7 tricks for building digital capacity in your communications team

It’s no secret that most communications teams are overloaded, which makes it difficult to focus on professional development opportunities. When major deadlines lurk on the horizon, PD usually gets pushed to the wayside.

However, comms professionals also have to keep up with the constantly-evolving online world, which means education is crucial in order to maintain digital capacity.

That’s why we created a list of convenient and efficient ways to keep your team up-to-date on all the latest digital communications trends:

1. Read a journal

Marketing journals are in-depth, trustworthy sources of information that every communications professional should check out – they contain tons of research, stats and updates that will help inform your communications strategy. There are many journals out there, so it’s best to try a few out!

2. Take a course

With a huge array of courses available both online and offline, you can study from anywhere! There’s truly a course for every aspect of communications and marketing; it’s easy to find one that suits your needs and interests. For in-person courses, try checking out local communications and marketing agencies – they may run their own courses, or at least have recommendations. If you go the digital route, try websites like Udemy or check out online college courses.

3. Attend a webinar

Signing up for a webinar is like attending an in-person course but better – you don’t need to leave your house, and they usually only run for an hour. Many communications professionals, organizations and brands host webinars on a regular basis. Plus, if you’re not available for the live stream, most webinars send out video recordings afterwards.

4. Download a white paper

While many organizations focus only on creating their own white papers, there’s much to be gained from reading external white papers as well! Besides being a great educational asset, white papers can also provide fodder for your social media posts, blog posts, video content and more – just make sure to credit the original source!

5. Subscribe to a newsletter/blog

Another way to keep up-to-date on the world of communications is to subscribe to your favourite marketing agency’s newsletter or blog. You’ll receive regular updates, thought pieces and industry information that will fuel your own marketing efforts and help to increase digital capacity. There are tons of great communications brands out there – get started by checking out their blog content.

6. Listen to a podcast

There’s a reason everyone’s obsessed with podcasts; they’re incredibly convenient and entertaining. Everyone is short on time, but you can enjoy a podcast episode while stuck in traffic, walking to work, or even just hanging out at home. Basically, they’re a multitasker’s dream come true – and there are tons of options for communications professionals.

7. Find and follow a thought leader

Thought leaders are industry professionals who’ve gained a following online – they’re the ones people trust to provide accurate information and start conversations on industry issues. Find communications thought leaders via Google or social media – you can use hashtags to narrow your search. Chances are, your favourite thought leaders have already created many of the resources included on this list, including podcasts, blog posts and webinars!

 

There are endless options for communicators who want to increase their digital capacity, but if you’re looking for in-depth help with your organization’s communications strategy, give us a call!