Corporate Communications

What is Corporate Communications?

Corporate communications is strategic corporate communication as a whole. It bundles an organization's internal and external communication into a unified presence aligned with goals and values.

Corporate Communications in Detail

Corporate communications comprises all of a company's communicative activities – from press and public relations through internal communication, leadership communication, and investor relations to crisis communication. The aim is a consistent image internally and externally: all messages pay into identity, values, and strategic goals. The basis is a clear communication strategy with defined messages, target groups, and channels. Corporate communications ensures that a company speaks with one voice, builds reputation, and stays capable of acting in crises. In many organizations it is located at management level, because communication is understood as a strategic function. Central success factors are consistency, credibility, and close interlinking with corporate strategy.

In practice, corporate communications is the bracket that holds all of a company's communication activities together – from PR through internal communication to crisis communication. Its value lies in consistency: all messages pay into identity, values, and strategic goals, so that the company speaks with one voice. The basis is a clear communication strategy with defined messages, target groups, and channels. Because communication is understood as a strategic function, it is located at management level in many organizations. The interlinking of internal and external is important: employees should not learn important things first from the media. Success factors are consistency, credibility, and close connection to corporate strategy.

What is Corporate Communications used for?

Corporate communications steers a company's entire communication strategically: it coordinates internal and external messages, aligns them with values and goals, and ensures a consistent presence with one voice – from PR to crisis communication.

Corporate Communications – Examples in Practice

A corporation coordinates press work, internal communication, and social media around a common strategy. A communications department defines uniform key messages for all channels. In a crisis, corporate communications coordinates all statements centrally.

Corporate Communications: Key Features at a Glance

• Scope: internal and external communication
• Areas: PR, internal communication, crises, investor relations
• Aim: a consistent presence with one voice
• Basis: a clear communication strategy
• Success factor: consistency and credibility

Related Terms

• Public Relations (PR)
• Media Relations
• Internal Communication
• Leadership Communication
• Wording

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Corporate Communications: Frequently Asked Questions

What is corporate communications?

Strategic corporate communication as a whole – the bundling of internal and external communication into a unified presence.

What belongs to corporate communications?

Press and public relations, internal communication, leadership communication, investor relations, and crisis communication – coordinated around a common strategy.

Why is corporate communications important?

Because a consistent, credible presence builds reputation and keeps a company capable of acting in crises – it speaks with one voice.

How does it differ from PR?

PR (public relations) is a part of corporate communications. Corporate communications additionally encompasses all internal and external communication strategically.