Internal web series: engaging your employees on video | Responsive

Popular in external communication, the web series format can be very useful for engaging internal stakeholders. Overview of the advantages of this format.

In internal communication, certain key topics are sure to arouse the interest of employees. Do you want to share the strategic plan for the next five years? It's a safe bet that the views will be there. There is no obligation for communication managers to use an original format. On the other hand, winning support on less expected topics can be challenging. And this is precisely where a web series makes perfect sense! Simply because it allows you to hook and capture the attention of an audience.

Web series: an internal communication instrument with underexploited potential

Too often, web series are limited to light topics. Mistake! While it is true that it has no place in a crisis situation or in the context of socially sensitive issues, it can, on the other hand, be used to address strategic or complex points. Following the broadcast of a first episode, once the collaborators are interested, we can offer other, more educational content, always related to the subject. This will make it possible to deepen and easily convey essential information.

For example, Reactive Production addressed the issues of remote work and corporate nomadism for Docaposte.. The implementation of these new work protocols can generate apprehensions and misunderstandings. By exploiting the potential of the offbeat situations that result (comical effect guaranteed!) , the web series hits the mark and catches the eye.

The web series, especially in large groups where communicating is not always easy, has the advantage of conveying messages lightly. It addresses topics that employees would not necessarily have devoted time to, such as open space collaboration, data confidentiality or even inventory management. Since employees are often over-solicited by communication, it is an effective alternative to be visible and well understood.

Cohesion and proximity are key

As it often is (always!) shot on the premises of the company, the employees have fun recognizing the place and especially their colleagues! Because yes, in a web series dedicated to the internal staff, the staff is invited to play extras, or even more for those who discover an actor's soul.

It seems like nothing, and yet. The result is cohesion, belonging, even a certain pride, and above all a relaxed atmosphere. In addition, the embodiment of the characters provokes the desire to talk about them around you, encouraging word-of-mouth at the same time. Thanks to its almost event-based dimension and the favourable climate it creates, the web series succeeds where a traditional video fails. Its participatory and unifying nature helps to remove the obstacles.

Attention, while it is good to feature collaborators, it is also essential to keep in mind that they are not actors! A tip: have at least one real actor with comedic potential in the cast. The latter, very comfortable, conveys information fluidly. He/she interacts with employees, relaxes and coaches them, creating an emulsion that increases the quality of the game. A web series shot by Reactive Production for one of its customers, featured a fake collaborator (played by an actor): the employees looked for him in the company! They were convinced that they were dealing with a new recruit who was a bit crazy. Because yes, the web series is also a surprise in real business life!

Attachment through recurrence

The recurrence of episodes undeniably contributes to the success of the program, and supports the proper understanding of the messages. Each episode is a potential gateway: if the episode watched is seduced, the collaborator can continue watching, or even come back to the later programs.

This is another advantage of this format: the episodes can easily be watched out of order and the web series taken in progress. It is even possible to miss episodes without risking being lost. To conclude, an internally dedicated web series makes it possible to deal with a subject in its entirety, by breaking it down into major themes for each episode.

It is a fun and effective tool to invite employees to push the search for information further via the various media deployed by the structure on a given subject. And, in a context of current internal and external events that are sometimes morose and pressurizing, a real breath of fresh air.

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