Internal Communications Trends

Internal communications have evolved dramatically over the past five years, driven by technological advancements, shifting employee expectations, and the rise of hybrid work models. In 2025, companies can no longer afford to rely on outdated communication methods. Instead, they must adopt smarter, more dynamic strategies to foster engagement, productivity, and workplace culture. At MyHub, we’ve analyzed the latest trends, spoken with industry leaders, and compiled the eight key internal communications trends that will shape the future of work in 2025.

1. AI-Powered Personalization

The demand for personalized communication has reached new heights. Employees expect content that is tailored not only to their department or team but to their individual needs. AI-driven internal communication tools now curate personalized news feeds, automate responses to common queries, and even suggest content based on an employee’s role, past interactions, and interests. By leveraging AI, businesses can enhance engagement and ensure that critical messages reach the right people at the right time.

2. The Rise of Asynchronous Communication

The hybrid and remote work revolution has made traditional, synchronous meetings less practical. In 2025, businesses are prioritizing asynchronous communication to accommodate global teams, flexible work hours, and deep-focus productivity. Recorded video messages, voice memos, and interactive discussion threads are replacing real-time meetings, allowing employees to engage with content at their own convenience. This shift not only improves efficiency but also reduces meeting fatigue.

3. Hyper-Visual & Interactive Content

Employees no longer have the time (or patience) to read lengthy emails or corporate bulletins. The most effective internal communication strategies in 2025 focus on interactive and visual content. Think short-form videos, dynamic infographics, and interactive dashboards. Gamification elements—such as quizzes and rewards—are also being used to enhance engagement and ensure that important messages are absorbed and acted upon.

4. Seamless Integration of Communication Tools

The days of juggling multiple communication platforms are over. Businesses are now consolidating their messaging, project management, and collaboration tools into a single, seamless experience. Employees no longer need to switch between emails, Slack, Zoom, and intranet portals to stay updated. Instead, smart communication hubs powered by automation and AI provide a unified experience, reducing digital overload and increasing productivity.

5. Real-Time Employee Sentiment Analysis

Understanding employee engagement and morale is no longer a once-a-year HR exercise. In 2025, real-time sentiment analysis tools track employee feedback through pulse surveys, AI-driven analytics, and even natural language processing of internal chat conversations. Leaders can now proactively address concerns, adjust communication strategies, and boost employee satisfaction before problems escalate.

6. The Evolution of Workplace AI Assistants

AI chatbots and virtual assistants have moved beyond basic task automation. Today, they play a crucial role in internal communication, offering personalized onboarding experiences, delivering company-wide updates, and answering HR-related questions in real-time. These digital assistants help employees stay informed without overwhelming them with excessive notifications.

7. Authentic Leadership Communication

Employees want transparency and authenticity from leadership, and in 2025, this expectation is stronger than ever. Corporate leaders are now prioritizing open, two-way communication through video updates, live Q&A sessions, and interactive town halls. Leaders who engage directly with employees in a relatable, conversational tone build trust and foster a stronger company culture.

8. A Shift Toward Ethical & Purpose-Driven Messaging

The modern workforce, particularly Gen Z and Millennials, expects their employers to take a stand on social, environmental, and ethical issues. Internal communications now play a key role in reinforcing company values, fostering a sense of purpose, and ensuring employees feel connected to a meaningful mission. Authentic, transparent messaging about diversity, sustainability, and corporate responsibility is no longer optional—it’s essential.

Key Takeaways for 2025

The way we communicate in the workplace is undergoing a fundamental transformation. To stay ahead, businesses must:

• Leverage AI for hyper-personalized communication.
• Prioritize asynchronous communication for greater flexibility.
• Use engaging, interactive content instead of static text-based updates.
• Consolidate communication platforms for a seamless experience.
• Continuously monitor employee sentiment in real time.
• Empower AI assistants to streamline internal communications.
• Foster authentic leadership communication.
• Align messaging with company values and purpose.

Internal communication in 2025 isn’t just about transmitting information—it’s about creating meaningful connections, fostering engagement, and building a thriving workplace culture. Businesses that embrace these trends will not only enhance employee satisfaction but also drive long-term success.

