Wed Sep 11 09:30:07 UTC 2024: ## Internal Communication Strategies That Earned Awards: Lessons from Campbell’s, 3M, and Optus

**[City, State] -** In today’s digital age, reaching employees effectively requires innovative and strategic approaches to internal communication. The Ragan Employee Communications Awards recognize organizations that excel in this area.

Three notable winners from last year’s awards highlight successful strategies for engaging employees:

**Campbell’s “What the Tech” Email Campaign:** This campaign utilized short, concise emails to guide employees through technical issues. With a clear and easy-to-navigate format, the emails helped address common tech questions, reaching over 450,000 employees in its first five months. The success was measured by tracking open and download rates, demonstrating the effectiveness of a focused approach to addressing employee needs.

**3M’s Virtual Fairs:** Recognizing the challenges of a globally dispersed workforce, 3M launched a series of virtual fairs to showcase the work of its scientists and engineers. These interactive events, held throughout the summer, covered diverse topics such as climate change, industrial safety, and electric vehicles. Through email blasts, landing pages, and live Q&A sessions, 3,700 employees from 49 countries engaged with the knowledge-sharing platform. The virtual fairs bucked the trend of declining intranet participation during the summer months, demonstrating the power of technology to connect a geographically diverse workforce.

**Optus’ “Conversation with Kelly” Podcast:** Optus, a leading telecommunications company in Australia, launched a bi-weekly podcast featuring their CEO, Kelly Bayer Rosmarin. This initiative aimed to foster a stronger work culture by providing employees with direct access to leadership insights. Each episode earned employees credits toward the company’s learning and development program, incentivizing engagement. With over 9,000 plays and high ratings for its content, the podcast proved a successful method for bridging the gap between leadership and employees.

**Key Takeaways:**

These examples highlight the importance of:

* **Leveraging diverse communication channels:** Utilizing a mix of email, intranet platforms, podcasts, and virtual events can reach diverse audiences effectively.
* **Addressing specific needs:** Understanding employee concerns and offering tailored solutions can boost engagement and improve communication effectiveness.
* **Incorporating incentives:** Linking communication initiatives to employee benefits and development programs can incentivize participation.

As the deadline for the 2024 Ragan Employee Communications Awards approaches (September 20), organizations are encouraged to consider these winning strategies and strive for impactful employee communication that fosters a connected and informed workforce.

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