Elevate Employee Engagement: Use SMS, WhatsApp, Calls, and Email to Connect Better

Employee engagement isn’t just about company perks or fun events anymore. It’s about how well you keep your team informed, involved, and connected to what’s happening in the company. And let’s face it, we’re all bombarded with information these days. So, finding the right communication tools can make a huge difference. For HR, using a mix of SMS, WhatsApp, calls, and email is a great way to stay connected with your employees, making sure they get the info they need, when they need it, without overwhelming them.

Let’s break down how you can use each of these tools to keep employees engaged and in the loop on everything from new company policies to celebrating the latest successes.

1. SMS: For Quick, Don’t-Miss Updates

Text messages are perfect when you need to get something important across fast. With everyone glued to their phones, SMS is one of the best ways to make sure your message gets read. So, whether it’s a reminder about an upcoming meeting or a quick note about an important policy change, SMS makes sure nobody misses out.

Here’s How to Use It:

• Send out reminders for meetings, events, or important deadlines. Something simple like, “Reminder: Company-wide meeting tomorrow at 3 PM. See you there!” will get the job done.
• Let employees know about urgent updates or policy changes. For example, “Heads up: Our new remote work policy goes into effect next Monday. Check your email for full details.”

Why It’s Effective: SMS gets opened fast. It’s short, to the point, and lands right in their hands. Plus, when something’s urgent or time-sensitive, text is the way to go.

2. WhatsApp: For Conversations and Team Updates

WhatsApp is all about real-time, two-way communication. It’s great for keeping things a bit more casual, whether you’re sharing updates, team wins, or just getting quick feedback from your employees. It’s also an easy way to bring a little more personality into your communication—especially with remote teams.

Here’s How to Use It:

• Share news and wins with the team. For instance, “Awesome news! We just signed [Client Name]! Thanks to everyone for their hard work.” It’s an instant way to boost morale.
• Use it for quick check-ins or to gather feedback. You could ask something like, “Quick poll: Would you prefer an in-person or virtual holiday party this year? Let us know!”

Why It’s Effective: WhatsApp feels personal and interactive. It’s a quick and easy way to start conversations, celebrate small wins, and get feedback in real time.

3. Calls: For Personal Check-Ins and Feedback

Sometimes, nothing beats a phone call. When it comes to more sensitive conversations—like giving feedback, checking in on employee well-being, or discussing performance—calls allow for deeper, more meaningful communication. It’s more personal than a message and shows that you’re taking the time to connect one-on-one.

Here’s How to Use It:

• Schedule regular one-on-one check-ins with employees to see how they’re doing and discuss their goals. A simple “Let’s catch up this week to go over your progress and see if there’s anything you need from us” makes a big impact.
• Use calls for any tricky or sensitive topics, like discussing benefits, policy changes, or offering personalized support.

Why It’s Effective: Calls let you have more detailed, open-ended conversations that build trust and give employees the space to express themselves.

4. Email: For Detailed Info and Monthly Newsletters

When it comes to sending out detailed information—like new policies, company updates, or in-depth reports—email is still king. It gives you the space to explain everything clearly, provide supporting documents, and let employees dive into the details when they have time. Plus, a monthly newsletter is a great way to keep everyone informed about what’s happening across the company.

Here’s How to Use It:

• Share company-wide updates in a regular newsletter. Highlight new clients, product updates, and any major achievements. For example, “This month, we onboarded [Client Name], launched [New Product Feature], and hit our sales goals for Q3. Great work, team!”
• Send out detailed policy changes or updates that require some reading time. Be sure to link to resources where employees can find more info if they need it.

Why It’s Effective: Email gives you the space to go into more detail and serves as a handy reference employees can come back to. It’s ideal for longer content or announcements that need more explanation.

5. Celebrate Success Across All Channels

Recognizing and celebrating company wins and employee efforts is key to keeping engagement levels high. Whether it’s acknowledging a big new client, celebrating a product launch, or simply highlighting an employee’s hard work, using SMS, WhatsApp, calls, and email together ensures you reach your team in ways that matter.

Here’s How to Celebrate Success:

• Use WhatsApp to share quick wins like, “Great news! We just hit our sales target for the quarter!” It’s a fast way to celebrate as a team.
• Recognize individual efforts in the company newsletter, like, “Shoutout to [Employee Name] for their incredible work on [Project Name]. We couldn’t have done it without you!”
• Make it personal by giving employees who’ve gone the extra mile a quick call to congratulate them.

Why It’s Effective: Celebrating success across multiple channels makes sure that your team feels appreciated, no matter how they prefer to communicate.

Final Thoughts: Keep Your Team Connected and Engaged with the Right Tools

By using SMS, WhatsApp, calls, and email, HR teams can create a communication strategy that reaches employees in different, meaningful ways. Whether you’re sending out a quick reminder, offering detailed updates, or checking in personally, these tools help keep employees informed, engaged, and feeling like a valued part of the company.

Want to improve employee engagement with SMS, WhatsApp, calls, and email? Visit crm-messaging.cloud to find out how you can streamline your HR communication and keep your team connected. Also, you can integrate CRM Messaging, with your HRMS tools as well.