Boost Business with an Employee Advocacy Program

In 2022, your marketing strategy likely includes things like a mobile-optimized website, professional social presence, digital advertising and more. Although paid advertising is still relevant and certainly generates quality leads, don’t underestimate the power of good old-fashioned word-of-mouth marketing.

Word of mouth isn’t new, but savvy companies are putting a new spin on it to elevate awareness of their products and services. How? By implementing employee advocacy programs and getting employees on board as brand ambassadors.

Simply put, employee advocacy is the promotion of a company by its employees. We’ve already learned that the vast majority of people trust other people more than brands, so it stands to reason that employee advocacy will drive better business results.

Creating an employee advocacy program and developing brand ambassadors isn’t difficult. But it takes some time to do it right.

Here are three ways companies can boost business through employee advocacy.

Invest in your team. Your workforce represents your brand.

Make sure you have the right people on your team who add value and work well together. An impulsive hire won’t do you any favors because you’ll be costing yourself time and money in the long run. Invest in your team by giving them the resources and tools they need to succeed, and you’re investing in your future as a company (not to mention building your brand from the inside out).

Get to know your staff. Make them feel important, because they are.

Take an active interest in the people who come to work for you every day. What interests your employees? What are their values? What do they like to do outside of work? When employees feel important to the success of the business (let’s face it … they are), they’ll be more engaged, productive and more likely to create positive customer experiences — which includes sharing company content with their friends, family and followers.

Encourage learning, development and networking. Grow your business together.

Creating a culture of learning and personal/professional development will do wonders for your company’s reputation and brand. Continuing education opportunities help retain (and promote) good employees and maximize their performance. Brand-specific training helps employees feel more connected to the company they’re working for, and ensures internal messaging is consistent with how you market yourself to customers. Networking is another useful tool to build brand awareness, generate leads and strengthen customer relationships. Trade associations (like SMACNA Greater Chicago) are a great place to start!