Recently, we examined the last year and a half of communications for Gallery Direct. We’ve explored how we have utilized social media, blogging, press releases, search engine marketing, strategic partnerships, emails, packaging, advertisements and the like; and as 2011 begins, we find ourselves in need of a full-fledged Communications Department. We must do a better job of explaining, who we are and how we fit into your world. Not that we haven’t done a decent job of communicating with the public, but that’s not what we’re about around here. Our yard stick is extraordinary efforts and outstanding results.
In addition, as we have grown into a larger organization, we also find we haven’t done a good job of communicating with each other. We run promotions without giving the production floor the heads-up. The Customer Care Department is often times unaware Marketing has set a fuse. Worse yet, many of our folks don’t know about the new fine art products we have launched; or how we’ve created this super special company, which over ten-plus years has brought real fine art into the living spaces of the entire world by making artwork everyone can afford. This begs the question, if we aren’t doing a good job of educating ourselves on the intrinsic awesomeness that is Gallery Direct, how can we expect the public-at-large to ever know?
Examples of amazing things everyone should know about us, but probably don’t
In addition to framed paper and canvas wall art, we can create artwork on any surface: metal, mirror, acrylic.
We launched a new sister site, Pop Gamut. Users can upload their photos and turn these into wall art.
We dropped a really cool archive of Americana art from the hollows of the Library of Congress.
We acquired a slick Illustration artwork collection from Eastern Europe.
We released a rare, vintage Asian art cache.
These are just a few of the things the newly formed Communications Department will correct. The examples above fall under the realm of external communication. The team will also be responsible for all internal communication and encouraging company culture, such as
Notices to the corporate team regarding any company matter.
Regular announcement of company promotions to our customer-base. Keeping the company in the “know.”
Milestone announcements, such as new website launches and goal attainment.
Coordination of company social events for both on and off site gatherings.
Assist in any culture building activities, including a peer recognition program, charitable events and green initiatives.
When you think about it, what is communication anyway? How we see it: communication is about promoting connections to ourselves and to the world-at-large. It’s a tall order, but we’re excited to get started.