Everyone’s skimming, swiping, and ignoring internal emails. To really make your message land — not just go out — video is your best shot.

And that’s not just opinion:

• 38% of employees prefer visual content (like video or infographics) over plain text

• 65% say they’d rather receive video updates from leadership than written memos

• Over two-thirds say video helps them feel more aligned and motivated

Video brings clarity to strategy, emotion to change, and a human face to leadership.

But it only works when it’s clear, considered, authentic — and yes, brave!

Start With the Outcome, Not the Format

Before choosing talking heads, animation, or glossy edits, ask:
“Who needs to feel what — and why?”

Video is powerful because it delivers both emotion and information. Knowing your intended outcome — trust, motivation, clarity — should shape every decision.

Often, the real goal isn’t just to explain a change, but to help people believe in it.

‍‍ Make It Human

Professional doesn’t mean impersonal. Our most effective internal videos include:

• Leaders speaking candidly, unscripted

• Team members sharing stories in their own words

• Moments that feel like genuine conversation or at least ‘less corporate”

• Day in the life type insights

When staff see real people — not polished presenters — messages resonate.

✂️ Keep It Focused

Your audience is busy. Keep videos purposeful and respectful of time:

• Under 2 minutes in length

• One core message per film

• Subtitles included, so it works on digi screens around the office

• Hook in the first 10 seconds

When you have more to explain, break it into a short series.

Choose the Right Format for the Message

There’s no universal formula. Choose formats that align with your goals:

• Subtitled talking heads for leadership visibility

• Staff stories filmed onsite for authenticity

• Motion graphics to explain processes or data

• Mini-documentaries to narrate change or impact

• Celebration films to build culture and pride

• Go live! Consider how live virtual events can enhance how messages land. Your team watching all at once can create a real buzz and a sense of togetherness #Moment! (We can help with Live events, too. Find out more ➳ here)

Match the format to the purpose — not just the brand guidelines.

Be Brave With Tone and Style

This is where internal comms is changing fast.

More and more teams are moving away from cautious, over-polished messaging and embracing authentic, creative, and bold communication.

Reports from organisations like the Institute of Internal Communication show that employees engage more with content that feels real and conversational — and less like corporate broadcast.
Video is more effective when it’s bold, authentic, and audience-led.

That might mean:

• Letting go of rigid scripts

• Using humour, warmth, or informality

• Breaking from the brand guidelines to capture attention (careful not to throw the baby out with the bathwater!)

• Giving leadership space to speak like humans, not headlines

Sometimes the most effective internal video is the one that makes your brand team curious or double-take — in all the right ways.

It’s not about being reckless. It’s about making people care.

️Don’t Underestimate the Practicalities

Filming in a live workplace environment is a skill in itself. Not everyone is a natural in front of the camera, especially when the rest of the team is looking on!

A good production partner will help you:

• Navigate tight schedules and sensitive environments. Please talk to them about what will work well on camera. You’ll need to have sharp elbows when booking spaces!

• Coach nervous speakers to feel natural on camera

• Choose filming locations that support the story. This might mean leaving the office!

• Write scripts that sound like people — not policies. And don’t be afraid to sense check the overall message. If you need lots of words to explain the new policy- is it right?

Real working life is messy. Your video can still be confident, clear and compelling.

✅ What Great Internal Comms Videos Have in Common

They are:

• Purpose-driven — with a clear emotional and practical goal

• Human — honest, sincere, and relatable

• Concise — built for attention, not airtime

• Fit for channel — made to work where it will be watched

• Brave — because safe is easy to ignore

Final Thought: Internal Comms Is Culture in Action

Video doesn’t just share information. It shows how your organisation communicates, listens and leads.

Used well, it builds trust, reinforces culture, instills pride and brings strategy to life.

If your internal comms are starting to blend into the background — maybe it’s time to be brave.

Want help creating internal video content that actually connects?
We’ve worked with clients across a huge range of sectors to create videos that cut through, bring people together and move them to action.

Let’s talk!.