I work in social media marketing but know little about it. I Facebook, Instagram a little, and yeah that's about it! But I do run a pretty tight ship in my world, and one thing I’ve learned in 60 years is that clear communication can save you a whole lot of stress—whether you're planning a marketing campaign or trying to coordinate a family dinner with five different opinions and one group chat that no one checks.
Now, I might not know all the ins and outs of reels, stories, and ad targeting, but I do know how quickly things can fall apart when people don’t say what they mean—or don’t say anything at all.
So, if you're working in this fast-paced marketing world (or managing a team that does), let’s talk about why clear communication is everything.
Start with Clear Expectations
Nothing derails a project faster than people assuming someone else is handling it. Make responsibilities clear, include qualified expectations, and check what's being done. Don't assume. I hate that saying about what assuming does, but really...not cool.
Did you ever think your spouse was paying a bill & they thought you were, and well, you can see where this is going. Next thing you know we have to make a double payment! again...not cool.
Use a System Everyone Can See
If everyone’s just relying on memory, Post-its, or 3 a.m. Slack messages (what is that anyway?), it’s a recipe for disaster. You need a system. Project management tools like Trello or Asana (don’t ask me how to use them, but I know they work) help keep tasks visible and moving.
In my world, it’s color-coded calendars and shared to-do lists. Same idea. When people can see what’s going on and what’s coming next, they stop stepping on each other’s toes—or worse, missing deadlines entirely.
Check In. Briefly. Regularly.
A weekly check-in doesn’t have to be a big production. Even a 10-minute chat can catch problems before they become problems. A quick pulse check: Are we good on next week’s content? Can I help with anything? What's causing the delay, and what can we do to elleviate the holdup.
Know When to Hold a Meeting, Send a Text or Email, and When to Call
Not everything needs to be a meeting, and not every update should be buried in a 27-message thread. The best teams agree on when to text, when to call, and when to just shoot a quick email.
The bigger point is to know your client! What do they want? How do they communicate? Know what value they give to different aspects of their business. After all, you really work for them, right? Don't try to force them to do it your way. Nobody likes that!
Keep Clients in the Loop (Without Overwhelming Them)
You don’t need to tell clients every time you update a spreadsheet—but don’t ghost them either. A simple recap or a “Here’s what’s coming up next week” message helps build trust and prevents that awkward “Just checking in…” email from them when they haven’t heard from you in a while. Some clients will want to know every move you make until they feel comfortable trusting you - others just trust right off the bat & don't really want you bothering them.
Think: concise, helpful, professional. You’re not writing a novel—just showing them that things are handled. It's like the saying, "I just want a piece of cake, I don't wanna know how you made it!"
Wrap-Up
I may not know what goes into running a viral campaign, but I know what makes people feel confident in the team they’re working with: communication that’s clear, respectful, and consistent.
So whether you're managing a business, a marketing team, or just trying to keep your dog from eating socks (Bruno, I’m looking at you), the principle’s the same—keep people in the know, and everything runs smoother.