 

While staying ahead of the latest trends is crucial, older insights still hold value depending on your business and internal communication strategy. Some approaches remain just as relevant today as when they first emerged. So, whether you’re looking for fresh ideas or revisiting tried-and-true strategies, feel free to explore our trend history—all the way back to 2016.

Internal Communications has become one of the most important foundation strategies for every top-performing small business. So, in 2020, what’s happening in the world of internal communications trends – and what do you need to know when reviewing your communications strategy? Here at MyHub, we speak to hundreds of small-to-medium-sized businesses about this topic. Here’s our take on the eight internal communications trends you need to know about in 2020.

1. More Personalized Communication

The trend towards more personalized communication isn’t entirely new. It first appeared on the radar a couple of years ago. However, what is new is the level of expectation for personalized communication – especially from Millennial employees.

The makeup of the workplace is now more varied than ever before. The traditional one-size-fits-all approach to internal communications is no longer where it’s at. Generic newsletters and all-staff emails are failing to hit the target. In fact, when there’s already so much information out there employees, and especially Millennials, are simply not interested in being on the receiving end of irrelevant corporate information. Communication has to speak directly to the employee, their role or their team.

Millennials and Gen Zers are used to being digitally connected in their personal lives. And increasingly they expect the same in their professional lives. However, they are also used to personalized social media feeds and communications platforms that reflect their interests. And it’s the demand for this level of personalization that will be a significant trend in 2020.

Those small businesses that are one step ahead tailor their internal communications to suit the different audiences within their organizations. Communication channels are built around employee segments or personas within the company. This allows for more customizable configuration and a better employee experience. In fact, it mirrors what staff members are already experiencing in their personal lives outside work.

Creating opportunities for your staff to receive more personal content is easier these days thanks to digital tools. Most internal communications technologies allow for group targeting – by location, function or team. Forums and chat allow staff to participate and contribute to content relevant to them.

2. Increased Use Of Mobile Communication Channels

We’ve heard much about the mobile-first approach, but in 2020 our prediction is we will be hearing more about mobile-only.

In 2018 over 52 percent of all worldwide website traffic was done on mobile devices compared to 31 percent just three years ago. Mobile technology is now a feature of our everyday lives.

In addition, far more of us are working flexibly, remotely or in non-desk roles than ever before. According to the latest statistics, 54% of employers plan to increase their telecommuting workforce over the next three years. Small businesses need to take account of these new ways of working. Innovative communication channels are required to connect these workers and promote a cohesive workplace culture.

In 2020, we are likely to see even more small businesses radically rethink their communications to reflect this reality. Company apps, intranet software, messaging tools – even organizations’ social media channels – are also been used as corporate communication channels. Company messages and important announcements are delivered directly to the employee’s smartphone for anytime, anywhere access.

However, the challenge for small businesses is to come up with a truly integrated mobile platform. Ideally, mobile communication channels should offer a single sign-on gateway into the business. And it should be possible to share and consolidate information in a simple and intuitive way. The last thing employees want is multiple screens and several different passwords on the go to access company information. The best mobile communication tools make things simpler for employees, not more complicated.

3. Increased Push For Consumer-Grade Communications

As we’ve seen, the consumer world within which we interact daily is shaping our expectations at work. Consumer-grade internal communications trends mirror what we see in our personal lives. This means increasing use of video, visuals and interactive elements. Staff members passively receiving corporate announcements has become a thing of the past.

Employees now expect to comment on and share corporate communications. Small businesses should look at incorporating this into their internal communications. We predict in 2020 increased use of desktop alerts, real-time updates and multi-media capability. This could see a blurring of the lines between internal and external communications as companies keep up with the demand for information.

4. Multi-Directional Communications

Most internal communications are still top-down. Senior leaders and managers decide on what employees need to know. However, often there is very little communication being fed back up the line. In consequence, staff feel as though they don’t have an organizational voice which also impacts on employee engagement. In addition, sideways communication between teams or peers is virtually non-existent.

Expect to see organizations spending more time listening to their staff in 2020. Opportunities to provide feedback, share insights and comment on internal communications will help achieve this. In addition, rather than a long annual staff survey, snap polls allow employees to easily share their views.

