
Effective Communication through the Internet
A world without communication cannot be called a world at all. This is because communication forms a basic part of life. One of the basic ways in which ideas and feelings are shared is through communication. Words need to be said. Feelings have to be expressed. Information has to be disseminated. Analysis has to be made. Messages have to be passed across from one link to another. All these are made possible through communication!
Right from centuries ago, the need for communication has been felt; hence, there have been several methods in place to communicate with people both near and far-ranging from the use of word of mouth, gunshots and gong-carrying town criers to writing letters. As man grew, he also evolved into using hand-written letters that had to travel long distances to the use of landlines which could be used from even very far locations with no network coverage. And then, mobile phones rolled in. It was from here that the positive twist in communication between humans began.

Back in the late 1990s and the 21st century now, communication and the internet are very much intertwined. There’s hardly any sector of the dissemination of information and communication aspect that doesn’t make use of the internet. In other words, the internet is now a significant communication tool used for social interaction! According to callhippo.com, in the fast-growing population of the world, there are over 4.95 billion users of the internet in the world. That shows how important the internet has grown to be in our everyday conversations. What are the interesting features of the internet that has made it the giant, sole tool for communication?
The first and perhaps most important is the fact that the internet breaks all forms of geographical barriers and language barricades. Imagine what it would cost to travel all the way down to Australia just to deliver a piece of information! Regardless of time zones, locations and language being spoken, the internet has made it very easy to send messages in the twinkle of an eye to distant locations.
When using the internet to communicate, the speed at which data and information are sent is also unbelievable. At a click, messages can be passed across to people. Not just one person, but millions of people at the same time. Thus, larger coverage of people is an additional advantage while communicating with the internet. Not only is this, but using the internet as a means of communication is cost-effective. Ever thought of how much it would cost to reach people at various distances several times during the day? Enormous, right? But the internet makes it easier to reach people via several channels in various locations through audio, visual and written formats.
Now, there are several modes of communication through which we can use the internet to communicate. We’d be examining a few together.

The very first and which is often used by business owners and professionals is Electronic mail. It is widely known as “e-mail.” In fact, the projected number of active users of email by the year 2023 is estimated to be around 4.3 billion! E-mail allows the exchanging of messages and files as well. It can be sent to multiple people at the same time as well. It is easy to use, free and flexible and has quick sending attributes. So, for information exchange, and staying in touch professionally and socially as a person, electronic mail is a great tool.
Moving on to the next, instant messaging is one of the modes of communication through the internet. It is an online chat technology that allows people to communicate through the use of messages that are delivered immediately. It reduces the stress and the needs to make calls when information is urgently needed.
Also, the important, most widely used, popular internet communication method is the use of social networking tools. The most common social networking platforms are Facebook, Twitter, WhatsApp and LinkedIn. These four are very instrumental in the world of today. They have so many functions for the digital world now. They help to connect business owners and customers. They help in redirecting traffic to landing pages. They enhance advertising, promotions and market research. It is used for brand awareness as well. Facebook has features which encourage the use of virtual groups and also the sharing of social experiences. Twitter is known for brief conversations and linking up with top influential people. LinkedIn is more or less a business version of Facebook which side professional networking and job recommendations.
Successful relationships are mostly determined by effective communication be it personal, social or professional. Now, because there are no physical meetings when the internet is involved with communication, it is quite easy to get misunderstood or be misunderstood ourselves. There is a need to know the dos and don’ts of communication through the internet.
Something you shouldn’t ever forget is your netiquette. What are netiquettes you might ask? It is the framework of accepted behaviours to be followed while communicating virtually. There are several rules classified as netiquettes. For example, be sure you don’t appear rude, arrogant or odd. Be polite as you would be even in physical meetings. Acknowledging other people’s decisions is important as well. Greetings and appropriate salutations as deserved should be absolutely adhered to. Your netiquettes while communicating with people determined your stance with them. Don’t forget that.
Furthermore, always use clear and concise language when communicating. Clarity of intent and purpose of communication must be properly outlined in your emails, messages and tone of language in video chats. Don’t use complex words. Say more with fewer words. Avoid bombarding people with excessive messages. Break up your texts as well. Do not ever harass, bully or stalk others all in the name of communication.
Whilst communicating, ensure you are providing thorough responses. Don’t evade questions. Answer the specific whats, whys, whos, whens and wheres appropriately. Check out your sentence structure, punctuation errors and other redundant information that should be removed. For sentence structures, do not use ALL CAPS. Avoid the use of ambiguous words or technical terms that can only be understood by a certain class of people too.
The last which isn’t less important in any way is none other than these; be yourself! Don’t just what you won’t say in person. Build a favourable personality online. Be interested in people’s cause while still respecting their privacy. Don’t try to be what you’re not. People love honesty and integrity even when communicating virtually. Finally, the internet has made the world a global village, connecting us all like the million neurons in just one brain. Maximizing out the benefits and opportunities it comes along with is highly beneficial. Effective communication through the internet is only made possible if you’re indeed intentional about it.
by Victoria Idowu for The Editorial Team, God is Love Educational Foundation
1 Comment
Communication is key !!!