We often get this question, and though there is no "one size fits all" solution, I can assure you that if you follow these basic guidelines, adjust based on your results, you will drive employee engagement across the board.
Send relevant content at the best time and frequency for your employees.
It is just that simple. Let me break it down, and you can follow these guidelines to figure out what is suitable for you and your company.
1. Send When You Have Valuable Information
Ask yourself, do my employees need to know this now?
You want to make sure that every time you send a Ving, it has information in it that is both engaging and valuable to your employees. If you have something to say, say it. If you have something that can wait, wait. Some information your employees need to know right now, and in those situations, we encourage you to send it immediately. If you have something you want to share of less importance or on a specific timeline, we recommend holding on to it until your monthly update.
2. Be Consistent
Ask yourself, what is the best frequency, not too much, not too little?
Consistent in Frequency: Now, of course, there will be situations that lead you to need to send a Ving outside of your regular cadence, but you should be consistent for 90% of your communications. Your employees thrive on routine and expectations even if they don't realize it. So if you decide to send a monthly company update, keep sending them on the same day, monthly.
Consistency in Duration: This is another significant factor. Keep your recurring messages short and to the point. Try to keep them all about the same amount of time to complete. Employees will learn that when they see a Ving that it only takes a few minutes to complete.
3. Watch For The Dip In Engagement
Ask yourself, What are the average Ving completion rates on video, documents, etc.?
Sometimes too much of a good thing is a bad thing. That is a fact. If you see a dip in engagement, you probably see one of two things. First, you are sending too frequently, or your Vings are way too long. Try sending at a slightly less frequent schedule, and shorten your message. Maybe weekly is too much for the topic at hand, with all the other safety training going on. So try bi-weekly or monthly for a little bit, and re-assess. Second, remember the golden rule "number one" from above and make sure your content adds value to your employees' day-to-day. It won't take long for you to find your perfect mix of frequency and duration to drive maximum engagement.
4. Consider Other Content
Ask yourself, What content are we sharing at our company? How exactly does it relate to the job at hand and my employees?
Develop a content sharing plan - content and timing.
Content: Take a look at what is typically happening in your employee's day, morning hours, after hours, time of year, then pick topics that align - this ensures relevancy and understanding as to why they need to look at it.
Timing: Send with consistency; for example, send company updates only on the first Monday of the month in the mornings and keep them to 3 to 5 minutes max every time. Start each Ving title with something like "Company News: (then insert your topic). The same applies to Safety training assignments to be consistent and relevant. It's ok to send out random updates or training; make sure you explain why they are receiving the information. For example, expecting a heatwave: Start your message out with "Last week several employees fell ill to heat exhaustion, we don't want that to happen to you. They had to leave work early due to dehydration; it's hot and humid out. Stay hydrated! Would you please watch this “How to prevent dehydration” video? Thanks". Your employees will not only watch it, but also you'll continue to reinforce what they have come to know, that their employer cares.
BONUS TIPs:
Use Your Microburst Settings
Make sure to turn on those microburst settings, so your employees aren't overwhelmed by too much lengthy training and let Ving automated reminders keep them on track through completion. Short bursts of training keep employees engaged and helps them with retention, recall, and reuse of on-the-job information.
Use the QR Code Feature:
QR Codes are the perfect way to engage your employees at the right time, in the right place. For example: place a QR code in the break room - that retrieves a Ving on company happenings, or a policy update, on the side of a trailer - that retrieves the job safety plan, or on a toolbox that retrieves a list of tools and a video on how to store tools, so they are ready for the next day, etc.