Strengthening Internal Communication with Video and Animation
Be honest: how many of your coworkers actually read that email about the new compliance rules? Or that 48-slide PowerPoint presentation on the reorganization? And that information security policy document—who actually read it from start to finish?
Probably almost no one. And that’s not because they don’t want to; it’s a lack of time and attention. Most employees already have their hands full with their inboxes and meeting schedules. Your internal communications just add to that.
Video solves that problem. Not because it’s trendy, but because people are simply more likely to hit “play” than to open a PDF. A two-minute quarterly update on video really resonates. A 90-second animation about new legislation sticks in people’s minds. A welcome video for new colleagues feels more personal than an onboarding folder.
Why Video Works for Internal Communication
We see this with our own clients. An animation about a new compliance program is viewed by 80% of employees in the first week. Try doing that with an intranet post.
Four reasons why video works so well internally.
Greater engagement
Videos are viewed three times more often than intranet posts. Employees actively watch them instead of passively scrolling.
Consistent and scalable
The same message for 50 or 5,000 employees. No distortion due to intermediaries or interpretation.
Personal and credible
A video message from a director is more personal than an email sent on behalf of the board. Seeing a person’s face and hearing their voice inspires trust.
Measurable
In an LMS or video platform, you can see exactly who watched the video, how long they watched it, and whether the message got through.
How We See It in Practice
For one of our clients, a large, international accounting and consulting firm, we produce a wide variety of videos for internal communication. These include quarterly updates in which management explains the financial results and strategy, filmed in a green-screen studio or in a stylish office space; explainer videos that detail a new policy or system; and animations for change initiatives where the subject matter cannot be filmed.
What makes it work: we know the organization, its tone of voice, and its expectations. There’s no need for a long lead time anymore. Briefing on Monday, script on Wednesday, recording the following week. That pragmatism is exactly why we’re the preferred supplier.
For one of the largest municipalities in the Netherlands, we create e-learning animations about laws and regulations. Think of the Cybersecurity Act, information security, and compliance. These are short modules that employees can complete at their own pace via the LMS.
Five Forms of Internal Video Communication
In practice, we most commonly encounter five applications.
Board Communication and Quarterly Updates
Video messages from the CEO or the board. Personal, credible, and accessible to every employee.
Corporate Video or Green ScreenChange Communication
Clearly explain a merger, reorganization, or new system. Alleviate uncertainty with a visual narrative.
Animation or explainer videoE-learning on Laws and Regulations
Compliance, privacy, information security. Short modules that employees can complete at their own pace.
E-learning animationOnboarding
A welcome video that explains our company culture and systems. More personal and efficient than a stack of documents.
Corporate Video or AnimationSafety and Procedures
Make work instructions and protocols visual. Show situations that you wouldn't want to film in real life.
AnimationFast, pragmatic, and hassle-free
Internal communication doesn't have to be a long-term project. Most of the videos we produce for internal communication are ready within two to three weeks. For ongoing collaborations, such as monthly board updates or an e-learning series, we agree on a production workflow so that everything is ready on time without having to start from scratch each time.
Delivery in any format you need: MP4 for the intranet, optimized for Teams or SharePoint, with subtitles for accessibility, or a format that integrates seamlessly with your LMS.
Wondering what this could mean for your organization?
Curious about what video communication can do for your organization? Calculate the costs right away with our free calculator, or call us at 0318 240 092 for a no-obligation consultation. Of course, you can also email us at hallo@explainit.video.
Bas van Maanen
Founder of Explainit
Bas is the founder of Explainit, an animation and video production company based in the Ede region. With over 15 years of experience in animation and video production, he has completed hundreds of projects for clients such as KPMG, Erasmus+, the Municipality of Ede, and Yellowtail. Explainit deliberately works with a small team and brings in the right specialists for each project. This keeps the lines of communication short, the quality high, and the rates fair. Do you have questions about this article, or are you curious about what video can do for your organization? Feel free to contact us.