We also predict there will be more emphasis on community communications or peer-to-peer conversations. Collaboration tools like intranet software will blur the divisions between teams and promote joint working. Online staff directories and social intranet features will support your staff in reaching out internally. This ability is just as important in small businesses as it is in the big corporates. In fact, with small businesses embracing freelancers and telecommuters, it’s even more important.

In 2020 your small business needs less top-down and more multi-directional communications throughout the organization.

5. Increased Data Analysis And Data-Driven Approaches

Internal communications is one of the few areas of business that has largely been left to happen organically. You may have data on your all-staff email open and click-through rate. Perhaps you ask staff in the annual survey about their preferred communications channels. And that’s probably as far as it goes. That’s all about to change in 2020.

With every aspect of your business operations already being driven by data, it’s now the turn of internal communications. New technology communication platforms make it possible to collect a wealth of data to inform your communications strategy. You should be able to see at a glance when and how employees are using the internal communications channels. Metrics could include the following:

• which channels are working best for employees
• how many people took action as a result of the message
• the percentage of employees who open or interact with corporate communications
• the percentage of staff who confirm they have read urgent messages
• the most popular days and times staff are accessing communications platforms
• how staff are accessing communications channels – mobile or desktop
• the number of employees who open and respond to snap polls or surveys
• the number of interactions in terms of shares, likes, comments etc.

These are just some of the metrics you should be collecting and analyzing in 2020. However, it’s not enough to just collect this data. You also need to regularly review the data and take any necessary action. For example, if email receives poor metrics, then maybe it’s time to stop using it for most of your internal communications. Keeping on top of this information will be critical to the success of your internal communications next year.

6. Less Text And More Video

Visual communication is the way to go in 2020. Our behavior on social media tells us much about our communication preferences. It’s well documented that visual posts receive more likes, comments and shares than text-based ones. In fact, research tells us that on Facebook, images are responsible for 75 to 90 percent of an ad’s performance.

And the same applies to internal communications. Employees are more engaged with visual communications than text-based ones. Corporate messages come across as being more authentic and credible when they are delivered by real people. And the good news is, we’re not talking about expensive, high-production videos here. The quality of everyday smartphones means we can all access video as a low-cost, high-quality communication tool.

7. Storytelling Takes Center Stage

Marketers have been telling stories to build trust, increase brand awareness and customer loyalty for years. However, only recently have businesses woken up to the potential of storytelling in internal communications. Humans are hard-wired to connect with stories, which resonate emotionally with us like no other medium.

We anticipate seeing more corporate storytelling in internal communications trends next year. It could be used to discuss your small business pain points and showcase solutions. Storytelling can also be used to bring to life the work of teams. And you can apply storytelling to add meaning to the company mission. And don’t forget to include visuals for a very powerful combination.

8. More Demand For Instant Communication

The once-a-week staff newsletter, even if it’s a mobile-friendly visual feast, won’t cut the mustard anymore. News websites, Twitter and smartphone alerts mean we have grown accustomed to instant communication.

We now expect the same at work. Your staff members don’t want to spend time sourcing news. Nor can your small business afford to have employees waste time on unproductive wild goose chases. Quick, easy, instant access to communications is imperative. Employees that logon only to see the same news blog feed for days on end will become disengaged. It’s vital that as a small business you update the news feeds at least once a day.

What’s more, as with the social media platforms we know and love, bite-sized snippets work best. Snippets are quick and easy to digest. And a click-through link can provide additional detail for those that need or want more.

Internal Communications Trends 2020: Key Messages

So, the bottom line is that 2020 will be another busy year for those responsible for internal communications. If you’ve been charged with reviewing internal communications, then as a recap, here are the main trends to consider:

• Introduce tailored communication ideally at the team level and better still at the individual level.
• Make sure your communication channels are mobile-friendly.
• Introduce consumer-grade internal communications for more social interaction.
• Develop multi-directional internal communication (and not just top-down).
• Mix it up with more visual elements.
• Introduce storytelling for enhanced engagement.
• Keep communication fresh and update it regularly.
• Ensure internal communication is driven by hard data rather than hunches about what’s working.

