6 Key Strategies for Successful Corporate Internal Communication Using Video and Animation

86% of employees cite ineffective internal communications as the root of their workplace’s failures (Salesforce)

The benefits of using innovative solutions like video and animation in internal communications are clear. We here at Synima know that taking the same robust, multimedia approach that engages audiences and clients alike and using it to boost employee engagement is an excellent way to ensure greater cohesion within the workplace. In this guide, we’ll discuss 6 great strategies that utilize this approach!
However, if you would like more direct help improving internal communications, without having to worry about corporate communications best practices or the logistics of creating video, then shoot us a message! With over 20 years of experience in crafting engaging comms for our clients, we’ve got you covered.

In this Article, We’ll Discuss Best Practices and Build an Effective Internal Communication Plan in Order to:

• Drive productivity: Poor communication doesn’t pave the way for a productive workforce. Informed employees, on the other hand, make more confident decisions, helping you reach your business goals faster.
• Propel engagement levels: With a robust internal communications plan in place, you can engage employees and keep them invested in the ‘why’ behind your company’s decisions.
• Stay ahead: Future-proof communication is vital, and not only does video break down new, complex topics with complete ease, but integrates seamlessly with the latest tech, too.
• Collaborate effectively: Different departments within your workplace can quickly pick up on unfamiliar concepts belonging to the other and work together with greater harmony, directly improving two-way communication.

Internal Communication Strategy 1: Understand the Impact of Video and Animation as Communication Channels

Wondering how video improves internal communication? The medium is a powerhouse, and there are a culmination of reasons that make a fantastic solution. For starters, visual communication fosters engagement and information retention – helping employees absorb complex topics through use of symbolism, movement and simplified graphics.
We know that every single employee should be on the same page when it comes to communicating the latest changes, and with animation and video, both remote workers and team members within the workplace can have access to the same quality of information at the same time! Having an excellent resource that can be revisited and shared around is key to effective communication, and we can’t recommend the empowerment and clarity it brings to the workplace enough.
Understanding the impact of video prior to implementing it is essential, because knowing the medium’s strengths is what will allow you to extract the most benefit out of them. If you’d like to learn more before moving on to the next strategy, we’ve written plenty of articles detailing why video works as an engaging internal communication channel, from how it helps new recruits, to how it supports employees in training.

Internal Comms Strategy 2: Leverage Storytelling to Improve Employee Engagement

Connecting employees with the drive behind your company’s overall goals and its most recent decisions is especially important. Whether it’s a “how we got here” narrative, or one that outlines your newest vision, using storytelling in corporate videos can help bridge understanding by building internal messaging that is both grounded in context and supported by an emotional connection.
It’s important to help contextualize the continuous flow of information within an organization as well. When there’s an overwhelming amount of info thrown at employees with little context, misunderstandings and confusion can quickly ensue. Story-driven videos have a unique ability to break information down into a format that’s much simpler to comprehend and provides the ‘why’ behind business decisions.

Communication Strategy 3: Simplify Communication Overload with Animation

Change is commonplace in business – whether it’s implementing a new software, or complying to new legal standards, simplifying information that is otherwise heavy and complex is vital so that everyone can move forward at the same pace. Using animation for internal communications is an excellent way to achieve that.
Animation improves communication overload because clear visual communication allows you to segment your internal comms. Whether it’s a talk from leadership overlaid with helpful visual aids which highlight key points and stats, or a fully animated explainer video that seamlessly flows through points A to Z, animation can break down topics into simple, digestible bites.
Clear employee communication requires you to be inclusive of every employee, so be sure to consider accessibility guidelines as well. Both your audio and subtitles, for example, should be informative enough on their own, and the graphics of your animation should be large enough for everyone to comprehend clearly. On top of that, any interactive content must be navigable via multiple methods, a strategy which we’ll discuss further down below.
We produced a comprehensive explainer animation for HPE to detail their post-warranty support services in an easy to understand way.
View our animation for HPE

Strategy 4: Increase Employee Engagement with Interactive Videos

A fantastic strategy to get the best engagement out of your comms is the use of interactive content. Increasing employee participation through the use of polls, quizzes and branching scenarios, is not only a great way to invite fun into your comms, but a strategy that accounts for kinesthetic learning styles, too.
We here at Synima recommend fusing interactivity and storytelling together – for example, a situational quiz-based interactive video that works as a tutorial for a new software, or a branching scenario animation that helps employees prepare for future scenarios. Interactive media like quizzes work as employee feedback, too, helping you to refine your comms whilst saving employees time – there’s no need to create an additional survey; the responses from your comms serve as your data.
It’s also good to consider interactive videos for employee engagement, especially when it comes to longer forms of company communication like training. Having a module with a progress bar that serves as a motivation booster and time-management tool, along with the instant feedback provided by quizzes that allows employees to self-assess, can improve completion rate.
Overwhelmed by all of this? We produce interactive content and build hosting platforms for our client’s internal comms. Feel free to reach out if you need a hand!
Contact Us

Strategy 5: Personalize Internal Communication from Leadership and Ensure Employees Feel Heard

Personalized leadership messages foster belonging and tighten cohesion within the workplace.

80% of employees want a better understanding of how decisions are made within the company (Forbes)

Through leadership visibility, you can foster employee-leadership connection with progress updates and strategy overviews that emphasis more on the points employees are particularly struggling with or are interested in.
Effective communication isn’t removed from the company culture, nor irrelevant to the specific needs of each employee. Internal emails, newsletters, meetings – all can be revamped and follow internal corporate communications best practices. Using results from surveys and analytics data as your guide, you can create multiple versions of the same video to account for differing levels of knowledge, interest, and even different learning styles.

Strategy 6: Measure Effectiveness and Engagement Levels with Analytics Metrics

Utilizing analytics for internal communications is a must. Here at Synima, we suggest that you gather data from a range of performance indicators, from survey results that provide insight into whether your comms were comprehensive enough, to engagement tracking which can reveal specific communication shortfalls.
Regular updates improve your internal comms, and are the best way to ensure that your communications across the workplace are effective. So, take those results and start building data-driven strategies – if your comms weren’t engaging enough, consider the benefits of interactive videos, or if they weren’t fully understood, trial a fully animated explainer that simplifies the topic. If you’re unsure as to what your employees need, don’t worry, we have plenty of experience building robust internal communications that are based upon the needs of employees! Check out our portfolio here.
As a side note, hard returns are often the only key metrics used to determine whether your comms strategy is successful – but we at Synima urge businesses to take ‘soft ROI’ into consideration, too – keeping tabs on important elements such as sense of belonging, connection, and clarity.

Let’s wrap up: Building a Solid Communication Plan that Ensures your Messages Reach Employees Successfully

With a great internal communications strategy in place, formed through continuous improvement, adherence to corporate communications best practices, and the favoring of innovative solutions like interactive videos – you can not only accelerate communication within the workplace, but transform productivity, foster collaboration and light up your company culture.
Video and animation continue to be the backbone of future trends within corporate communications, and there’s no doubt as to why. Engaging, comprehensive and transparent, building your strategy around the two mediums is a surefire way to level up your comms.

If you would like to learn more about building strong internal communications or want help in creating a strategy that works, feel free to contact our London video production team by email at [email protected].