Up to speed with internal communication theory — but struggling to apply it IRL?
Well, the following is just for you. We’ve put together some inspiring internal communication examples from the companies getting comms right.
As you’ll see in a sec, implementing internal communication best practices doesn’t have to cost a fortune — or take up a massive chunk of your time.
A shift in mindset, a new way of delivering messages, a leader who starts showing up on comms channels — this can be all it takes to make your internal communications more relatable, memorable, and engaging. And to see significant business results.
We know that good internal communication benefits employee engagement, productivity, and retention. So what are we waiting for?
Take a look at these 11 employee communication examples to reinvigorate your own comms strategy.
11 internal communication examples — from companies getting comms right
#1. Amazon
A couple of years back, Amazon’s Culture and Communications Lead shared some valuable insights into the company’s internal communication strategy.
- Employee communications have to be “snackable” because half your audience stops reading after 111 words.
- Messages should follow the BLOT format (bottom line on top), and lead with the most important point.
- Images and videos are engaging — and they convey a lot of information in a matter of seconds — ideal for the 65% of people who are visual learners.
By taking this approach to internal communication, employees are never overwhelmed by content. So they’re more likely to see, understand, and reply to the information that comes their way.
The takeaway from this employee communication example?
Long-winded emails and PDFs are out. Short, snackable content is in. For digitally-savvy employees, communicating over succinct, social media-style messages is the best way to grab attention — and get messages to sink in.
So consider the formats you’re currently using to communicate with employees. Is there a way to break down longer messages into bite-sized chunks? Can you get your message across more succinctly using visuals?
On Blink’s internal comms platform, creating and posting social media-style content is easy. You can share images, infographics, short-form video stories, and interactive polls to engage your audience in seconds.
#2. Go North West
Go North West, a UK bus company, was trying to communicate with its drivers over email, paper memos, and even snail mail sent to employees’ home addresses.
The team wanted to take comms digital. But they knew that a desktop-based solution would never work for its largely frontline workforce.
The answer? Blink’s mobile-first employee app.
The app provided a range of effective and engaging comms channels, including a news feed and real-time messaging. Drivers could read critical updates, log safety issues, and chat with co-workers via their smartphones.
In addition, integrations with existing workplace software meant employees could log into the app to access L&D, shift swap tools, and workplace benefits.
This approach dramatically improved message response rates and — because it supported a more cohesive company culture — it led to a 26% drop in employee turnover.
The takeaway from this internal communication example?
This internal communication example shows the importance of having the right communication channels.
So think about your workforce. Where do they spend most of their time? Are the communication channels you currently use an effective and engaging way to reach them?
For frontline teams, an employee communication app reaches staff where they are — on the go and on their smartphones. It gives employees everything they need to stay connected, informed, and empowered.
#3. Southwest Airlines
Southwest Airlines cares deeply about employee experience — and recognition is one of its strongest internal communication pillars.
The company has a program called SWAG (Southwest Airlines Gratitude). Via this program, the company celebrates employee milestones (personal and professional). It also allows employees to recognize the hard work of co-workers.
Staff have communication channels that allow them to send a note of gratitude or nominate a peer for an award. Workers then accrue SWAG points, which they can spend on merchandise, gift cards, and experiences.
By putting employee recognition front and center on communication channels, Southwest Airlines ensures appreciation isn’t an afterthought. Instead, it’s part of everyday company culture.
The takeaway from this employee communication example?
You can make your communication channels a hub for company culture and co-worker connection by encouraging peer-to-peer recognition.
Let employees create their own recognition posts on your news feed. And encourage engagement on manager-led recognition. When a manager publicly celebrates an employee, allow co-workers to comment or share related stories, amplifying the message in the process.
#4. Children’s of Alabama
At Children’s of Alabama pediatric hospital, employees were looking for ways to connect socially. Without an official comms platform, they’d turned to unapproved channels — like Facebook and WhatsApp. This created security risks for the hospital and a fragmented experience for employees.
The leadership team spotted this issue and set about fixing it with a mobile-first comms platform that everyone could access.
