal messages to the right people. Start your free trial now and learn why you can trust Viostream.
Internal Informal Communication
Internal informal communication is the second of the four different types of corporate communication. It enables everyone within an organization to communicate with each other without any formalities. An example of internal informal communication might be a CEO talking to a new hire about a particular topic at the water cooler in an office.
This communication type is important in the workplace because it improves employee morale and encourages a sense of belonging.
External Formal Communication
External formal communication is another one of the different types of corporate communication and involves exchanging information externally using pre-defined channels and routes. For example, a business might communicate a new acquisition to the media via a press release on their website.
Other examples of external formal communication include whitepapers, case studies, brochures, and flyers. Like internal formal communication, businesses can control and document all of these methods.
You can also use corporate videos for external formal communication. A manager might reveal an important company announcement in a corporate video and share it on their social media account, for example. The video communicates the message the manager wants to convey to stakeholders, customers, and the media.
Using a platform like Viostream can make it easy to streamline external formal communication. Features like branded video galleries categorize and organize videos, while social embeds enable users to share content across platforms and target large audiences.
Related Reading: What Are External Communications?
External Informal Communication
External informal communication is the last of the different types of corporate communication. It involves sharing information externally with journalists, clients, and partners through non-official channels such as the telephone and social media direct messaging systems.
This type of communication can be beneficial for quick information exchange without formalities. For example, a manager might want to tell the media about an internal development without officially announcing it through a press release or corporate video.
Final Word About the Different Types of Corporate Communication
The different types of corporate communication listed above all serve a specific purpose when exchanging information internally and externally. Choose the right communication methods for your business and improve the way you convey information to customers, clients, employees, stakeholders, and the media.
Viostream is a trustworthy platform that lets you create corporate videos for internal or external purposes, helping you streamline your content management strategy. Start your free trial now.
.svg){kind=icon}
Continue reading
