{"id":6443,"date":"2022-01-25T16:25:04","date_gmt":"2022-01-25T16:25:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/mailinvest.blog\/index.php\/2022\/01\/25\/4-tips-for-creating-an-internal-newsletter-that-isnt-boring\/"},"modified":"2022-01-25T16:25:04","modified_gmt":"2022-01-25T16:25:04","slug":"4-tips-for-creating-an-internal-newsletter-that-isnt-boring","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mailinvest.blog\/index.php\/2022\/01\/25\/4-tips-for-creating-an-internal-newsletter-that-isnt-boring\/","title":{"rendered":"4 Tips for Creating An Internal Newsletter That Isn\u2019t Boring"},"content":{"rendered":"

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7 minute read time<\/h6>\n

\n Campaign Monitor – Jan 25, 2022<\/span>\n <\/p>\n

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Employee loyalty isn\u2019t something you automatically get. If the record-breaking resignation numbers<\/a> in recent years have shown us anything, it\u2019s that you have to continue to earn your employees\u2019 engagement and loyalty. However, internal communications can often come as an uncreative afterthought in organizations, which is made glaringly apparent by the 34% of company newsletters that go unopened<\/b><\/a>.<\/p>\n

Let\u2019s be real; we\u2019ve all received those jargony, high-level corporate newsletters with massive blocks of copy we\u2019re never going to read. However, done right, internal newsletters have the power to inspire, cultivate company culture, and keep teams aligned. Internal company newsletters are a powerful tool and should be approached with the same effort and intentionality that you put into any email marketing.<\/p>\n

\u20281. Start with what\u2019s most important to your employees<\/h2>\n

We might break some hearts here, but your internal newsletter is not first and foremost about how awesome your leadership team is. Internal newsletters should focus on creating something valuable, digestible, and engaging for your employees. This doesn\u2019t mean you can\u2019t include high-level company goals or updates; it\u2019s good to keep your teams informed. However, it does require positioning your newsletter content in a way that employees can see how it relates to their role.<\/p>\n

\"Internal<\/a><\/p>\n

This example from Staffbase shows a newsletter content structure that highlights what is most immediately valuable to employees first, before moving into company news. Source<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Give context to growth and goals<\/h3>\n

Employees will be more motivated and engaged when you share growth and goals in the context of each team member\u2019s contribution. Don\u2019t just throw quarterly numbers at them in a newsletter and expect them to understand their individual impact on initiatives. Connect the dots for them. Organizational goals hold little impact until they become personal.<\/p>\n

For example, when sharing quarterly stats, phrase it in a way that highlights their contribution. \u201cHere is where our company OKRs are, which means each individual is performing at XY% of capacity. This is [good\/bad\/indifferent] because of XYZ. This is our opportunity moving forward, and this is how you can help us achieve that.\u201d<\/p>\n

Put a spotlight on your employees<\/h3>\n

It\u2019s a psychologically proven principle that people love talking about themselves. According to Psychology Today<\/a>, it\u2019s so gratifying for people it engages the same areas of the brain as other pleasurable activities, like eating good food and even having sex. In short, it\u2019s powerful. If you want to increase employee engagement, celebrate them, talk about them, let them share about themselves.<\/p>\n

You can put a spotlight on your employees by celebrating success stories, featuring positive client feedback, sharing promotions, and introducing new hires.<\/p>\n

\"Internal<\/a><\/p>\n

This example from GetResponse highlights a new employee by letting them share about themselves with their new team. Source<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Include diverse perspectives<\/h3>\n

Help your employees feel a part of the team by including cultural role models with diverse backgrounds and identities<\/a>. Ask employees to contribute to the newsletter content and share their voice; don\u2019t make things just from the executive team.<\/p>\n

Invite employees to share their tips for a successful workday, big wins of the week, praise for their teammates, or a tour of their home office. If a cultural holiday is happening, invite a team member from that affinity group to share about it. Enable your employees to see themselves in the people representing your company.<\/p>\n