They now use this online space to share critical campaigns — information about flu shot season and employee benefits. But they also give employees space for informal chat and community.
Started as a joke, the hospital’s “Soup Watch” community has become a must-check feed. The food services team posts daily about the cafeteria cuisine on offer.
There’s also a “Golden Girls” group, dedicated to the hospital’s two golden retriever therapy dogs — Wanda and Sydney (who post under their own aliases).
The takeaway from this employee communication example?
The best employee communications aren’t just top-down messages from leadership. As this internal communication example shows, employees are craving informal co-worker connection.
In remote, hybrid, and frontline teams — where face-to-face communication isn’t always possible — they need the right digital tools. They also need space within those tools where community-building content is encouraged.
By helping employees to build friendships at work — and experience a sense of belonging — you can improve collaboration, employee satisfaction, and loyalty to your organization.
#5. Zappos
Zappos, a US-based shoe retailer, takes a culture-focused approach to business. One of its core values is “build open and honest relationships with communication.”
So how do they live this value in the workplace?
The company believes in sharing information openly. They communicate with employees about the company’s performance, current goals, and challenges, too.
Everyone (from leadership down) is encouraged to be humble — open to feedback and willing to admit mistakes. This helps to create a supportive environment where learning and sharing information are the norm.
The takeaway from this internal communication example?
Open communication boosts employee happiness, productivity, and engagement. If you want to weave this value through your internal communications, here are some ideas:
- Share company updates as transparently as possible
- Maintain an open-door policy so employees can come to managers with ideas, questions, and concerns
- Develop a culture of psychological safety where people feel comfortable speaking up
- Make two-way communication the norm — give employees a voice using surveys, chat tools, and an interactive news feed
#6. Microsoft
Since stepping into the role of Microsoft CEO, Satya Nadella has run monthly town halls. The aim? To discuss company strategy, culture, and leadership with employees.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, these town halls were taken online. The program developed into a fully virtual, two-way communication channel between employees and senior leadership.
Today, these events are still a chance for leaders to share important news. But also an opportunity for employees to ask questions and get an instant response.
Leaders respond candidly. They don’t just follow a script. So employees see a more human, relatable side to the C-suite, while getting clarity on the issues they care about, too.
The takeaway from this internal communication example?
We know that leadership visibility improves workplace trust. So finding ways to connect your C-suite and the workforce is really important.
Microsoft shows us a great way of doing it. Live events. Some pre-vetted questions, some live. Leaders showing up as their real, unscripted selves.
Our top tip? Ensure your town hall meetings are accessible to everyone.
Virtual events allow remote workers to take part. And a recording of your event posted to internal comms channels gives frontline workers (whose shifts don’t always align with a town hall) a chance to catch up on company news.
Blink’s live streaming and events features are great for getting this kind of program off the ground.
#7. Marlowe Fire & Security
At Marlowe Fire & Security, a leading provider of fire safety solutions in the UK, the HR team was struggling with employee engagement surveys.
Their email reminders were being ignored, participation rates were low, and managers were struggling to act on the insights the surveys revealed.
So they turned to their internal comms infrastructure to fix the problem:
- They used survey features on the comms platform their employees already knew and trusted
- They customized survey content to employment group
- They automatically notified and nudged employees to complete the survey via their smartphones
- They shared their post-feedback action plan over internal comms channels
The result was a 92.5% survey participation rate, way beyond anything they’d ever experienced before. They learnt about employee experience issues that they hadn’t considered. And they’re now driving meaningful workplace change.
The takeaway from this internal communication example?
This example of internal communication shows that, when employees feel heard — and when your communication channels make it easy to speak up — employee experience improves drastically.
If your employee surveys feel like a box-ticking exercise, ask yourself:
- How are you notifying people?
- Is the survey easy to access on the devices employees actually use?
- Are you segmenting audiences or sending one-size-fits-all questionnaires?
- Are you telling employees what you plan to do in response to their feedback?
Once these basics are in place, don’t wait for an annual survey. Use quarterly surveys and quick-fire polls embedded in your internal comms channels to get a real-time read on employee sentiment.
