I focus so much on Intranets that sometimes I must remind myself that a great Intranet is NOT the only strategy for Internal Communications. While an Intranet is sometimes seen as the central channel for reaching employees, it is just one piece of the larger puzzle.

I often feel compelled to remind clients that effective communication isn’t about choosing one channel and calling it a day. It’s about creating a multi-channel strategy that meets employees where they are; digitally, physically, and behaviorally.

Let’s break it down. Here are seven ways organizations can (and should) communicate with their teams:

Intranet

Yes, it’s foundational. It’s where employees go for updates, resources, and organizational knowledge. But it shouldn’t be the only place your message lives.

Email

Still one of the most effective ways to deliver official internal communication. If it’s a major announcement or policy update, email gives it the weight and structure it deserves.

Microsoft Teams

Teams is great for collaboration, but it can get noisy. Messages can be buried in channels or chats, and not everyone checks their activity feed regularly. It’s useful, but not foolproof.

Viva Engage

Think of this as your internal social network. It’s a great way to spark conversation, share culture moments, and build community. But again, it’s one piece of the puzzle.

Push Notifications & Text Messages

Especially useful for frontline workers or employees who aren’t desk-bound. Quick, direct, and hard to miss.

Digital Signage

Screens in lobbies, break rooms, and hallways can reinforce messages in a passive but powerful way. Think of it as ambient communication.

Printed Materials

Yes, print still matters. A one-pager on the corkboard in the lunchroom might reach someone who missed every digital channel.

The Rule of Seven

Here’s the truth: if you want your message to land with impact, you need to say it seven times in seven different ways. That’s not overkill, it’s strategic.

Post a message on Teams. Send it via email. Publish it on SharePoint. Share it on Viva Engage. Put it on a screen. Print it out. AND Repeat.

The goal isn’t just to inform; it’s to connect.

And connection takes repetition, variety, and intentionality.

Daniel Amaro
Co-Founder and President, Klarinet Solutions

Dan Amaro is Klarinet Solutions' Co-Founder and CEO. With over a decade of expertise in effective automation and intranet solutions, he knows all things tech. He firmly believes that the right digital workplace technology streamlines communication and collaboration to allow teams to have better work-life balance. As lead architect, he works to optimize business processes, integrate moving parts, and deliver a system that runs efficiently and seamlessly within organizations.