Tips

Digital Communications: How to Communicate Effectively

The World Wide Web and the introduction of social media sites and several messenger applications made global communication within reach. However, the industry is fast growing and users are developing trends and clichés.

These trends and the constant introduction of new tools make digital communication difficult to beginners. So in this article, we summed up tips that will help beginners get a jumpstart at digital communications.

Be familiar with messenger applications and other communication tools

There is not just one way of communicating via the World Wide Web. For instance, there exist several messenger applications including the Yahoo Messenger, MSN Messenger, and Skype. There are also several email service providers such as Yahoo, Google, Hotmail, and others.

If you want to keep up, you must at least be familiar with the most commonly used ones. For example, if you only familiarized yourself with Yahoo Messenger, you might have a hard time if your employer tells you that he needs to speak with you on Skype.

Know the tools available to you

Almost every available communication tools on the internet do not simply provide message sharing in the form of text. They also feature many other tools that allow you to perform various useful tasks.

For instance, Yahoo Messenger and Facebook chat actually allows you to send documents and other file formats. Most communication tools also allow video conferences. Know these tools and be familiar with them.

Learn the clichés for casual communication

Online communication is mostly ‘casual’ in nature (except in business). And the internet gave birth to new communication clichés and phrase/word shortcuts. People new to online communication might find some of these to be incomprehensible.

Know these clichés and shortcuts and be familiar with them. This way, you will understand fully what others on the internet are saying. Learn what shortcuts such as LOL, BRB, GTG, ROFL, and other shortcuts mean. 

Learn the formalities of business communication

But then again, communication clichés and shortcuts popularized by majority of internet users are not applicable or appropriate in some situations. Take note that the internet is also a venue of business communications. This sector requires formality.

When doing business or conducting transactions online for example, it is necessary that you apply the correct structure email writing.

Use appropriate devices

There also tools and equipment that will help you communicate more effectively via the World Wide Web. The most basic include speakers, headphones, microphones, and webcams.

You should learn how to use these tools because they will make things easier. Also, most communication applications on the internet will probably not work without these tools.