Outsourcing corporate communications to expand organizational reach

Outsourcing corporate communications not only reduces your workload but also contributes to the long-term success of your organization. Let’s explore the benefits of entrusting tasks to an outside consultant or firm, as well as some examples of tasks and projects that can be outsourced.

Benefits of outsourcing

To outsource work, a manager must be able to let go. It’s not always easy to relinquish certain tasks while maintaining a sense of control over your files. However, re-assigning some of your responsibilities will have a positive impact on the achievement of organizational goals, staff engagement and motivation, and even your own well-being!

Contracting out instead of hiring in-house

External communications firms are made up of a variety of communications specialists, people with specific AND complementary expertise (graphic design, copywriting, web development, etc.). The nature of their work requires continuous training to stay on top of the latest trends. In short, their expertise is their livelihood!

By adding a different perspective to the mix, you maximize your organization’s potential for success while optimizing your work!

Can everything be outsourced? 

Some communications tasks are better handled in-house. However, several activities can be outsourced. It’s simply a matter of establishing clear rules relating to the development and implementation of communications so that everyone knows their role and can work in synergy towards a common goal.

What to delegate 

Here are three possible contexts for delegating or outsourcing communications tasks or projects, with specific examples.

1. Training & Facilitation

Even if your organization has dedicated communications staff, the generalist nature of their assigned duties means that they don’t necessarily have all the expertise they need to excel in every situation. An outside consulting service can help with projects that go beyond your team’s usual responsibilities, or that require some distance.

Here are some examples:

• Facilitating brainstorming activities;
• Small group communications training or one-on-one coaching;
• Workshops helping or consolidating the implementation of new policies or tools within the organization.

2. Strategic Advising

Whether you’re looking to expand your customer base, build customer loyalty, explore new ideas, or improve your communications tools or strategies, outsourcing broadens your organization’s horizons while enriching its methods.

Do you want to lay an effective foundation for communicating a new initiative or launching a campaign? You can outsource the planning component of this type of communications project without making a long-term commitment since its implementation can be managed either by the external firm or by your team.

Here are a few possibilities:

• Creating a communications plan to announce new internal policies and procedures;
• Planning an editorial calendar for your content, identifying the topics to explore further and the best time to share content;
• Improving your audience targeting by creating a persona reference sheet;
• Developing an employer branding strategy to better attract talent to your organization and retain it.

3. Recurring communication tasks

Outsourcing recurring communications activities allows you to reduce your team’s existing workload, integrate additional tasks or tools, or benefit from more specialized expertise. Having a long-term communications partnership ensures editorial consistency over time and a better understanding of your organization for maximum impact.

Implementing and maintaining communication tools that encourage dialogue with your team members contributes to a healthy corporate culture. Outsourcing the development and maintenance of these tools shows how important they are to you.

Internal communications can take the form of employee newsletters, intranet articles, inspiring activities, or informative or collaborative videos.

Find the right external provider to outsource to

Outsourcing your communications means trusting someone who doesn’t necessarily know your organization and isn’t there on a daily basis like your colleagues and employees.

You deserve someone who takes the time to understand your organization, your mission and your reality. And remember, you can always test your synergy with a smaller job before making a long-term commitment.