Channel of communication

Communication channels represent the multitude of ways through which a message can be transmitted from a sender to a receiver, these communication channels are extremely diverse, they can be online or offline.

Type of communication channels

Communication is essential for collaboration between humans and good teamwork. Without communication, an organization can’t optimally work. Throughout history the methods of communication were changed very fast, from physical letters that were sent and received over a long period to a virtual letter that can be sent in a few seconds, saving time and money. There are a lot of communication channels, and the most important ones are:

• Face-to-face conversation refers to communication between two or more persons who are in the same place. Is the easiest channel of communication because the person can understand each other very easily and see the facial expressions, through facial expressions people can understand what others are thinking and what they want to say.
• Video calling is one of the most used during the Covid-19 pandemic times because it allows users to see each other and hear without being in the same place, they can be miles away, and the information is transmitted live, like face-to-face communication.
• Audio calling is one of the oldest channels of communication made, allowing users to hear each other through the phones. This channel of communication stays at the base of the modern channel of communication because was the first one and the one that help the world to develop into modern society. Before audio calling was invented, communication was inefficient because people who were sending letters were obligated to wait weeks for a response, after audio calling was invented, they need to wait a few seconds for a response.
• Email is one of the most used communication channels these days, through this channel official information can be transmitted or documents can be signed remotely.
• Social media has become and is becoming more and more popular every year, through these sites both formal and informal messages are sent, and most messages sent on social media are informal ones.
• Blogs are a communication channel, informal information about various social topics is transmitted, through blogs, users can express their opinion in connection with certain topics.

The communication channels are divided into 3 types: formal, informal, and unofficial.

Formal communication channels are the most used in companies, with those channels the companies can properly work.

This type of communication includes the exchange of information such as the goals, policies, and procedures of the organization. Informal communication channels are used to deliver business information but in a more relaxed way, between teammates. Most of the information is delivered through communication face-to-face or email.

The unofficial communication channel is the most used in a company. This channel is the friendliest way of communication and is used by the employee. They can discuss information about their work or personal life, this type of communication is used during the teambuilding.

Communication Channels in the marketing area

The marketing department is one of the most important departments of one company, through this department, the company, can reach its target labor and become more and more known in the marketplace. In a marketing department, the workers are using all communication channels to make the company more and more known and to sell their products. The most used communication channels in this department are advertisers and teleshopping.

Advertisers are the most used ones and the ones where the information can be reached by the consumer easier, in this communication channel, the company is using more than one type of memory (visual, auditive, etc). Teleshopping is a communication channel that was used during 90’, in those times was one of the most popular forms of communication with clients, in our days this channel of communication is still used but not so often because of the new channels of communication that were discovered.

According to Harris and Nelson (2008), the most used channel of communication is listening, this channel is consuming more than half of our communication time, and most companies will not invest in this channel of communication because of the studies that demonstrated the inefficiency of this channel, the studies show the fact people are not listeners. To be efficient, a company must have all communication channels so that information is transmitted in real-time to all departments, this type of efficiency requires time and money. Things that most companies are prepared to offer, offering these two components will bring benefits in the short and long term.

In the 21st century, the most used methods of communication are online, the Internet facilitates this. With the help of the Internet and social networks, the costs are minimal and the benefits are maximal The most negative aspect of communication channels is misinformation and fake news. Misinformation is a type of message with errors sent unintentionally, through these messages the proper functioning of the company can be affected. Fake news is messages whose content is false, this type of communication channel is often used for negative purposes, often this news is used to create panic among people.

Footnotes

Channel of communication — recommended articles

Benefits of technology in business — Types of communication technology — Digital marketing strategy — Types of business communication — Social media principles — Media advisory — Buzz marketing — Types of social media — Digital media marketing

References

• Gelfert, A. (2018) Fake News: A Definition. Informal Logic.
• Harris, T., Nelson, E. (2008). Theory and Practice in a Global Environment. Scientific Research.
• Lammein, B. (2019). Branding & Advertising and Communication Strategies. University of Bucharest.
• Lunenburg, F. (2010). Formal Communication Channels: Upward, Downward, Horizontal, and External. Focus on colleges, universities and school, volume 4.
• Uysal, M., Wang, Q. (2012). Communication and Channels Systems in Tourism Marketing. Routledge.

Author: Pelivan Vasile