Engaging Employee Newsletter Content & Design Strategies

Learn how to bridge gaps and strengthen company culture with these effective employee newsletter ideas and design strategies.

September 12, 2024
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How would you describe your job to a five year old?
What season would you be?
What is a weird food you have tried? Would you eat it again?
What is your favorite holiday tradition?
Would you go in the mother-ship with aliens if they landed on Earth tomorrow?
What is your favorite season?
Do prefer working from home or the office?
What is your earliest memory of this job?
What is the best thing you have bought so far this year?
What is the earliest book you remember?
If you had to move to another country, which one would you choose?
You are the best criminal mastermind in the world. What crime would you commit if you knew you would get away with it?
What is your favorite movie genre to watch?
What was the last thing you ate?
What person from history would you add to Mount Rushmore?
What is a weird fact you know?
What is your favorite part of working from home?
Were the Spice Girls a good team?
Imagine you can instantly learn any language. Which would you choose?
If you could live in any state, which state would you pick?
Which fictional team is the best team of all time?
What did you want to be when you grew up?
What do you usually eat for a quick lunch?
What simple food will you never eat?
Show us the weirdest thing you have in the room with you right now.
Would you rather stay at a hotel or an AirBNB?
What is your favorite movie genre to watch?
Are you more productive in the morning or at night?
Who is someone in your community that makes a difference?
Who was your most unique pet?
Choose one famous person from history you want on your team during a zombie apocalypse.
What is a good way to give back to the community?
Which song could you listen to over and over again?
Is Hugh Grant funny?
What is your favorite thing to eat for breakfast?
Would you want to have an imaginary friend today? Did you have one as a child?
What actor or actress would you want to play you in the movie about your life?
What is the best super power?
What is your New Years resolution?
You can only eat one food again for the rest of your life. What is it?
What is the best work holiday?
What is the first gift you remember receiving?
Would you rather join Metallica or Backstreet Boys?
What is the best example of a community you have seen?
What is an easy way to do something nice for someone?
Show us your phone background and tell the story behind why you picked this image.
What was your first job?
Pick any band to play at your funeral.
If you could have an unlimited supply of one thing for the rest of your life, what would you pick?
Which superpower would you give to your arch enemy?
What is the most obscure superpower you would want?
What emoji best describes how you are feeling right now?
If you could live in any country, which country would you pick?
Would you rather live in a city or a town?
What is your favorite holiday?
What is something you accomplished as part of a team?
What is your standard office lunch?
What is your most used phone app?
What is your favorite season?
Have you ever won something as a team?
Imagine you are a professional baseball player. What is your introduction song?
Beach holiday or ski trip?
Have you ever been to a funny comedy show?
Would you rather live at the North Pole or the South Pole?
What is your favorite song to sing?
If you could live in any state, which state would you pick?
Imagine you could teleport anywhere. Where would you go right now?
What is the most unusual job you have heard of?
What was the last thing you ate?
You can visit any fictional time or place. Which would you pick?
What do your family and friends think you do all day?
What movie do you wish you could watch again for the first time?
Show us your most-used emoji.
What was the most unique style or fashion trend you ever embraced?
What movie defined your generation?
You are stranded on a remote desert island. Are you alone or with your worst enemy?
What is your favorite knock-knock joke?
Have you ever told someone Santa is not real?
Do you know how to speak more than one language?
On a scale of 1 – 10, how much of a team player are you?
What is your #1 recommendation in this city?
What is your favorite holiday?
What bucket list item do you most want to check off in the next six months?
What is your favorite mythical creature?
What was the first way you made money?
If you could be great at any Olympic sport, which would it be?
Which song could you listen to over and over again?
When did you start liking/hating mushrooms?
Where is your favorite vacation spot?
Do you take your PTO all at one time, or another way?
Which show do you remember most from your childhood?
Which beverage goes best with pizza?
Would you want to have a personal assistant follow you around everywhere and do what you asked of them?
Have you ever met your idol?
What did you want to be when you grew up?
Would you rather live 100 years in the past or 100 years in the future?
What is your hobby?
When you are alone in the car, what volume is the music at?
Imagine you no longer have to work. How would you spend a Tuesday?
What is your favorite type of sandwich?

Employee newsletters are more than just a means of sharing information—they are a powerful tool to foster communication and build a sense of community within the workplace. With thoughtful content and creative design, newsletters can engage employees. When used effectively, they serve as a direct line to employees, delivering updates, celebrating achievements, and maintaining connections across all levels of an organization. In this article, we will share content ideas and essential design tips for creating a successful employee newsletter.

Why Are Employee Newsletters Important?

