On this website you will find information, best practices, and suggestions for your communication during these challenging times. Please reach out to the Trimble Ag Marketing Communication team via ag_marcom@trimble.com if you have any further questions or specific regional requests we can assist you with. We are here to help you! 

Stay healthy! 
Trimble Ag Team

Best Practices for COVID-19 Communication

• Think about which audience you are dealing with, how important they are and what interests they have. Typical audience groups are employees, customers, service providers and partners, as well as banks, government authorities, legal and financial advisors.
  
  
• First inform internally: Communicate instructions and expected behavior to your employees. This includes, for example, a message that focuses on safety, transparency and direction of the business during these times. 
  
  
• Proactively inform your customers and other stakeholders about your accessibility with the message “Open for Business”.
  
  
• Do not wait for results. Inform your audiences in understandable, target-specific language about the current status, challenges, solutions and perspectives. In this way you avoid uncertainty and open up dialogue. Keep a regular cadence for your communication. 
  
  
• Remember that you are always dealing with people. All these people are in an exceptional situation and are most likely as worried, overwhelmed and insecure as you are. Show empathy, closeness and relatability in your communication with customers. 
  
  
• Important: Only communicate reliable information and findings. Position yourself as a trustworthy partner by avoiding rumours and speculation. 

Writing Best Practices for a More Effective Message

• Communication should be clear and easy to understand by your target audience.
  
  
• Structure communications with bullets and paragraphs to enhance readability. 
  
  
• Phrase communication in a positive way. Focus on what you can do rather than what you cannot do! State that you are trying your best to make it work.  
  
  
• Reinforce your partnership and highlight the support you are able to provide your relevant groups (customers) during these tough times.
  
  
• Express understanding and solidarity as we are all going through this together.
  
  
• Include some details about your internal safety measures at your company to convey credibility and security to consumers (e.g. increased sanitation in office, work-from-home, remote working technologies, etc.).
  
  
• Answer the most relevant questions your target audience has in advance. 
  
  
• End your communication with a summarizing and motivating message: “We will get through this together. We are looking forward to seeing you in person soon.” 
  
  
• Heads up! Communication needs to be based on facts. Only share information from trusted sources like the World Health Organization (WHO) or other government health agencies. Be extremely sceptical with news from other sources.
  
  
• Last but not least: Ask somebody to proofread your message. An extra pair of eyes is always helpful to prevent any misunderstanding or spelling mistakes in your communication.
  
  

Use some of the following channels to stay in touch with your target audiences and share information:

• Information on website
• Email 
• Email signature 
• Social media posts 
• Video message 
• Video conferencing
• Phone calls
• WhatsApp group

Materials that You can Adapt for Your Business:

Additional Resources