More and more companies are making use of video technology to help them communicate and connect in a more fun, personable manner. Here are just a few of the trends I've noticed:
- Many organizations are posting fun videos that showcase their culture as a way to help them recruit and attract top talent. Some offer up fun guided tours or a "day in the life of_______" style video; others go the "Glee route" feature dancing and lip syncing employees.
- Humorous employee orientation videos are becoming increasingly common. They are a fun, effective way to orient new hires while putting faces to some of the employees they'll be working with.
- Some companies are using their own employees in on-line video campaigns. Kulula Airlines, who I visited in South Africa last month, allows employees to audition for parts in their hilariously outrageous on-line promotional videos.
- Many companies are using video to capture key moments throughout the year so they have a video year book to give to employees and/or clients at the end of the year.
- Companies are using video contests featuring their customers using their products in fun, creative ways to generate ideas and free publicity.
- Argus Industries, in Winnipeg, Manitoba, uses hidden video cameras to capture the spontaneous reactions of employees being scared by an employee dressed in a gorilla costume. Screening the reaction shots has become a huge tradition at their annual Christmas party.
- Leaders are increasingly turning to video blogs to send out weekly or monthly messages to employees. Using video helps them connect more strongly than simply sending out an e-mail message.
- With technology such as Eyejot, more people are responding to e-mail messages with a brief video response rather than text in order to help them stand out from the herd.
