Dr. Djuwari
In social media, like Facebook, we often find the account holders without identity. No photos of the owners, no identity related to their position, and the like. Unfortunately, they may add us to be friends. We agree that we may not be able to confirm due to the unclear identities.
Today, we have lived in the digital society that requires a strategy for a good communication. Therefore, an effective communication plays a pivotal role, not only in business but also in other areas. As suggested by Bharadwaj, Anandhi, et al., (2013), based on their research, companies must digitalize all the products and services and the information around about them.
In that situation, as being the members of the digital society, it is important to see the strategy how to communicate in the digital society today. As we navigate the complex digital society, a well-crafted strategy for digital communication becomes imperative. We need to have it for fostering connectivity, transparency, and engagement. In this case, we can explore the key principles in a communication in the era of digital communication.
United States Agency for International Development (USAID) has its global program. Their pillar 1, for example, is related to digital infrastructure and adoption. This global program reminds us of the importance of adopting the digital society and being the members of it. We cannot avoid from being this digital society and therefore, we must have a strategy.
First of all, we have to understand the digital ecosystem. In this way, we engage across various platforms, from social media to messaging apps. In communication, we have to identify comprehensively where and who our target audience is. Then we can tailor communication efforts accordingly. It is not only in a business but also in a daily communication in social media.
We have to identify the target communication (individuals or groups) behavior, preferences, and trends. From this, we have got a better step as we can utilize these data-driven decision-to ensure that communication efforts remain relevant and impactful.
The next step is building trust and credibility. In this step, we try to have a transparent communication. We all agree that the digital society requires transparency. We must be open. Do not close our identity in social media, whether it in Facebook, Instagram, tweeters, and the likes. The more open, the more successful in the digital communication. When we close our identity and especially with no personal photos, it tends to be considered fake accounts. In other words, all must be open and honest in all communication efforts,. We have to address concerns and provide accurate information.
After we create our social media account honestly and transparently, we can also support that transparency by being authentic. Authenticity resonates with audiences. We realize that when we humanize digital communication, we can do it by showcasing the people behind the brand or organization, if we communicate with the people of a certain organization. The key term is that authenticity fosters a sense of connection and relationship.
Transparency can be enhanced by having a visual appeal. In the digital era, visuals are powerful communicators. Therefore, we should invest in visually appealing content. This can be done by such as info graphics, videos, and images, to capture attention and convey messages effectively. All must be the real documents about us or our organization. And, be updated, and never be absent for s long period of time for making our social media accounts kept in mid by all the target audients we have communicated.
However, in a digital society, we often concern about cyber security and privacy. These are the things that we need to care of. We can implement robust security measures to protect sensitive information and earn the trust of our audience.
Besides all the above, we also need to be complied with regulations. We must stay abreast of evolving digital regulations and ensure compliance. Adhering to data protection laws reinforces the commitment to ethical communication practices. Besides that, we have to try hard to embrace the emerging technologies it evolves.
Dr. Djuwari is an Associate Professor at Universitas Nahdlatul Ulama Surabaya (UNUSA) Indonesia. Surabaya, the editor of some research journals in the Philippines and Indonesia. He is also a journalist in some newspapers in Indonesia; the President of International Association of Scholarly Publishers, Editors, and Reviewers (IASPER, business owner of Djuw Café.
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