When the sun beats down and burns the tar up on the roof, your employee communication vehicles may need a little lift. Where can you go for inspiration? Down by the sea, of course, where the boardwalk offers not only thrilling rides and greasy food, but also ideas on how to make communication more appealing, attention-getting and action-oriented.

When we recently visited one of our favorite boardwalks—in Asbury Park, N.J.—we not only started humming Bruce Springsteen’s greatest hits, we also discovered best-practice elements to use in your communication vehicles:

• Visual. Logos, illustrations and pictures tell the story.
• Colorful. Black is banned; the brighter, the better.
• Concise. So short, you quickly get the point while you stroll by.
• Call to action. You’re invited to eat now, buy this, enter here.
• Can’t miss. Messages are (literally) right in your path...