With the increase in remote and hybrid teams, it's crucial to stay connected and informed about company news. Implementing an employee newsletter is essential due to these benefits:

  • Bridge Communication Gaps: They provide a regular channel to ensure everyone is on the same page, regardless of their location.
  • Foster Engagement: Through interactive and diverse content, newsletters encourage participation and collaboration across departments.
  • Strengthen Culture: Newsletters reflect a company's values, keeping employees aligned with the organization's goals and fostering a sense of belonging.

Key Elements of a Successful Newsletter

A well-crafted newsletter should include the following:

  • Be visually appealing and easy to read.
  • Offer content that is relevant and meaningful to employees.
  • Provide a mix of informative and engaging sections to capture different interests.
  • Encourage interaction and feedback.

Content Ideas for Employee Newsletters

To keep newsletters engaging, it's essential to vary the content. Here are top ideas that can be tailored to fit your company’s goals and employee needs:

1. Company News and Updates

This is the backbone of any newsletter. Keep employees informed about new hires, promotions, departmental achievements, and important company milestones. Highlighting these developments fosters transparency and keeps everyone in the loop.

2. Employee Spotlights

Feature individual employees or teams in every edition. Sharing their stories, successes, and hobbies boosts morale and encourages camaraderie. This personal touch allows employees to get to know one another better, even in larger or remote teams.

3. Training and Development Opportunities

Regularly share information on upcoming workshops, webinars, and internal training sessions. Promoting professional development opportunities shows employees that the company invests in their growth, which can lead to higher engagement and retention.

4. Wellness Tips

Help employees prioritize their well-being with sections dedicated to physical and mental health. Offer self-care strategies, healthy living tips, or resources for managing stress. This promotes a culture of care and work-life balance.

5. Events and Social Activities

Whether it's a holiday party, team-building event, or virtual hangout, keep employees excited about upcoming company events. Highlight past events too, sharing photos and feedback to create anticipation for the next.

6. Polls and Surveys

Include interactive polls or surveys to gather quick feedback on workplace initiatives, preferences for future events, or even the newsletter content itself. This will engage employees and give them a voice in shaping company culture.

7. Team Achievements

Celebrate project milestones or team successes, no matter how big or small. Public recognition fosters a sense of pride and motivates employees to continue performing at their best.

8. Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Initiatives

Keep employees updated on DEI efforts within the organization. Share upcoming DEI-related events, training, or employee resource groups (ERGs) that employees can join. Highlight success stories of inclusion within the company to inspire continued progress.

9. Innovation Corner

Encourage employees to contribute new ideas to improve processes, products, or services. This section could include a spotlight on innovations that have been implemented or a call for suggestions. It demonstrates that all employees play a role in the company's evolution.

Design Tips for an Engaging Newsletter

In addition to great content, the design and format of your newsletter are key to maintaining engagement.

Visually Appealing Design

A clean, visually appealing design draws in readers. Incorporate images, infographics, and color schemes that align with your company branding. Use bullet points, bold headings, and short paragraphs to enhance readability.

Easy Navigation

Newsletters should be easy to navigate, especially for readers scanning content. Use a table of contents or clickable sections to allow employees to jump to their areas of interest.

Formatting and Device Compatibility

Ensure that your newsletter is optimized for both desktop and mobile devices. Test the layout on different platforms and use responsive design techniques to make sure it looks great everywhere.

Tips for Maintaining Engagement

Even the best-designed newsletter needs to consistently engage employees over time. Here are tips to keep the momentum going:

Consistency and Frequency

Decide on a regular schedule, whether weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly, and stick to it. Consistency builds anticipation, and employees will start looking forward to the next edition.

Encourage Interaction

Invite employees to contribute to the newsletter by submitting articles, suggestions, or shout-outs. Highlight the most interesting feedback in future editions, making employees feel heard and valued.

Personalization

Where possible, tailor the newsletter to specific departments, teams, or even individuals. Including personalized content makes employees feel like the newsletter was created with them in mind.

Enhance Workplace Culture With the News

Employee newsletters are a vital tool for fostering communication, engagement, and a connected workplace culture. By incorporating creative content ideas and maintaining a visually appealing and interactive design, you can craft newsletters that keep employees informed, motivated, and aligned with the company’s vision.

Want more ways to connect your organization? Schedule your demo with Assembly and see how we can help you create an engaged and connected workforce!

FAQ’s

What should be included in an employee newsletter? 

An employee newsletter should include a mix of relevant, engaging, and diverse content to keep employees informed and motivated. Key elements can include company news, employee spotlights, training opportunities, wellness tips, event announcements, DEI initiatives, and interactive sections like polls and surveys. The goal is to provide valuable information while fostering a sense of community and belonging within the workplace.

How often should you send an employee newsletter? 

The frequency of employee newsletters depends on your organization’s size and communication needs, but typically, newsletters are sent weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly. Consistency is key, so choose a schedule you can maintain, allowing employees to anticipate regular updates. Sending newsletters too frequently may overwhelm employees, while too infrequently can lead to disengagement.

How do you make an employee newsletter engaging? 

