What are some creative ways to use visuals and multimedia in your internal newsletter?

The old adage, a picture is worth a thousand words, is true and is why adding photos and better yet, videos can add so much more context online as people are quickly scanning to understand the messaging.

Mix it up! Preferences for consuming content can vary wildly, so don't lean exclusively on one approach. Break up text with visuals to help add visual intrigue, but don't forget to step back and assess which route makes the most sense for your specific needs. If you want a leader's personality to shine through, for example, consider a video. If there are lots of stats or tidbits to highlight, then perhaps an infographic is your best bet. GIFs are often a great tool for injecting humor into your content. Think about how to entice folks to experiment with digesting content differently than they're accustomed to. Some may not be inclined to watch a video, but leading with a teaser sentence may entice them to click "play."

The kudos section of our internal newsletter includes emojis to celebrate birthdays, recognize milestones and welcome new team members. It adds some personality to what would otherwise be a series of lists and dates.

We've been using more videos and gifs lately to add some movement! We have a weekly "Wisdom & Gratitude" section from our Deputy Town Administrator where she shares her kudos and suggestions for growth for the week. And some of our big programs that we need staff to pay attention to, we will turn into gifs to draw attention with movement when the newsletter is opened. Seems to work a bit better than just text!

I find it helpful to set my own parameters for asset sizes (e.g., 550x width for all inline images). This can help you create a more consistent and brand-right visual identity.

Professional video and photography will always have its place in marketing and communications, but don’t underestimate the power of good quality employee-generated assets. “Selfie” style clips are authentic, build trust and typically have high audience engagement. Plus, employees love seeing their friends and colleagues featured! Employee created visual content can play an important role in defining your company’s culture. Just remember, provide employees some basic guidance for creating good quality photos, video and audio with their phones when soliciting their content. There are also tools available that provide a link for employees to create and submit their videos. Some even auto caption, ensuring accessibility compliance.