If you’ve decided to take the plunge and make video an integral part of your organization’s communications strategy, the next step is coming up with some great ideas! From format to content to following up your video, this post will show you how to improve and simplify internal communications.
1. Mix It Up
There’s more to internal video than a headshot of a senior leader. Mix up your content – traditional interview, UGC (user generated content) created by employees for employees, highlights from town halls, and training videos.
2. Short And Sweet
When planning your video, remember that most people have an attention span of about 90 seconds for online video. Focus on getting your points across in less than two minutes.
3. Involve Others
Sometimes it can take people a little time to adjust to a change in strategy or to incorporate a new product into their processes. This is when video can be used particularly successfully. Recruit a few employees who have reacted positively to the change, and ask them to create a video about their perspectives and experiences. A ‘just like me’ series is an effective method for winning hearts and minds.
4. Delivering Bad News
If you have to communicate bad news, use video, rather than a lengthy email, or worse, a short email with very little information. It gives you an opportunity to express your emotions and reassure employees about the future.
5. What Do You Mean?
When you use video to deliver important news that will have an impact on your employees, schedule a “What does this mean for us?” Q&A session soon afterwards. Combining video with live conversation will ensure the right messages get through to your team at a critical time.
6. Industry Updates
Information about trends or recent events affecting your industry help keep everyone informed and on the same page. Videos addressing the state of your industry always benefit from the inclusion of facts and figures (especially when they highlight something the audience didn’t know!). Simple animated text overlays can help reinforce any statements and help drive the retention of information.
7. Targeted Communications
There are times when company-wide video communications are the best option for sharing your message, and there are times when it’s best to target small groups. Consider creating short videos addressing specific target groups where you can go into a level of detail that they will engage with.
8. Thank You’s
Show your gratitude by thanking employees for their hard work. Whenever the team has pulled together to create a fantastic project, when they’ve won a bid, or when you think they’ve represented the company well, let them know using video!
9. Charitable Work
If your organization supports a charity, video can be used to market and record the events that are held to raise money for it. This type of communication can benefit your company by reminding employees they are working for a higher purpose and helping improve the lives of others.
10. Company Culture
Video can bring a human element to your company’s values, which all too often can feel pretty abstract. Ask your employees to create a video discussing their experiences as a part of the organization’s corporate mission.
11. Recruit The Best
Almost 90% of next-generation executives said that a company’s investment in video would influence their decision to accept a job offer from them. It’s a no-brainer to use corporate video as a major part of your strategy to recruit top talent.
12. Keep It Simple
Avoid using jargon. Every employee should be able to understand your message. Acronyms or abbreviations might be lost on some, so take the time to spell things out when needed.
13. Break Up Big Ideas
Remember that time is precious – your own time and that of your employees! If you have a lot to say on a particular topic, consider splitting it up and making a series on your chosen subject. This will keep the concepts more easily digestible, and help keep your videos to a reasonable time limit.
14. Calls To Action
What do you want your audience to do when they have viewed your video? Always conclude it with a call to action to ensure they understand and remember your message. Perhaps you want them to start using a new service, or to follow a new HR policy, or perhaps simply to share the video after watching. Whatever your objective, make sure your employees are aware of it too!
15. Analyze Results
By all means, ask for feedback on the videos, but measure the effectiveness of your efforts too. Use metrics such as views per video, drop off rates through the whole video, and share rates to learn what you’re doing right and where you need to improve.
Does your organization use corporate video to inform and motivate employees? Share your tips below or on Twitter!
