Email is fast and easy but is it effective to getting your wellness messages out and acted upon? Maybe not as much as you may think.
The average number of emails that an office worker receives daily is 121, according to DMR. In an eight-hour workday, this amounts to a little more than 15 emails each hour or roughly one every four minutes.
Given these numbers, it’s no wonder that many people get burned out from email overload and quickly tune out emails that don’t require immediate attention.
So, then, should you use emails for your wellness program? Yes, of course, but also use discretion and multiple delivery methods for your health and wellness information.
Let’s take a look at each:
Using discretion
- Decide on a certain number of health- and wellness-related emails that you will send employees each week. One or two is probably fine for everyone. You can always have a voluntary opt-in email for those who may want more regular emails (such as a daily health tip).
- Make email copy short and include an image. Think of it like a billboard. A few words or a statistic with a corresponding, memorable image can be powerful. You can always include a link for more information if a person is interested in additional content.
Using multiple delivery methods
- Post health and wellbeing posters in employee-gathering areas, such as break rooms or conference rooms, that people can take in while they’re waiting for the coffee to brew or meeting attendees to arrive.
- Create a private, employee-only wellness program Facebook Group page and post news, information, and other tidbits there. People check their Facebook news feeds often throughout the day and evening hours.
- Consider using text messages. Ask employees to voluntarily provide their phone numbers. Again, be respectful of employees’ time. Let them know how many texts to expect and don’t send more than you promise.
So, in a nutshell, yes, emails should be part of your workplace wellness communications strategy but not the only way you connect regularly with your wellness program participants.
For more ideas on how to connect with your employees, check out these articles:
- 11 Easy Ways to Reach Your Wellness Participants
- One Learning Style Doesn’t Fit All
- The Top 3 Wellness Communication Secrets
Looking for communications that will attract employees’ attention and get them engaged? Check out the world-class HOPE Health Letter®! Get the next 3 issues FREE to read and evaluate its effectiveness for your workplace. Get started today!
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