The Main Benefits of Employee Advocacy

In an age where trust and authenticity on social media are valued over everything else, businesses are constantly looking for fresh ways to connect with their target audience. The fact is, 87% of customers prioritize brands they perceive as ethical and trustworthy. One way to achieve this reputation is to implement employee advocacy.

Employee advocacy encourages your workforce to become brand ambassadors on social media and throughout their personal networks. An employee advocate can share valuable, genuine content and connect with their own communities while your company gains wider reach, increased trust, and stronger business results, including a higher ROI.

This article gives employers strategies to secure their employees’ valuable participation, turning them into enthusiastic brand advocates.

1. Expand Brand Reach and Visibility

Your employees have likely established themselves on one or more social media channels. This is usually made up of friends, family, and industry connections. Some of the strongest advocacy examples include blog posts, press releases, and social media updates, all exposing your brand to a much larger audience than your marketing team could reach alone. 

Consider the impact of 500 employees, each sharing just one engaging social post each week with their social network. That’s potentially 26,000 times per year your brand message expands to reach new audiences. Social media advocacy helps you reach potential customers who may never have encountered your brand otherwise.

2. Increase Trust and Credibility

Don’t underestimate word-of-mouth, as 88% of people value recommendations from friends, family, and colleagues than traditional advertising. Think about it. Wouldn’t you be more likely to try a restaurant recommended by a friend than one you saw advertised on a billboard? 

The same goes for employee advocacy. Employees who become social advocates are vouching for your company and its products or services. This authentic endorsement resonates far deeper than traditional advertising.

But how does this translate to trust and credibility?

Employee advocacy programs cultivate a more engaged workforce. Engaged employees are enthusiastic about their jobs and more invested in your company’s success. This translates to a better understanding of your brand and its offerings, making employees more confident and credible advocates. And that opens the door to brand transparency and authenticity.

3. Boost Employee Engagement and Satisfaction

One of the most significant benefits of employee advocacy is the large impact on employee morale and satisfaction. When employees feel empowered to share content and expertise about their workplace on social media platforms, they feel more valued and connected to the company’s mission.

Additionally, participating in an employee advocacy program allows for the development of personal brands by building their professional networks within their industry. This leads to a sense of community and purpose within the organization, and it provides employees with greater ambition in their careers.

In return, you’ll find a more loyal and productive workforce, which translates to significant cost savings for employers through reduced turnover.

4. Enhance Recruitment and Talent Attraction

A strong employer brand is an unmatched tool in attracting top talent. Advocacy advertising showcases your company culture, values, and employee experiences to potential candidates. Seeing positive and enthusiastic posts from current employees gives job seekers a more realistic picture of what it’s like to work at your company. Employee posts also help provide a more “inside view.”

As a result, you’ll attract a wider pool of qualified candidates and position your company as a desirable workplace, making it easier to secure the best talent.

5. Improve Sales Leads and Results

Employee advocacy turns your passionate employees into social media salespeople. They’ll share valuable content and engage with potential customers in their established networks, generating qualified leads that convert directly into increased sales. Employee marketing will improve your social selling efforts.

As examples of advocacy, industry expert social media posts, thought leadership pieces, updates on company news, and case studies establish employees as trusted experts. In fact, 65% of consumers say thought leadership changed their perspective on a business for the better due to content about thought leadership. It positions them to connect with customers more profoundly and ultimately close more deals.

Effectively Coordinate Your Employee Advocacy

Employee advocacy programs can be incredibly powerful. But to maximize the benefits, you need a strategic marketing strategy.

SocialHP can help you develop and implement a successful employee advocacy program. Our user-friendly employee advocacy tools streamline content creation and sharing, provide valuable analytics to track performance, and empower your employees to become an extension of your sales team. 

Ready to see the benefits of employee advocacy for yourself? Schedule a demo with SocialHP today. Learn how it works, and see how our employee advocacy platform can help you achieve your marketing and sales goals.