In the context of a business, business communication constitutes topics like brand management, consumer behavior, public relations, marketing, customer relations, advertising, corporate communication and interpersonal communication. Some of the most effective forms of communication used by businesses to communicate to customers are the use of face-to-face communication where business owners engage themselves in personal discussion with the customers through videoconferencing, for instance. Besides, businesses use emails, social media, meetings, fax, telephone or voicemail and both personalized and impersonalized written messages, reports, letters, memos and conversations (Bizymoms 1).
Internally, a business communicates with its colleagues via the electronic mail, through the company websites, company databases, through face-to-face interactions, phone communications, organizing for meetings, writing an internal memorandum, oral communication in form of letters, or simply through the staff magazines. Some of these methods like email, instant messages and websites allow intended recipients to get real time information (Bizymoms 1).
Over the next 5 years, business communications is likely be in the form of online communications. This form of communication will extremely become very important as most business organizations currently resort to e-commerce on a daily basis. Also, the rapid development of service industries such as insurance companies, and banks particularly will require online communication to communicate orally with their customers and supplies. Companies will effectively use their commercial websites as the major form of communication to customers and business stakeholders. Also, more of videoconferencing and social media will be used (Bizymoms 1).
Some of the advantages of business communications today are that through communication, the business is able to accomplish its objectives and goals in an opportune manner. Besides, it facilitates employee engagement, enhances public relations, enables a company to effectively manage its brand, and also results outstanding customer relations. These are essential for smooth running of the business.
The major disadvantage of business communication today is that some of the communication forms result in an information overload. Business organizations potentially ignore important information while they give a lot of attention to tangential information. A lot of information is communicated from the employees, managers and customers that results in information overload. Inappropriate use of communication can as well distract employees (Bizymoms 1).
Work cited.
Bizymoms™. Business communication.2012. Web. 5 November 2012. <http://www.bizymoms.com/computers-and-technology/business-communication.html>