#8. Starbucks
“Employees are the true ambassadors of our brand, the real merchants of romance and theatre, and as such the primary catalysts for delighting customers.” — Howard Schultz, former Starbucks CEO
For years now, Starbucks has invested in the idea of employees as brand ambassadors. They recognize the link between employee experience and customer experience.
That’s why Starbucks puts serious effort into supporting its people — with comprehensive health benefits, wellbeing programs, education support, and a values-driven employee culture.
These values actually stick because Starbucks excels at sharing this information with its workforce. Employees see that they’re valued by the organization, understand what the brand stands for, and have simple, repeatable guidelines for delivering great customer service.
The takeaway from this employee communication example?
Getting everyone on the same page isn’t something you do once — it’s something you reinforce continuously.
Like Starbucks, you can do this through repetition. Make sure that your company culture and values are clearly and regularly defined across internal communication channels.
And let employees self-serve, too. House onboarding materials, manuals, policies, and FAQs in a content hub to ensure essential information is always within easy reach.
#9. BT Group
BT Group wanted to change the behavior of employees around security. They wanted to direct employee attention toward what, for many, was a boring topic without being patronising or singling anybody out.
The company worked with an agency called Goldbug to develop a campaign.
The result was a humorous and light-hearted spin on a serious subject, featuring a comedy character, witty dialogue, and (of course) key security guidance.
The campaign successfully grabbed audience attention and landed its message. In response, there was a 41% increase in employees upgrading their digital security and a much better awareness of phishing.
The takeaway from this employee communication example?
You don’t need to work with a big comms agency to take inspiration from this internal communication example. You just need to look at your internal comms tone of voice.
Corporate-speak is the norm in many organizations. But as BT Group has shown, it doesn’t always spark the interest of your audience.
So make your written comms more conversational. Ditch the jargon. Where appropriate, try a little light humor. Aim for empathetic, authentic, relatable messages. You may find employees remember and take action on your messages more reliably as a result.
#10. COMO Hotels and Resorts
COMO is a luxury hospitality group with 18 hotels and wellness retreats across the world.
Previously, their internal communication was very top-down. It relied on manager cascades, noticeboards, and emails. And there was very little way for employees to interact with comms — or find information for themselves.
Since implementing Blink’s modern intranet, comms have been transformed. Employees can access the content hub for information, so managers spend less time responding to requests. Staff can fill out digital forms to request vacation leave.
They can also share guest requests to resolve issues more quickly, while using the platform’s chat features to connect informally and strengthen workplace relationships.
The takeaway from this internal communication example?
COMO shows us the difference that bottom-up and peer-to-peer communication make to an organization. Internal communications stop being a broadcast and start being a conversation.
A modern comms platform can help you make this shift. By giving staff a centralized content hub and self-service tools, you reduce reliance on managers, improve operational efficiency, and improve employee engagement with communications.
You can also use your platform to amplify employee voices, so you understand what work looks like for them. This gives you the insight you need to make targeted improvements to employee experience.
#11. Nationwide
The last internal communication example on our list comes from Nationwide. At this organization, focus groups showed that many staff were juggling care responsibilities alongside their jobs.
In response, the company created an employee-led network called the Working Carers Employee Network. Through this group, employee carers are now able to share their stories and support one another, combating feelings of isolation.
Nationwide has also launched a “Carer’s Passport”, which employees can fill out and use as a basis to talk about their caring challenges with managers. This supports honest, structured conversations that give managers the insight they need to properly support employees.
Finally, the company offers a range of carer-friendly policies, all of which are clearly published on their intranet under easy-to-navigate sections. So relevant information is accessible to anyone, anytime.
The takeaway from this internal communication example?
Nationwide shows that internal comms isn’t just about sending messages. It’s about creating the channels and structures employees need to understand company policies — and seek support when they need it.
With coworker communities, employees can build connections with people in similar situations to them. Across the news feed, they can see their experiences reflected in the stories your company tells. This helps to create the psychological safety employees need to comfortably talk about their challenges with managers.
With intentional, visible comms across a variety of channels, you emphasize the values and policies that make your company a great place to work.