Internal communications isn’t just about keeping employees informed about what’s going on. It’s no secret that a good internal communications strategy is critical to company morale, productivity, and even revenue. The truth is that internal communications is a key driver for employee engagement. And it makes sense that an engaged employee who is invested in the company, understands their role within it as well as the bigger picture is a more productive one. A strong internal communications strategy that promotes conversations and connections at all levels of the business is often the kick-start employee engagement needs. Indeed, the latest research from Gallup suggests that although the number of engaged employees is slowly improving, 53 percent of workers are still in the ‘not engaged’ category. In practice, this means that the majority of workers do not feel connected to the company. These types of workers simply show up and do the minimum necessary and will often quickly leave their company for a slightly better offer. Companies are losing as much as 20 to 25 percent of their revenue each year due to disengaged employees.

So, how can you turn this trend around within your own company? The trick is to think of your internal communications strategy as an opportunity to bolster engagement, not just a means to disseminate information. All the best internal communication strategies operate at three distinct but equally important levels:

• company to employees
• employees to the company
• employees to employees.

A successful internal communications strategy needs to tick all these boxes for your business. In this post, we highlight eight internal communications trends that you need to be on top of if you want to meet the needs of today’s workforce.

1. Use Diverse Communications Channels

For the first time, companies could potentially be employing staff from across five different generations. Whether the employee is from the Silent Generation, Baby Boomers, Generation X, Millennials or Generation Z, each will have their own preferences when it comes to communication channels. Older employees may have a preference for face-to-face communication and team meetings, whereas the digital natives in the workforce will be used to sharing information across a range of technological platforms.

Companies now need to think broadly about the diversity of channels used within the internal communications strategy. In this way the needs of all staff members can be addressed, so think podcasts, video, blogs, wikis in addition to the more traditional team meeting, paper-based newsletter and staff conference.

2. Targeted Personalized Content

When it comes to consuming information, rather than static content or impersonal all-encompassing corporate messages, personalized, targeted feeds are the way to go. After all, we have all become accustomed to this way of presenting content. Facebook, Twitter even our favorite news sites all offer personalized, targeted news feeds. Companies that are ahead of the game when it comes to internal communications replicate this approach in the workplace. Personalized, relevant and timely content – preferably a mix of corporate, team and industry news and updates – is a great way to engage with staff while ensuring that the right information is getting through to the right staff member at the right time.

3. Optimize For Mobile Platforms

Whether your company distributes its own devices or has a ‘bring your own device’ policy, employees must be able to keep in touch with head office and access key corporate information from their mobile devices. Mobility gives employees continuous access to all the important tools they need to complete their work, including communications channels. One survey reported that 94 percent of employees think mobile devices make their work more efficient.

What’s more, the way we work is changing. The days of the desk-bound employee working 9 to 5 are long gone. Nowadays, we see a much broader mix with some colleagues telecommuting, others working flexible hours, and some staff spend the majority of their time out of the office. Smartphone ownership in the US is now an amazing 77 percent of the population and so these devices have now become a smart solution for company to employee communications. They are also essential tools to help staff when on the road. Think for a moment about the service technician who is out in the field and is faced with trying to solve a problem while the customer is waiting impatiently. In situations like this where urgent help and advice is needed, instant messaging via the intranet, the ability to search a product manual online or identify an internal subject expert will make all the difference to providing superior and memorable customer service to that client.

In addition, devices help to increase employee engagement. Everywhere you go, you find people reading news, blogs or searching popular topics on their devices. We have become a generation that just can’t sit idle. Keep your employees engaged and informed by making the intranet’s news pages available on mobile devices. Staff members can easily check up on company news, corporate events, announcements or other relevant content while commuting into work, waiting for their morning takeaway coffee or when they have a couple of minutes to spare before an off-site meeting with a customer.

4. Get Social

Social networks are hugely popular outside the office, but what about internally? Despite some initial hesitancy from employers, more and more companies are now utilizing social intranets as a way to address all three communication needs: company to employee, employee to company and employee to employee.  Fears that social intranets would degenerate into a glorified office version of Facebook with employees wasting their time on silly and irrelevant content have, in practice, not materialized.

