As we move into the second half of 2022, many businesses were forced to change the way they operate due to technology and social media being the primary methods of communication. It is now more important than ever for companies to take advantage of their employees’ online presence in order to promote company values.
After all, employees are your best asset and they can turn into effective, genuine brand advocates as they can best communicate what your business is like in a transparent, authentic manner.
However, with the ever-changing landscape of workplace communication, businesses need to always be on the lookout for new ways to engage with their employees and create a community of active brand ambassadors.
Did you know that employees can be one of the most powerful brand advocates a company can have if you strategize and train them for it? In fact, research shows that word-of-mouth referrals from happy employees result in a 37% higher customer retention rate. So how do you go about turning your employees into ambitious brand advocates? Read on to find out!
How Can Employee Brand Advocates Enhance Your Business: 6 Benefits
When looking for ways to motivate employees to become brand advocates, it’s important to first understand how they can benefit your business. After all, you’ll want to make sure that the cons don’t outweigh the pros before making any decisions. Here are seven benefits of employee brand advocacy:
1. Employee Engagement
If employees feel like they’re a part of something bigger, they’re more likely to be engaged in their work. In fact, one study found that companies with high levels of employee engagement saw an 18% decrease in turnover.
2. Customer Service
Employees who are brand advocates are also more likely to provide better customer service. After all, they’re not just representing the company – they’re representing the values that the company stands for. As a result, they’re more likely to go above and beyond for customers in order to ensure a positive experience.
3. Sales
Employee brand advocates can also help increase sales. In fact, companies with a formal employee advocacy program saw a 25 to 40% increase in sales.
4. Leadership Skills within Your Team
When you have employees who are brand advocates, it can also help develop leadership skills within your team. After all, these employees are already demonstrating their ability to be positive and enthusiastic about the company – two qualities that are essential for effective leaders.
5. Brand Advocates for Better Recruitment
Employee brand advocates can also help with building trust among job candidates as they can act as a powerful recruitment tool. They can help spread the word about open positions and attract top talent to your company.
6. Brand Reputation
Employee brand advocates can help improve your brand’s reputation. After all, they’re the ones who are out there representing your company to the world. As a result, they have the ability to positively impact how people perceive your brand.
7. Thought Leadership in the Industry
Employee brand advocates can also help establish your business as a thought leader in the industry. Make sure they are knowledgeable of the latest trends and review them in an expert manner.
How To Turn Employees into Brand Advocates in 6 Steps
Now that we’ve gone over the benefits of employee brand advocacy, it’s time to give you a step-by-step guide on how to turn your employees into passionate ambassadors. Here’s what you need to do:
1. Assign Brand Advocates
The first step is to assign employees to be brand advocates. This way, you can make sure that there’s someone responsible for promoting your brand online. Make sure you choose individuals who have demonstrated enthusiasm and pro-activeness in the past and have high productivity and time management skills. You don’t want their new task to be at the expense of their overall work performance!
2. Invest in Good Training
The next step is to train your employees on how to effectively promote your company online. This way, they can be sure to represent your brand in the best light possible. Steer away from controversial topics and keep communication to the point.
3. Provide Brand Advocates with Incentives
In order to motivate your employees to act as brand ambassadors it’s important to provide them with incentives. This can be anything from gift cards to paid time off.
4. Encourage Employee Participation
Encouraging your employees to actively participate is key to making sure that they’re actually engaging in advocacy activities. One way to do this is to create a brand advocacy program that offers prizes for employees who show dedication.
5. Monitor Advocacy Activities
Keeping a track record of advocacy activities is important in order to make sure that employees are actually promoting your brand in a positive light. This can be done by using social media monitoring tools.
6. Reward Success
Finally, it’s important to reward achievements like getting a quote by a renowned brand or nailing a new client as a result of brand advocate efforts in order to keep employees motivated. This can be anything from public recognition to financial bonuses.
By following these steps, you can be sure to turn your employees into powerful brand advocates. In doing so, you’ll reap all of the benefits that come with having a team of passionate and engaged employees.
Bottom Line
When done correctly, assigning employees as brand advocates can result in many benefits for your business. These include increased employee engagement, better customer service, more sales, improved leadership skills within your team, a better recruitment process, and enhanced thought leadership in the industry.
If you want to turn your employees into brand advocates, there are several steps you should take. Assign specific employees and train them on what this entails. Provide incentives for participation and encourage all employees to get involved. Monitor advocacy activities and reward success accordingly. By taking these steps, you will be well on your way to turning your employees into powerful brand advocates.