What do companies with great internal communications have in common?
So what key points can we take from these internal communication examples? What do the best organizations have in common when it comes to their comms strategy? We can boil it down to a couple of key points.
Culture and recognition are embedded
The best organizations weave company values and recognition programs directly into their communication channels. This reinforces belonging and keeps employees aligned with the company mission.
Content is clear, concise, and engaging
The best internal comms content goes beyond traditional text-based messaging. Communicators break messages into short, snackable formats — like videos, infographics, and short social media-style posts. That way, employees can quickly understand and act on the content they receive.
Channels are designed for the audience
Great internal communications meet employees where they are. Outdated tools like noticeboards, emails, and printed memos are out. Mobile apps, dynamic news feeds, and company-approved messaging tools are in. These channels connect employees no matter when and where they work.
Leadership visibility
These companies show that leaders don’t have to be distant or scripted. They can share company updates transparently, participate in town halls or live Q&As, and show employees the human side of the C-suite. This builds trust and credibility, both of which foster employee loyalty.
Accessible tools and support
Information, policies, and resources are easy to find. Employees can self-serve through centralized hubs and access all the workplace tools they need. That way, when comms point them in the direction of benefits or training or an upcoming event, employees can take action in just a couple of clicks.
Communication moves in all directions
Effective internal communication isn’t just top-down. It flows from employees up to the C-suite, and peer-to-peer, too. Employees have ways to share feedback, raise questions, collaborate with co-workers, and contribute to the company conversation.
They take a data-led approach.
Organizations that excel in internal communications measure what works and what doesn’t. By analyzing engagement metrics, comms platform usage, and employee survey results, they can refine content, channels, and strategy to improve internal comms — and the overall employee experience.
How business leaders can use internal communications examples to drive their goals
Looking at internal communication examples from companies like Amazon and Starbucks shows us what effective internal communication looks like in practice.
But what next? How do you take this inspiration and turn it into internal comms wins for your organization?
Start by taking stock of your internal comms landscape.
Ask employees what they think of your communications. If you’re already using a software solution, look at your analytics to understand which messages are getting through — and which are being ignored.
Also, consider your business objectives. Do you want to improve employee engagement? Customer experience? Or productivity? Perhaps you want to drive adoption of new policies. Or reinforce your culture.
These objectives will inform the internal comms tactics you focus on first.
And — if you decide you need a new internal communication platform to successfully adopt comms best practice — take a look at Blink.
Blink is a modern, mobile-first internal comms solution. With a news feed, chat, a content hub, employee communities, recognition, and deep integrations, it has everything you need to follow (and even improve on) the internal communication examples above.
Internal communication example FAQs
#1. What are the different types of internal communication?
The different types of internal communication include top-down, bottom-up, and peer-to-peer. These types of communication can be delivered across a range of communication channels: email, an intranet, an employee app, instant messaging tools, a company news feed, video call, and face-to-face.
#2. What is an example of internal communication?
An example of internal communication is a new CEO announcement. This news would be shared across various internal communication channels to prepare employees for the change, introduce the new CEO, and field any questions from the workforce.
#3. Why are examples of internal communication important?
Looking at examples of good internal communications from established companies can help you improve your own comms. It can also help identify challenges or areas for improvement within your organization’s current comms strategy.
#4. How can I make our internal communications more engaging?
You can engage employees with internal communications by creating opportunities for interaction and feedback, by recognizing their hard work, by supporting co-worker connections, and by delivering comms in an engaging, visual format.
#5. What types of internal communication examples are best for frontline teams?
Good internal communications examples for frontline teams include mobile-first employee apps, shift swap tools, push notifications, and co-worker messaging. Mobile-first comms are important as employees don’t have easy access to a desktop computer during the workday.
#6. How can I apply these examples of internal communication to my organization?
The best employee communication examples to follow depend on your workforce mix (frontline vs. office-based vs. remote), your company size, and your communication style. Start by considering the communication tools and channels you use — and how effective they are at reaching and engaging your entire organization.
Blink. And put great internal comms into the pocket of every employee.