The truth is that internal social networks are a great way for managers, and even CEOs, to stay connected to their employees. Do away with boring company memos and all staff emails for good. Instead look at interactive blogs which allow employees the opportunity to comment and share insights with senior managers. Furthermore, the social intranet’s online surveys function means that management can quickly and easily canvas staff views on a whole range of issues – from seeking feedback on the new company logo to brainstorming ideas on an updated marketing plan or even seeking ideas for the location of the office Christmas party. Donald Trump with his voracious use of Twitter has demonstrated just how much CEOs can extend their leadership and visibility with digital channels.

Social intranets are also great facilitators of employee to company communication. Why not set up a staff forum across the organization? Employees can post their bright ideas on how to improve production or a service aspect as well as their gripes and complaints.  The forum will need to be moderated to ensure only valid and relevant content is published but it does offer a genuine platform for employees to get their views across to management who can then publicly respond.

And when it comes to communication between employees, the social intranet is hard to beat. As well as the interactive functionality we have looked at above, the social intranet also offers self-service features that are very motivating for employees. For example, the social intranet’s employee directory that includes current work projects and expertise means that the marketing manager can cherry pick potential members of a cross-departmental working group to look at developing a new digital marketing strategy. In addition, individual and site activity walls as well as follow me functionality mean that staff can select internal subject experts and projects of interest to follow.

What’s more, the social intranet can also have a positive effect in surprising ways. Here’s a great example featured in a recent Harvard Business Review. The Red Robin restaurant chain launched a new burger called the “Pig Out Burger” in 2012. Employees immediately started posting customer feedback on their internal social network, and it was not good. Managers jumped in and tweaked the recipe, re-launching the improved burger just four weeks later. Without quick feedback through the company’s social intranet, the process of gathering data and improving the burger would have taken 12 to 18 months. Social networks are a great way to get away from the dreaded e-mail chain and start a conversation that gathers input from all levels throughout the organization, and most importantly, leads to quick change.

Why not give it a go in your business. Try creating a social network with an interactive, engaging activity feed that sees employees wanting to check into the intranet. Make the activity feed the dominant feature of your intranet homepage. Share articles, announcements and other important information. And encourage employees to post what’s happening in their department and to share likewise. The truth is that the majority of companies that go down this route soon discover that far from being a time waster, social intranets actually save time with the efficiencies and improved connections they foster.

5. Have Fun With Gamification

Companies have held contests for years. Fundraisers, sales competitions, leader boards, wellness programs and many others have been keeping employees engaged and motivated. It’s the recognition and status that comes with success that is so appealing to the competitive spirit that is in all of us.

Gamification, the digital version of competition, is increasingly taking center stage. So why not let your intranet bolster an already successful engagement tool? Use gamification to transform tedious daily tasks into exciting activities. Use leveling, leader boards, completion bars or badging to track employee progress and to incentivize them to improve their score, test their knowledge or compete with other staff members or teams. You could encourage even more engagement by rewarding employees for using the intranet, including participating in discussions, watching videos, reviewing policies or making a post. Report progress via your social intranet activity board.

Some companies have even taken gamification a set further by exploring virtual reality (VR) apps as a means of training or onboarding new and existing staff members. Certainly in some fields – pilots, train drivers, mining personnel or service technicians for example – using VR to train members in near identical working conditions replicated by technology has its merits and can be a cost-effective solution.

There’s no doubting that gamification in the workplace is a communication and engagement tool we are likely to see more of the future. It’s certainly a useful tactic for motivating employees especially those involved in sales and customer support and it also has a place in general training and all-round employee engagement. So, it’s worthwhile considering gamification as part of a comprehensive communications strategy.

6. Create An Executive Blog

We have touched on this already but in the online world, blogging has become such an important means of building trust and shaping reputations that it’s a good idea to consider replicating it in the workplace. Just as an effective blog positions a company as a thought leader and as a valuable source of information, so an internal CEO blog can have the same effect on staff members. CEOs and higher level executives are often obscure to lower-level employees. Visibility is often poor and there’s no sense of connection between the two. It is, however, possible to close that gap through an informative, friendly blog post from the CEO or you could rotate the responsibility through the company’s top managers.

