Social media is a relatively new phenomenon and its potential benefits are not entirely understood or implemented as it is very much an area in its infancy. Very basic internal communications (IC) in the past have simply consisted of a regular newsletter or staff email, but advancements in technology have changed this.

There are multiple reasons why effective IC can strengthen a business both internally and externally. A company that invests time and resources into establishing IC can benefit across the board including increased productivity, higher employee retention levels and more informed decision making at all organisational levels.

The current state of social media in businesses

There are many companies who have effectively harnessed the potential of social media to establish a more cohesive and integrated business at all levels. However, it appears that this may be something of a rarity, as VMA GROUP's Inside Insight 2016 Report found that only 7% of IC professionals rated their use of social media as ‘Excellent’ or ‘Cutting Edge’, suggesting that many companies are flagging in this area.

In the same survey, while a whopping 91% of participants used Intranet-based