The Rise of Employee Advocacy - How Your Employees Can Become Your Best Brand Ambassadors

What if your brand ambassadors weren't glamorous social media influencers or A-list celebrities, but the very people who make your company tick – your employees? This is the exciting world of employee advocacy, and it's rapidly changing the way businesses connect with their audiences.

According to a survey, 65% of the companies claimed increased brand recognition after implementing employee advocacy programs. Think of the untapped potential – a loyal army of brand champions, organically spreading the word about your company culture, products, and services.

So, how can you join the ranks of these successful companies and tap into the power of employee advocacy? Let's get into this exciting trend and explore how to turn your employees into your biggest brand fans!

The Power of Employee Advocacy

Employee advocacy is not just a hype term, but it’s a strategic approach to make your employees speak positively for your brand. This is how it impacts the businesses:

1.Boosts brand’s credibility and trust:

Employees are the people who know the intricacies of the company. So, when they share positive experiences and insights, it builds a sense of trust and credibility. People also like to trust recommendations from real people rather than celebrities.

As per a survey, leads developed through employee social marketing convert 7× more frequently than the other leads. This is because employee advocacy builds transparency and authenticity that eventually leads to brand loyalty.

2.Expands reach and engagement:

It is reported that content shared by employees received 8× more engagement than the content shared by the brand’s channel. What’s the reason behind this huge difference? It is because employees have established social networks that serve as powerful platforms to take your brand’s reach to the next level.

3.Improves employee engagement:

Employee advocacy programs impact your employees as well. When brands make their employees their advocates, it gives them a sense of ownership and pride in their work.

Employees feel more valued and empowered, which results in higher job satisfaction and increased loyalty to the organization. This will lead to a more dedicated and engaged workforce, a goal every brand strives to achieve.

4.Cost-effective marketing:

Why empty the pockets to pay for the hefty charges of influencers and celebrities when your own employees can be a great source of driving engagement? Compared to traditional marketing strategies, employee advocacy is a way cheaper alternative to reach a wider audience.

4 Strategies to Execute Employee Advocacy Programs

1.Build a positive company culture:

To make your employees speak positively about the company, the foundational step is to build a positive and supportive work environment. Make your employees feel heard and comfortable for sharing their ideas and voicing concerns. Moreover, make sure to recognize and reward the employees for their efforts and active participation in programs.

2.Train the team:

It’s crucial to train the employees first about employee advocacy to make the campaign successful. Train them on how to use social media platforms for this purpose, best practices for engagement, hacks to make compelling content, and provide proper guidelines for what type of content is appropriate to share.

Companies can also provide tools to their advocates that make content creation easier. This includes giving them access to a content library with templates, and pre-written posts, that assist them in creating content that aligns well with your objective.

3.Establish a clear framework:

Online employee activity can be a double-edged sword. Positive employee reviews and social media posts can boost your brand image. Conversely, negative comments or sharing sensitive information can damage your reputation. To navigate this landscape, establishing a clear framework for responsible content sharing is crucial. Having a clear picture of the boundaries will help you avoid any legal or ethical complexities.

4.Make sharing easy:

Not everyone likes to post marketing content on their profiles frequently, and keeping this in mind,  the content should be designed in such a way that naturally encourages employees to share on their networks. This may include company news, industry insights, glimpses of behind-the-scenes or success stories of the employees. 

Phifer & Co.: Your Right Hand to Find Employees for Advocacy Program

Looking to build a dream team of passionate brand advocates? Look no further than Phifer & Co. We're not your typical recruitment agency. We specialize in identifying and connecting you with high-caliber PR, marketing, and communications professionals who are more than just skilled – they're true believers in your brand's mission.

With a vast network of over 150,000 skilled professionals, we have the resources to find the perfect fit, no matter your specific requirements.

Conclusion:

So, making your employees speak for your brand impacts the company’s growth in all ways. It makes the employees feel valued and also drives more engagement and reach to the brand. The hack to drive the successful employee advocacy program lies in the right strategy and loyal employees and this is where Phifer & Co. can help you. So, get in touch straight away to get the right advocates for your brand.