Create employee feedback loops<\/h3>\n

When in doubt, ask. Let the people tell you what they want by providing opportunities for feedback. They probably have the best newsletter ideas out of anyone since they\u2019re the ones reading it. Provide feedback opportunities through whatever communication channel your company uses most regularly to gain the most input. It may include a link at the bottom of newsletters or a poll in Slack; the point is to meet people where they are.<\/p>\n

\"Simple<\/a><\/p>\n

Using an app integration like Simple Poll in Slack can be an effective way to gain feedback from teams.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Not sure where to start with your feedback loops? Check out our guide on how to effectively ask for feedback in an email<\/a>.<\/p>\n

2. Watch your tone<\/h2>\n

Employees get an endless amount of stiff, boring corporate emails in a day, don\u2019t make the internal newsletter another one. This is your opportunity to brighten their day and create something fun they\u2019ll look forward to.<\/p>\n

According to Invesp<\/a>, 47% of email recipients \u201c read email based on subject line alone.<\/b>\u201d Make sure yours is one they want to open<\/a>! Keep it short, pique their interest with a counter-narrative or a phrase that creates a sense of urgency (what the cool kids call FOMO<\/a>). If you really want to grab your reader\u2019s attention, use dynamic content tags<\/a> to personalize the subject line, which has been found to increase open rates by 22%<\/a><\/b>!<\/p>\n

In your body copy, use a casual and personable tone. Include punchy headlines and title sections that make people want to read more, or insert a relatable gif<\/a> to help people connect to your content.<\/p>\n

\"Internal<\/a><\/p>\n

This humorous take on an internal memo from clothing brand Bonobos makes the reader do a double-take. What initially appears as an HR reprimand is actually a clever marketing email, which is made apparent in the comical copy. Source<\/em><\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

3. Provide engagement opportunities<\/h2>\n

The easiest way to make your employees actually read your internal newsletter is to make them part of the conversation. No one enjoys a one-sided conversation. When you engage your employees, you\u2019ll see open rates increase, company culture improve, communication become more effective, productivity rise, and employee brand amplification<\/a> thrive.<\/p>\n

So, how do you make this happen? Include interactive elements like polls, contests, and sharable content in your employee newsletter. This might look like links to company social media posts, workplace bingo, or a poll to see what to order for the next team lunch. The key is to motivate employees to engage by eliciting an emotive response<\/a>; make it fun, exciting, inspiring, empowering, or rewarding.<\/p>\n

\"Internal<\/a><\/p>\n

Newsletters from Would You Rather are interactive and create something for readers to come back for \u2014 the results from the last poll. While it may not be an internal newsletter, the same concept can be applied. Source<\/em><\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

4. Share resources<\/h2>\n

A great internal newsletter should be an investment in your team. Create real value for your readers by providing professional development and personal support resources.<\/p>\n

The resources should help employees hone skills, see a clear growth path at your company, and take care of themselves personally so they can show up better professionally. This could include highlighting fringe benefits, relevant industry news, upcoming company events and training, or internal job openings. Giving employees something to take away with them creates long-lasting value they\u2019ll come back for.<\/p>\n

\"Internal<\/a><\/p>\n

This internal newsletter from Robert Half shares resources for employees\u2019 physical, mental, and relational well-being. They do this by highlighting fringe benefits, company events, and outside resources. Source<\/em><\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Pull it all together in an eye-catching design<\/h2>\n

So now that you have all of the elements in place to build an impactful internal newsletter, it\u2019s time to wrap it up in a beautiful design before delivery. Enough with the boring corporate emails; it\u2019s time to up your game. That probably sounds easier said than done, but you don\u2019t have to be a professional designer or spend endless hours to create an eye-catching newsletter design. With our free newsletter templates<\/a>, all you have to do is drag and drop.<\/p>\n

Still not sure where to start building your internal newsletter? Check out how we create and send our monthly email newsletter<\/a> here at Campaign Monitor.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n