How often do you send out emails with important updates, only to have employees ask the same questions that were already answered in the message? Or perhaps you’ve shared a lengthy document, only to realise later that very few people actually read it. This is a common frustration in organisations today.
Traditional, text-heavy internal communication methods are losing effectiveness. Employees are bombarded with information daily, making it difficult to absorb key messages. But what if the issue isn’t what you’re communicating – but how you’re delivering it?
The Retention Problem with Text-Based Communication
Studies in the UK have found that employees typically retain only 10% of information from text-heavy communications. That means most emails, reports, and presentations go in one ear and out the other – leading to miscommunication, confusion, and wasted time.
Compare this to video:
Viewers retain 95% of a message when they watch it in a video
– insivia 2023 report
compared to 10% when reading it in text.
https://www.insivia.com/2023-saas-marketing-report/
When information is delivered visually, retention rates jump dramatically, with studies suggesting up to 95% retention. Video engages multiple senses, making information easier to understand and recall. This is especially critical for internal communications that require employees to take action, such as policy changes, compliance updates, or training materials.
The Employee Engagement Crisis
Beyond retention, engagement is another key challenge. According to research from the UK, over half of employees admit to ignoring or skimming through long emails and documents. This means critical messages are being missed, simply because the format is not engaging enough.
Now contrast this with video: 82% of employees feel more engaged when information is delivered visually. Think about it – would you rather read through pages of text or watch a short, engaging video that presents the same information in a clearer, more digestible way?
The Business Case for Video in Internal Communication
If your internal communications aren’t getting through, the issue may not be the content itself, but the way it’s being shared. Here’s why UK businesses are increasingly turning to video:
- Improved Retention – Employees are far more likely to remember key messages from a video than a written email.
- Higher Engagement – Short, well-crafted videos are more likely to capture attention and encourage interaction.
- Time Savings – A two-minute video can often replace a 10-page document, reducing information overload and unnecessary back-and-forth clarification emails.
- Clarity & Consistency – Video ensures that every employee receives the same clear message, eliminating misinterpretation.
Internal communication should be a tool for clarity and efficiency, not a source of confusion and disengagement. If your team isn’t absorbing key information, it’s time to rethink how you communicate.
Video is one of the simplest yet most effective ways to improve internal communication, making messages clearer, more engaging, and more memorable.
Want to explore how video can transform your internal comms strategy?
Book a free strategy call with Tale Productions today!
