Getting everyone on the same page and strengthening employee engagement means you might need to adjust the way your business communicates. How you talk externally is just as important as how you talk on the inside, and the same principles apply too - if your message doesn’t resonate, it won’t be remembered or even opened, and things quickly get slow, messy and confusing.
Why use video for your internal communications?
When you switch your messages to video for internal communication, you’ll engage more employees, get your whole message across at once, and ensure the information you're communicating really gets heard.
Here are three reasons why video is the best way to communicate internally:
1. Videos make information easy to interpret and remember
The brain processes visual information 60,000 times faster than text and the average viewer retains 95% of a message if it’s in video form. Whether it’s a product update or company policy, video is a truly compelling way to get your message across in a way emails often can’t come close to.
2. Employees actually prefer video
79% of employees believe that using screenshots or video would improve their business and 59% of executives would rather watch video than read text. As video-native Gen X and Gen Z enter the workforce and more people work remotely, keeping your communications visual is key to bridging the gap, staying with the times and fostering a sense of community among employees.
3. Video saves time and money
You read that right. Making high-quality videos used to be expensive, meaning only big companies could afford to, but now, there are easy video maker tools like Storykit adopted by small and medium business marketers to make their own videos on the cheap and on the fly. In addition, using videos for things like product updates and onboarding actually saves you time and money in the future, as they can be reused and referred to over and over. In fact, US tax authority IRS reduced their cost of training by 83% in just three years since switching to video-based onboarding.
12 ways you can use video for your internal communications
You don’t have to become a presenter overnight to deliver your internal communications with video. Using ready-made video templates is a quick and easy way to deliver news, updates and memos that resonate with your team. Push them out to your company message boards and social media, and gear up for stronger employee engagement.
Here are twelve ways you can start using video in your internal communications plan as soon as today.
1. Rally the troops
Share briefs and your corporation's current goals with your employees and give the roadmap on how you’ll start working towards them. Make sure you stick to one goal per video so that each topic gets the airtime it deserves and nothing is lost. Try the ‘Why we do it’ template.
2. Make policy interesting
When was the last time you actually read a whole handbook? Instead of inspiring a flurry of inbox deletions, bring your policies to life with the power of video. The template ‘From the books’ is simple and to the point. Simply choose a relevant stock image or clip and add a concise but catchy headline. By bringing in visuals, you’ll increase memory retention!
3. Finding new paths
Someone making waves in your company? Film it! Shining a light on coworkers’ successes and potential career paths (and promotions) is key to keeping spirits high. Try using a template like this and focus on one or two employees who have really impressed you. Using reporter-style questions could also be a creative and fun way to give recognition!
4. Motivational journeys from your organization
Try using this video template to motivate and encourage others with an employee’s career journey. Don’t just focus on the typical ladder-climbing - dig deep and show their adventure at your organization. Try framing the video with headings like ‘The Origins’ and ‘Where are you now?’ to keep it engaging.
5. Got questions?
Surveys are usually lost within the piles of emails, junk mails and internal discussions. Dare we say it – they also go purposefully ignored! Using a video format to create internal surveys can ensure they don’t get forgotten again. These videos can be entertaining; asking about employees favorite coffee spots, or they can help make crucial company decisions. By using the ‘Survey’ template, you can do both! Simply find your question, a stock image and you're good to go.
6. Getting to know your colleagues
Breaking the ice doesn’t have to be tedious, and you can bring the same message to every part of your organization who would otherwise miss out on it. Using video can help your employees bond without being put on the spot. These videos should be a light-hearted chance to show the human side of your company. To do this, try using this template.
7. Day-to-day
Making sure everyone starts the day out on the right footing is important. And it’s never been more simple as with a video message. Summarize what the day has in store for your company by using the Morning bell template. You’ll find that your employees are more prepared and organized for what is on the agenda.
8. Quick reminders
Remind your team about important specific events and meetings coming up with the ‘Don’t forget’ template; simply put a headline of the event over a relevant stock image and send it off. Try making it witty and concise, and you’ll be even more memorable.
9. Staying up to date
We’ve covered how to keep everyone on the same page with reminders and day summaries, but what about introducing goings-on at your company in an exciting new way? The ‘This period in’ template allows 2-5 updates – plenty enough to explain all of those key moments to your staff.
10. Company leadership
Creating a video to update employees from the company’s executives is a great way to efficiently convey what has been going on in the higher-ups. This short-form video template utilizes a newsletter format that delivers news with clarity, but it's less than half the work of an actual newsletter.
11. Share your progress
Sustainability goals. Equality targets. Business development. How far are you with your plans, and how can you rally your team around them? First, you need to get your team to pay attention to them! Use the Progress Metre template to get your goals across in an interesting way.
12. New and improved
So you’ve built a new process. Or made an existing one better. When you’ve got changes to share, don’t start typing out a long email – create a video with this template to get your message across with impact.
Ready to ditch your company-wide emails in favor of an internal communication style that brings everyone on the same page? Of course you are. With Storykit, you can create videos as fast as newsletters (or sometimes even faster)! Just add your script and the tool does the rest. Sign up and watch your engagement soar.
