Planning your communications strategically is important because it saves time, money, and stress. If you have a strategic communication plan, you know what it is you need to do and why. Here’s a guide to planning your communications in three sections.

I know a thing or two about virtual work and collaboration. I’ve had a decade of experience figuring out how to create connections when I couldn’t be in the same room with my colleagues and my team. Throughout that time I’ve tested many virtual work tools and team-building techniques and identified and implemented ideas that helped bridge the virtual gap.

My milkman can teach us some lessons on welcoming a new customer (or donor). The thank you letters that arrived with my first delivery were so simple, but they made a big impression. It was clear that this company wanted me to feel like I was a part of their community, and they succeeded. I got the feeling that I mattered.

Very few of us get invited to speak based on our name alone. You’re invited to speak because you know something. You have experience with a topic, and maybe you’ve spoken about it before.

Once the general topic or subject of your talk is nailed down, get to work answering these three questions: