If you're wondering how to develop an engaging employee newsletter and want ideas on how to proceed, we've done the homework! This blog shares a list of meaningful newsletter examples and ideas. Dive right in and bookmark it so you always have something to start with.
Effective internal communication is indispensable to business success. As the modern workplace evolves with increasing hybrid work, transitioning company cultures, and growing diversity in demographics, ensuring everyone is aligned and motivated isn't straightforward. Introducing well-planned company newsletters in your internal communications app is a great way to overcome traditional communication barriers and ensure everyone's informed, connected, and engaged.
What is an employee newsletter?
An employee newsletter is an informative and eye-catching publication designed for internal sharing in an organization. HR managers and internal communicators use these to distribute information, updates, news, and announcements relevant to employees and also ensure everyone's engaged.
Why are employee newsletters still so important?
Even with growing social media and group chats, newsletters are still relevant, even when you have frontline workers. They're integral to:
Building a sense of community and trust at work
94% of employees state that it is crucial for them that their workplace creates a sense of belonging. Frontline workers are particularly at risk of feeling alienated and disconnected. Newsletters help establish a sense of community and trust by recognizing employee achievements, highlighting important milestones, and sharing personal anecdotes (with permission).
Helping reach deskless and remote workers regularly
Research states that nearly 40% of deskless workers may quit their jobs in the coming months. The top reasons are a lack of career advancement opportunities and low wages. Newsletters are a fantastic platform for reconnecting with deskless workers and helping them decide to stay. Most importantly, by contacting them regularly, you'll make them feel part of your organization.
Increasing employee engagement and motivation
Highly engaged teams are 21% more profitable for companies. However, ensuring deskless workers remain engaged can get tricky. Newsletters are a great way to disseminate content and encourage conversations without being intrusive. Quiz contests, informative articles, and employee recognition via newsletters can generate conversations and motivate remote workers. 
Keeping employees informed about company news and updates
84% of deskless workers claim that their superiors don't communicate directly with them. If you can't get your time-pressed leaders to communicate with deskless workers regularly, newsletters provide a great platform to ensure communication flows.
Reducing communication and information overload
50% of workers feel that increased meetings and messages negatively impact productivity and cause information overload. Newsletters containing pertinent information address this and encourage asynchronous communication.
Improving employee morale and loyalty
72% of employees report that if company benefits were customized to their needs, they would be more satisfied and loyal. Newsletters are an excellent avenue to inform employees of specific company benefits. Usually, frontline workers aren't aware of these or have access to this information. Informing via newsletters is easy and boosts loyalty and satisfaction.
Convinced to try it out? Let's dive into ideas you can implement.
Here are 12 employee newsletter ideas that will help you drive employee engagement
Employee-focused newsletter content ideas
1. Jobs and training
Your company’s employee newsletter is the perfect platform to keep employees informed about internal job postings and professional development opportunities. Adding sections for job postings, employee resource groups, or training programs encourages employees to grow within the organization. You could also highlight stories from team members who’ve made successful internal moves or upskilled through company training, fostering a sense of community and reinforcing your company's values of professional growth.
To further engage employees, consider including feedback from team members who have completed training programs or gained certifications. This encourages employees to participate and brings job satisfaction to the forefront. Imagine it like Yelp reviews for internal growth! Employees can feel more motivated seeing real-world success stories of growth within the company.
2. Anniversaries and milestones
Celebrating individual employees’ anniversaries, achievements, and milestones can be a fantastic way to boost employee morale. Including these personal shout-outs in your employee newsletter brings a sense of belonging and celebrates each team member’s unique journey. Try adding “Milestone Badges” for every five years of service or major achievement, and encourage employees to display them on their profiles or team channels. Highlighting these moments demonstrates the company’s commitment to its people and strengthens the sense of community.
Take it further by dedicating a “Milestone Moment” section where team members can write congratulatory notes to their colleagues. Not only does this boost engagement, but it also reinforces company culture by celebrating accomplishments together, ensuring that employees feel valued across the entire company.
3. Pulse surveys and anonymous feedback
Pulse surveys are useful to collect opinions and feedback regularly. Embed their links to monitor employee sentiments and continuously understand what employees need. Leverage newsletters to send out feedback forms to better understand your employees' pain points. Examples of surveys and feedback forms include questions related to working conditions, team well-being, feedback for supervisors, individual circumstances, etc.
Pro tip: Try including themed mini-surveys related to current events, like a “Remote Work Report Card” during a season with high virtual attendance.
4. Quotes and inspirational ideas
Breaking up company news with motivational quotes and stories can add a refreshing element to your employee newsletter. Include contributions from individual employees with their favorite quotes or health and well-being tips to make the newsletter feel personal and engaging. When employees see their input recognized, it promotes employee recognition, allowing employees to feel part of the conversation.
Consider a regular “Feel-Good Friday” feature, which includes wellness tips, inspirational stories, or team shout-outs. This simple addition can foster employee morale and create a more positive workplace culture, reminding everyone that the company cares about their well-being beyond just the work they do.
Company-focused newsletter content ideas
5. Share blogs
If your company has a blog, sharing relevant posts in the newsletter ensures the entire company is aware of what’s happening across departments. Link back to previous blogs that discuss company goals, customer stories, or industry trends. Sharing these resources keeps employees informed and provides useful information that can help improve employee productivity and engagement.
For added interaction, consider a brief “Manager’s Insight” where leaders share their takeaways from the blog posts or how the topic relates to team goals. This strengthens alignment and shows employees how the company’s direction ties into their daily work, ultimately encouraging employees to stay connected and engaged.
6. Business and company updates
Use your company newsletter to provide a big-picture view of company news and updates. Keep employees engaged by highlighting company milestones, upcoming company events, and corporate social responsibility initiatives. For instance, sharing positive press coverage or key wins lets employees see the company’s impact and growth.
To keep it interactive, add a “Guess What?” teaser section for upcoming company events, policy changes, or new hires. This playful approach keeps the entire company interested in the company’s direction and reinforces company culture by showing that you value keeping everyone on the same page.
7. Changes in policies and products
Policy changes can often go overlooked, especially among frontline workers who may not regularly check company news. Make policies more accessible by summarizing them in straightforward language in the newsletter. Providing an “FAQ” section on policy updates and upcoming company events can help employees get the information they need without feeling overwhelmed.
Including major product updates can also increase job satisfaction as employees understand the company’s latest moves. Whether it’s details on how to apply for employee benefits, medical insurance, or updated travel benefits, ensuring that employees are always informed reinforces the company’s commitment to transparency.
8. Competitor news
Keeping up with competitor news not only encourages employees to stay on their toes but also creates a space for inspiration and creativity. Sharing information on competitors’ new strategies or market trends helps employees understand the broader landscape and shows how the company is innovating in response.
Consider adding a “Spotted in the Industry” section where employees can share their own observations or insights into competitor news. This simple addition boosts engagement and motivates employees to think critically about how the company can stay ahead while building a deeper sense of ownership in the company’s mission.
9. Company culture
Leverage the newsletter to showcase your company’s culture, building a welcoming environment. Introduce new employees, spotlight employee achievements, or share employee spotlights to foster a sense of belonging. Adding seasonal content or team member stories, such as staff-recommended books or “This Day in Company History,” strengthens the company’s values and helps create a positive company culture.
To further reinforce company culture, add fun content ideas like sharing “overheard” moments or starting a “rumor mill” column (within reason!). It’s a playful way to bring out the lighter side of workplace culture, making the newsletter something employees look forward to each month.
Customer-focused newsletter content
10. Customer reviews
Showcasing customer reviews and testimonials is a great way to reinforce employees’ role in delivering a positive customer experience. Sharing these stories highlights the company’s commitment to excellence and reminds employees of the impact they have. A monthly “Star Performer” feature can shine a spotlight on employees or teams who received positive customer feedback, motivating everyone to go the extra mile.
Make it interactive by running a quick poll where employees vote for their favorite customer testimonial of the month. This small engagement tactic strengthens alignment with company goals and creates a shared sense of achievement in delivering exceptional service.
11. Industry news and trends
Employees who understand industry trends can adapt more quickly and anticipate changes, which in turn boosts employee engagement. Use the newsletter to share relevant information on industry news, such as social media trends for marketing teams or technical developments for customer service departments. Keeping employees informed of these updates shows the company’s commitment to professional development and helps align everyone with company goals.
For added interactivity, encourage employees to submit links to industry news they find interesting, with the best ones featured in the next edition. This crowdsourcing approach builds a sense of community and shows that the company values individual employees’ interests and knowledge.
12. Exclusive offers and promotions
Remember, employees can be loyal customers too. Exclusive offers in the employee newsletter—such as employee discounts, special promotions, or previews of new products—make employees feel valued as both team members and customers. This shows that the company values employees’ engagement with its products and services.
To make it even more engaging, create a “VIP Sneak Peek” or “Staff Picks” section that previews upcoming offers. When employees feel they’re valued beyond just their roles, it increases loyalty, reinforces the company’s values, and aligns with the company’s mission to create a positive and inclusive work culture. 
Use an employee communications app to automate newsletters
While drafting newsletters is one part, distributing them well is equally important for getting results.
A simple way to streamline this part is leveraging a comprehensive employee communications app for internal comms. Using a unified platform can help you connect across your entire workforce. Go for a mobile-first app as a single source of company information to connect with both in-office and frontline workers. Use the same to send timely newsletters and ensure engagement builds around them.
Speakap is the only internal comms app your employees need. Its content distribution helps admins write, edit, plan, and post curated content on an employee app. It's built with acknowledgment features to let you know if your team reads it, and the statistics dashboard reveals the exact impact. Contact us today to learn how Speakap's employee communications app can help you implement successful employee newsletter campaigns and much more!