An executive blog sends out an important message that employees are valued and it presents an image of the CEO and senior management as being open and accessible. Companies that use CEO blogs have reported an improvement in staff morale and a greater sense of connection between employees, senior management and the company. The ability to post comments or questions that are read by the executive makes employees feel empowered and appreciated. Consider using the blog to solicit feedback from the staff body. And let employees know you genuinely want to hear their views and opinions on new company programs, initiatives or policies.

Don’t make the mistake though of using the blog solely as a corporate mouthpiece. Yes, of course, you should broadcast important company updates and messages, but you are more likely to resonate with the wider staff body if you mix it up with personal reflections on topics and issues that are important to you. Take a leaf out of the book of Mark Zuckerberg. His very personal blog post directed to his new-born baby, A Letter To Our Daughter, quickly went viral and the reason why is because it was genuine and authentic and touched people in a way that no insipid corporate message could ever do.

7. Include A Video Library

Document resources are great, but it’s unlikely that employees are going to read through the employee handbook in their free time. Make policy changes and other announcements fun and personable by using video instead of traditional print media.

One study found that 90 percent of communications professionals feel that video plays an “important” or “somewhat important” role in their organization’s communication strategy. Indeed, the popularity of YouTube among some of the younger generational cohorts means that video has now become a mainstream communication channel in many business. What’s more, the camera and video capabilities of the average smartphone or tablet have improved so much that video is now a very accessible as well as a cost-effective medium.

Here are some ideas on how you can incorporate video into a far-reaching communications strategy. Consider alternating a text-based CEO blog post with a video message. Advise employees of a new product launch via video. Utilize how-to videos to take staff members through the steps necessary to complete a task such as adding a new supplier to the database. Be innovative. The applications are almost endless so be imaginative in your thinking.

In addition, make sure that you create a video library that allows employees to search, comment and share content. The company intranet is the ideal location for such a library. And while you’re at it introduce an element of fun too by posting video clips from team building events or funny happenings around the office. You can then sit back and watch engagement skyrocket as employees look for videos of themselves and their co-workers.

8. Introduce An Element Of Storytelling

Regardless of the communication channel, people relate best to stories that are about people. It doesn’t matter what the medium is or the technology that you are using, employees will respond better if you can present the message with a people focus. So say, for example, that you are looking to introduce a new customer relationship management system. Rather than presenting it as being all about achieving efficiencies in business processes or improved sales and customer retention, instead focus on the difference it will make to Bill in Sales. The truth is the majority of staff members will find it more interesting and engaging if you present the new system by focusing on the difference it will make to an ordinary employee like Bill and how much easier his life will be as a result. Bill will be better able to service his clients having at his fingertips a full sales and servicing history plus full details of the client’s interaction with all teams within the business. What makes a difference to people resonates far more than bland and boring business targets and processes.

When reviewing your internal communications strategy, look for opportunities to incorporate storytelling. It will make those corporate messages more meaningful and engaging and so will benefit everyone from the CEO down to the customer support officer.

It’s a brand new year and is the perfect time to reflect. No doubt, many organizations like yours will be taking time out to review the past year’s performance as well as identifying key trends for 2018. And internal communications is bound to be on the list of priorities for most companies. It’s a perennial issue that is constantly shifting due to the changing nature of the workplace, technological advances and the needs of employees. So, what’s on the horizon for internal communications in 2018? What key trends do you need to address in your review of internal communications? Here’s our take on the big issues for 2018.

Connect With The Disconnected

There are two elements to this. The first is to maintain connections with remote workers. The global trend towards more flexible working is set to continue in 2018. A recent Gallup survey found that 43 percent of employed Americans said they spent at least some time working remotely, representing a four percent increase since 2012. In addition, more workers are spending longer amounts of time working remotely. Gallup’s survey reported that those working remotely four to five days a week has risen to 31 percent from 24 percent in 2012. These numbers are only going to continue increasing in 2018. And so, finding new ways to connect and engage with the growing numbers of remote workers will remain a priority for most organizations in 2018.

