Marketing Communications strategy is the strategy used by a company or individual to reach their target market through various types of communication. It includes your message (what is to be said), the medium (where it is to be said), and the target (to whom your message is reaching).

You might be wondering : What's a marketing communications strategy that always works, even without a budget?

Build relationships with journalists to get press coverage, guest posts, and backlinks.

Marketing Communications or public relations is the 'Promotion' bit of the "4ps of marketing" you might have learned during your university days (product, place, price, promotion).

"Marketing Communications Strategy" is a mouthful , most people just shorten it to "Public Relations" which essentially uses online channels and software to identify relevant journalists, pitch them suitable stories and earn free media coverage.

Marketing communication strategy goes without saying; it is an interdisciplinary activity requiring multiple skill sets and coordination between departments.

Earlier on, marketing, advertising, publicity, and sales were all seen as watertight compartments with functional linkages between them.

Marketing Communications is the channels such as television,  radio, digital content, apps, social media, messaging tools, games, events, publications, mail, graphics, public speaking and meeting to achieve marketing objectives.

The following are illustrative examples of marketing communications:

1. Public Relations : Managing communication with stakeholders and the media. For example, releasing news that generates publicity.

· 2. Product Launch : Generating media and customer interest in a product launch . For example, orchestrating a product release event in conjunction with an industry conference.

·  3. Promotion : Generating demand for products and services, For example, regularly producing and releasing promotional content to a video channel.

4. Brand : Building brand reputation and brand awareness. For example , actively engaging customers in social media.

·         Advertising : Reaching a target audience with advertising partners to support goals such as demand generation and brand awareness.

·  5. Sales :  Generating sales leads, customer needs analysis, proposals, negotiation and closing are all processes of communication. For example , attending industry conferences to generate leads.

· 6.Customer Service : Handling customer inquiries and providing customers with service.

·   7.  Customer Relationships : Developing customer relationships to support goals as increasing customer lifetime value. For example, a salesperson who calls major accounts once a quarter to touch base.