Nine key communications, content and employee engagement trends

June 28, 2021 Updated: April 28, 2025 by

In DWG’s recent annual update on Communications and Content, research author, Nicole Carter, looks at the latest trends in internal communications, content strategy and employee engagement.

The research identifies three key trends within each of the topic areas:

Internal communications

  • Crisis communications – repurposing existing plans and widening the scope of what is considered a crisis to encompass wellbeing and mental health. 
  • Digital overload – coping with communication channel competition and conflict.  
  • Onboarding – helping new hires and people into new roles whilst working remotely.

Content strategy

  • Dynamic content – making content and messages creative and engaging. 
  • Dispersed content and signposting – guiding employees on where to find the accurate and up-to-date information they need.
  • Inclusive content and terminology – the importance of an inclusive mindset within internal communications, helping to create and convey company culture by listening to employees.

Employee engagement

  • Live events and virtual meetings – the need to consider changing technology and potential employee distractions at home when holding events and meetings.
  • Watercooler chat – developing informal conversations and relationships remotely.
  • Accessibility and digital literacy – ensuring that employees with additional needs or those that require assistance to learn new technology or systems are continually supported.

The theme that runs through this report is the strong need for empathy, strategic engagement and careful consideration of all the different elements of communications and content (from big-ticket items such as corporate (online) events to the low-level team chatter over instant messages) in order to support organizations and help them to survive and thrive. 

The report also makes nine recommendations from the research findings for intranet and digital workplace teams to take forward, along with key thinking points. 

An excerpt of this research report is available now for free download:

Communications & Content: DWG Annual Update 2020

Get access to the full report and 80+ other best practice digital workplace reports

DWG members have access to this full report, and all nine recommendations. This report forms part of DWG’s best-practice Research Library of 80+ reports covering key areas such as strategy and governance, personalization, user experience and change management for intranets and digital workplaces.

Find out what else is in the library and new research that’s coming up. Contact us to learn how to gain access to this library via DWG membership.

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Categorised in: Digital communication, Digital workplace trends, Employee engagement

Nicole Carter

Nicole Carter works with DWG as a lead consultant, benchmarker and member adviser. She has a track record of delivering well-governed, user-focused applications and intranets that make it easier for people to do their jobs – from wherever they get connected. Also a freelance independent consultant and researcher, with a background in digital workplace governance, content strategy, change management, stakeholder engagement and product design, Nicole enjoys the challenge of coaching people to plan and achieve something, rather than only dream about it.

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