The second aspect of connecting with the disconnected is those employees who are disengaged in the workplace or who don’t feel as though they are part of the organization. It’s estimated that disengaged employees are costing up to $550 billion every year in the US alone through a damaging combination of increased absenteeism and low productivity. No doubt, all of us have experience of working alongside a disengaged colleague. You know the type – the grumpy individual, always with a long list of complaints and a complete lack of enthusiasm or initiative. We all know how negative and damaging a disengaged colleague can be, and when there are potentially lots of them in the office, it’s not hard to see why it is such a costly issue for businesses. Finding communication channels to reconnect with the disengaged will also be a continuing priority for 2018.

The Power Of Video  

Anyone with teenagers in the house will understand the phenomenon that is YouTube and the popularity of watching videos. And it’s not just teenagers that enjoy this medium, many millions of us are consuming and sharing videos every day on social media platforms such as Facebook and Instagram. And while video isn’t a new communication channel – after all we’ve been using video as a source of entertainment for decades, what is comparatively new, is its crossover into the boardroom.  In fact, in a Forbes study, 75 percent of executives said they watch work-related videos at least weekly and 65 percent said they have visited a vendor’s website as a result of watching a video.

And so if it hasn’t already, then video as an internal communications tool should have a strong emphasis in 2018. Whether it’s video conferencing, the live streaming of corporate events, or the creation of training and how-to videos, there’s no doubt there’s enormous potential to improve internal communications. This is particularly the case for the digital natives in the workforce who are already well-versed in the medium of video. What’s more, video conferencing can be an important component in addressing the needs of remote workers. Certainly, there’s no substitute for face-to-face communication. The nuances of tone and body language are often missing from the written word and face-to-face interaction is essential in promoting a shared sense of camaraderie and common purpose.

More Inventive Communications Channels

Internal communications aren’t just about the written word anymore. Text-heavy newsletters may still have a place, but when it comes to internal communications they are no longer the be-all and end-all as they perhaps were in years gone by. Nowadays, innovative companies are exploiting all available media. This means being more inventive with visual communications, using the power of color in say an infographic or poster and understanding that human brains can process visual information more efficiently than text.

In addition, some companies have been using podcasts to great effect. As well as being cost-effective, podcasts are a very personal and human way of communicating. It will resonate with remote workers especially and those aural learners who have a definite preference for the spoken word.

The bottom line is that there are a variety of learning styles and personality types in the workplace. Organizations that are effective internal communicators have a range of communication channels in place to reach all segments of employees, across the whole company. Inventiveness in the number and application of internal communication channels is, therefore, another trend for 2018.

Measure And Review

Increasingly companies are coming to realize that there’s no point in having an internal communications strategy if you have no idea what channels are working best for you. And so in 2018, we’re likely to see even more businesses develop systems to measure the effectiveness of the tools and methods they are deploying to communicate with employees. Whether it’s through surveys, snap polls, focus groups or simply asking for feedback, all organizations need to consider how they will measure the effectiveness of their internal communications.

Deploy An Intranet For Maximum Effect

So now that we’ve identified some of the key internal communications trends for this year, what can you do now to make sure you’re ready for the challenge? Well, the easiest way to tick the maximum number of boxes is with a company intranet. If you’ve already got one then great, you’ll already be fully aware of the many benefits an intranet has to offer. And if you haven’t implemented an intranet, then now’s the time to do so if you want to meet the challenges of internal communications, next year and in the years to follow. Here are some ways in which an intranet can make a difference now:

• mobile optimized and 24/7 access for enhanced communication with remote workers
• embed employee engagement, how-to or training videos directly in your intranet through iframes
• use podcasts on your intranet to reach out to the aural learners in your business
• develop an engaging, colorful and visual intranet design and use it to full effect with infographics, posters and strong imagery
• use the intranet to collect data and statistics on users’ access to channels
• gather feedback, opinions and views on the effectiveness of communication channels through the intranet’s surveys and polls feature.

A successful communications strategy is more challenging than ever. In the United States alone, working remotely has grown 103 percent since 2005. Whether they are working from home, on the road, on a factory floor or simply at another branch, employees need to feel connected and engaged. Internal communicators face the task of removing barriers and developing strategies that bring together employees from different locations, generations and job levels. Include these internal communication trends for 2016 in your communications strategy.

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