Getting around the postal strike

By LBV

21 Oct 2009

Q: The postal strike looks like it may drag on for some time. How do I avoid losing touch with my customers?

A: Ok so good old Royal Mail is having some issues. But should this mean the end of customer communication until the postie gets on his or her bike again? Maybe once, but no longer can consumers and businesses be held to communications ransom, as they might have been just a decade ago.

For companies that rely heavily on physical distribution this is going to be a difficult time – but for the rest of us there really is no excuse. Maybe this is just the opportunity we should all seize to stand back and look at how we communicate effectively with our customers and perhaps force us out of our comfort zones. With so many channels of communication at our finger tips, surely we should all be creative enough to get our message through – and whatever happened to the good old traditional methods such as telephone, and dare I say it face to face?

We have the ability to do so much more with our communication these days – but do we really explore its full potential?

In a formal sense, an effective communications plan should consist of many methods of contact. An email, followed with a telephone call, followed with subliminal marketing communications through social media such as Twitter and Facebook.

The internet is the communication medium of choice over snail mail for many already and E Newsletters are growing in popularity thanks in no small part to their cost effectiveness over traditional print and post. Recent studies established beyond all reasonable doubt that Internet advertising spend is now unassailably greater than TV advertising, demonstrating that traditional methods no longer dominate the communications landscape.

So let’s get creative; pick up the telephone, go out and see your customers, email them a newsletter, and if you’re not already there – get networking socially. Keep your website up to date, arrange your own event to get face-to face with customers and prospects in large numbers (invite them via email), hold a video conference/skype call, exchange documents online using one of the many sharing sites, pay your clients online – ask them to pay you online – come on – this is the 21st century!

Snail mail is still incredibly important to us, but no longer should we put our heads in our hands when nothing drops onto the proverbial mat or someone tapes up the post box. The Postal strike is no excuse to stop communicating – but it could be the best reason you’ll ever have for embracing new communication channels, and once you’re there you’ll never look back.
 

Colin Sneath, Director of Stage9 Marketing and Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Marketing
 

Enjoyed this? Read more from LBV

Latest news

1

Call to recognise the ‘Now Generation’ of Lancashire leaders Sub36 event

Call to recognise the ‘Now Generation’ of Lancashire leaders

15 Jul 2025

2

Maya Ellis MP hails A582 upgrade funding as major step forward in tackling transport chaos Maya Ellis MP photo

Maya Ellis MP hails A582 upgrade funding as major step forward in tackling transport chaos

15 Jul 2025

3

TSS announce leadership appointments to drive continued growth James Austin, Alistair Bradley and Michael Collum

TSS announce leadership appointments to drive continued growth

15 Jul 2025

4

Date revealed for opening of entries for Red Rose Awards 2026 Red Rose Awards 2025

Date revealed for opening of entries for Red Rose Awards 2026

14 Jul 2025

5

Northcote celebrates marketing award for the 25th anniversary of Culinary Festival Obsession Northcotes winning awards

Northcote celebrates marketing award for the 25th anniversary of Culinary Festival Obsession

14 Jul 2025

Background image for hub sign up block

LBV Hub

Leverage Lancashire Business View platforms

Post your news
Post your events
Post your offers
Build your network
Improve your SEO
Gain coverage in the magazine
Sign-up
Events
LBV123 July/August Launch Event
Lancashire Business View magazine launch
Networking
16 Jul 2025

LBV123 July/August Launch Event

Burnley College University Courses Building, Burnley, BB12 0AN

08:30 - 10:30

Lancashire Built Environment Conference 2025
BEC 315 X 315 Px
Networking
25 Sep 2025

Lancashire Built Environment Conference 2025

Blackpool Football Club, Blackpool, FY1 6HX

08:30 - 13:00

CMI Level 5 Management and Leadership Course
UCLanAerialCampus.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Seminars
21 Feb 2025 - 21 Feb 2026

CMI Level 5 Management and Leadership Course

Preston Campus, Preston , PR1 2HE

09:00 - 17:00

CMI Level 5 Project Management Course
UCLanAerialCampus.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Seminars
21 Feb 2025 - 21 Feb 2026

CMI Level 5 Project Management Course

Preston Campus, Preston, PR1 2HE

08:00 - 17:00

Shaping Preston's future by remembering its past
1750160034867.png.png
LBV Hub Networking
16 Jul 2025 - 16 Jul 2025

Shaping Preston's future by remembering its past

Society1, Coworking Space, Preston, PR1 3LT

18:00 - 20:30

The Business Network Central & East Lancashire
LBV Hub Networking
17 Jul 2025 - 17 Jul 2025

The Business Network Central & East Lancashire

Mytton Fold, Langho, BB6 8AB

11:30 - 14:15

Chamber Summer BBQ
LBV Hub Social
17 Jul 2025 - 17 Jul 2025

Chamber Summer BBQ

The Borough, Dalton Square, Lancaster, LA1 1PP

17:30 - 20:00

BNI presents Lancashire Speed Networking
1.png.png
LBV Hub Networking
17 Jul 2025 - 17 Jul 2025

BNI presents Lancashire Speed Networking

Chorley Football Club, Chorley, PR7 3DU

16:00 - 19:00

Preston Tech Connection: Web3 is Dead. Or is It?
July Longer Banner.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Networking
29 Jul 2025 - 29 Jul 2025

Preston Tech Connection: Web3 is Dead. Or is It?

Society1, Coworking Space, Preston, PR1 3LT

18:00 - 19:30

Preston Freelancer Meet-Up: July
Longer July Banner.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Networking
31 Jul 2025 - 31 Jul 2025

Preston Freelancer Meet-Up: July

Society1, Coworking Space, Preston, PR1 3LT

10:00 - 11:30

Advantage: AI – A Workshop for Business Leaders – August 14th
Navy--Event Tile.png.png
LBV Hub Seminars
14 Aug 2025 - 14 Aug 2025

Advantage: AI – A Workshop for Business Leaders – August 14th

Door4 Office, Burnley Wharf, Burnley, BB11 1JG

09:00 - 12:00

The Business Network Central & East Lancashire
LBV Header (24).png.png
LBV Hub Networking
21 Aug 2025 - 21 Aug 2025

The Business Network Central & East Lancashire

Mytton Fold, Langho, BB6 8AB

11:30 - 14:15

Advertise with us

Reaching 50,000 members, our print, digital and event platforms offer a fantastic way to raise your business profile and help you grow.

Find out more LBV122 Online Graphic
Subscribe now

Weekly news bulletin