To make an employee newsletter engaging, focus on variety and interactivity. Use visually appealing designs, include multimedia like images or videos, and offer a mix of informative and entertaining content. Incorporating polls, surveys, or asking employees to contribute articles can encourage interaction. Keep the tone conversational, and personalize content to make employees feel valued and involved.

Why are employee newsletters important for company culture?

Employee newsletters are important for company culture because they help keep employees connected to the organization’s mission, values, and goals. By sharing news, celebrating achievements, and promoting transparency, newsletters foster a sense of belonging and pride. They also encourage open communication, collaboration, and recognition, which contribute to a positive and inclusive workplace culture.

Browse our Free Employee Recognition Guide

Get the foundational knowledge on creating an employee recognition program that boosts employee engagement and helps them feel valued.

Explore Guide

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Assembly SOC 2 compliant?

Yes, at Assembly, security is a top priority. Each quarter, we have ongoing security work that is everyone’s responsibility. While we maintain a strong security posture, it was important for us to prove to our customers that we do everything we claim to do. This led us to pursue a SOC 2 Type II report that would provide evidence of our compliance with industry gold-standard security practice.

What's the ROI for employee recognition?

There is study after study showing that employee recognition leads to increased engagement. This in return creates an environment where employees are happier and more motivated which increase productivity and reduces voluntary turnover significantly. In order to filled critical roles, companies tend to spend nearly twice the value of an annual salary. Assembly is an investment in your employees that supports your bottom line.

Does Assembly offer longer-term contracts?

Yes, we will offer contracts for companies with longer-term agreements to help larger customers have more certainty around future costs.

The minimum agreement term is a 12-month subscription.

Does Assembly offer onboarding support?

We do and for FREE! Any new customer needing further support to get started with Assembly to ensure you're set up for success can request custom onboarding support. Improving your employee experience is about much more than just using our amazing software; it’s about transforming your business to create a workplace that people love. That’s much easier to do with the personal support and advice from our passionate people experts.

Is there a free version of Assembly?

Yes. We offer a completely free plan for up to 50 team members. This plan is intended for teams or organizations that are looking to get started with an employee engagement tool. Keep in mind, this plan is limited in features.

All customers can open an Assembly account for free and get started without a credit card. Then you can change plans as necessary.

How much do rewards cost?

At the time of redemption (when your employees exchange their points for a paid reward) you'll pay face value. If a reward is a $10 Amazon gift card, your cost will be $10. All paid rewards are billed for on a monthly basis.

The good news is that you don't have to pay for rewards upfront because we only charge you when points are redeemed, not when they're earned.

Does Assembly offer discounts?

We offer discounts or educational or charitable organizations. In order to secure a discount, you'll first need to book a demo with a customer support specialist.

For all other organizations, we are willing to consider longer-term agreements in exchange for discounts. To set up annual plans or longer, you will need to book a demo with a customer support specialist.

How do I cancel my plan if needed?

If you're on a month to month plan, you can go here and cancel anytime. If you're having concerns or need help setting up your account for success, you can always book a demo with a customer support specialist.

If you're on a longer-term custom plan, you'll need to reach out to your customer support specialist to cancel your account or email us at support@joinassembly.com.

What customizations are available?

Great question! You can customize your core values to match your organization's to boost and track alignment. You can change your currency from the 🏆 emoji (our default) to any emoji of your choice. You can swap our logo for your own. You can also set up company culture rewards such as, "Lunch with the CEO," "Buy a book on us," and so much more!

Who can give or receive recognition?

While we recommend a peer to peer set up where anyone in your organization can give or receive recognition, you can set up Assembly however you want. If you need to limit the people who can give or receive recognition, that's perfectly fine and can be done from your Admin, here.

What integrations are available?

Assembly connects to the tools your employees use every day to offer an easy, seamless experience with minimal change management.  

Assembly has integrations with HCM/HRIS systems like ADP, Google, Office 365, and Slack. We also integrate with communication tools like Slack and Teams so you and your employees can access Assembly wherever they work now.

What's your average adoption rate?

That depends on the company's permissions set up. That said, over 90% of the employees on Assembly's platform are recognized on a monthly basis. That means nearly every employee across all of our customers are receiving regular recognition from their peers, managers, or leadership. We're extremely proud of this.

Must rewards be set up to use Assembly?

They are not required. You can use Assembly without having rewards set up. However, we don't recommend it if you intend to have a high adoption and usage rate. You can always keep the costs down by offering internal culture rewards that are fulfilled by you internally.

Are points required to use Assembly?

No, you can remove allowances from anyone or everyone. It's up to you but we do recommend using points whether they're worth a real dollar value or not. Companies that use points have a much higher engagement rate even if those points don't exchange for real dollars.

Could find the answer you are looking for?

Please schedule time with an expert and we will help you to get all your questions answered