1 . SaaS intranets : Why go through the time and expense to update the old SharePoint site when you can launch a new site and maintain it with minimal involvement from programmers ? A few years ago , almost all Tribe ’ s clients used SharePoint for their intranet . Now we ’ re seeing more and more clients interested in hosted software solutions like Igloo and Interact .
We ’ ve even created several sites with WordPress — modified with limited custom programming . In one case , we had a fully-functioning WordPress site up and running in 18 business days — including CEO videos , blogs , a pulse survey and a Q & A page for anonymous employee questions and responses from leadership .
2 . Mobile Applications : Tribe ’ s research with employees nationwide indicates that people are more willing to download an app for internal communications than they are to give the company their personal mobile number .
Plus , it takes an app to handle some of the more interesting possibilities of mobile , like a mobile magazine or gamification for learning and development .
3 . Digital Signage : What ’ s better than a bunch of outdated posters on a breakroom bulletin board ? Almost anything . But digital signage is one solution we often recommend . With a rotating inventory of slides , digital signage can keep content fresh and communicate a range of messaging , from values and vision to employee recognition to wellness tips . Digital signage can also drive traffic to other channels , like the intranet or employee magazine .
4 . Printed Magazines : Digital publications are great , but a printed piece can get more attention than an email in a crowded inbox . Even when we create digital magazines , we usually recommend printing at least a small quantity for public areas in each location . When non-desk employees are part of the audience mix , a printed version becomes even more important .
5 . Videos : Although many of us had high hopes for podcasts , we have not seen them gain a ton of traction in internal communications . Video still maintains dominance over audio alone . Your employees are already clicking on videos in their personal life for everything from product reviews to memes , so that may lower the hurdle for getting them to consume internal communications that way as well .
Video also offers some of the same benefits as actual face-to-face interaction . Although your CEO won ’ t have time to sit down and chat one-on-one with thousands of employees , he or she probably could spend an hour at a video shoot responding to questions about the company vision , goals for growth or priorities in 2017 .
6 . Pre-Boarding : Why wait until Day One to begin engaging employees ? Keep the momentum going between the offer and the employee ’ s first day of work by making it a time of building anticipation and productive preparation . A thoughtfully developed packet of information and materials sent home to new employees can give them a jump on some of that HR paperwork and help them begin learning more about your company ’ s brand and culture . The package could be as simple as a two-pocket folder , with one pocket for forms to be completed and the other pocket for brand and culture material . And don ’ t forget to include some branded swag .
7 . Non-Desk Employees : Yes , it ’ s easier to communicate with those employees who are sitting in front of computers all day long . But more and more large companies are making it a priority to find ways to reach those offline employees on the manufacturing line , in the retail stores and out in the field . At Tribe , we tell clients that there ’ s no onesize-fits-all solution to non-desk communications . The physical environment varies greatly across companies and job functions , so we look for possible touchpoints that are often unique to a specific nondesk audience .
Interested in any of the above ? Tribe can help .