Kaylin graduated from college in June. For the last three years she successfully ran a small part-time business while attending school

Question

Her business arranged for the delivery of personalized birthday cakes and other gifts to students in her school. Since many of these students were from different states or countries, this service provided a way for their family and friends back home to celebrate the occasion. Kaylin used social media like Facebook and Twitter to remind potential customers of upcoming birthdays and other gift-giving occasions, like holidays or campus events (care package for mid-term exams, picnic packs to celebrate the arrival of spring after a snowy winter, etc.). Describe some of the communication issues that Kaylin might have faced while running her college business.
What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

Answer: Students' answers may vary. For a small business such as hers, Kaylin would not be in a position to advertise her business in traditional media outlets, so she would need to communicate to her potential customers directly to let them know about her services. She would have to communicate clearly what she was providing and what steps customers would need to take to order from her. Social media like Facebook and Twitter would be useful tools, but some of her target audience (parents, grandparents, etc.) might not be familiar or comfortable with these means of communication. In cases where the family and friends of the student were non-native English speakers, she might also face language barriers. Additionally, she would have to communicate clearly and carefully, to avoid ambiguous language and semantic barriers. She would have to be strategic, professional, and adaptable in her communications in order to be successful in this venture.