In previous blogs, we have covered the basics of employee advocacy and its real-world impact. Now, let’s explore some forward or advanced-thinking strategies to elevate your program. As the digital landscape moves, so should our approach to employee advocacy.
Here’s how you can stay ahead and tap into the full potential of your greatest asset—your employees.
AI Meets Human Touch in Content Curation
Use the power of AI alongside human insight to tailor content suggestions for each employee advocate. AI can analyze things like an employee’s past shares, professional interests, and the engagement trends of their audience.
By doing this, AI recommends content that resonates deeply with both the employee and their network, ensuring higher engagement rates. It’s a mix of smart tech and personal touch.
Micro-Influencers as Employees
Find employees who are experts in niche areas and help them build their brands. These micro-influencers can spark engagement within specific industries or communities. Give them the resources and guidance they need to amplify their influence.
Think of a software engineer passionate about AI—positioning them as a thought leader in AI ethics or reasonable AI could attract the attention of both clients and future employees.
Cross-Platform Storytelling
Encourage your employees to tell stories that work across multiple platforms. For example, a LinkedIn post could link to an Instagram video, which then connects to a more detailed Medium article—each platform serves as a piece of a larger narrative. This not only reaches various audience preferences but reflects your message across various platforms/touchpoints.
Providing templates and guidelines can also help maintain brand consistency while allowing employees to express themselves authentically.
Gamification More than Just Leaderboards
Think out of the box and take gamification to the next level. Introduce team-based challenges, unlockable 'Advocate Badges,' and create an internal social currency system for top advocates. Imagine 'Advocacy Olympics' where employees compete in categories like 'Most Creative Post,' 'Highest Engagement,' or 'Best Cross-Platform Story.'
Reward the winners with meaningful prizes such as career development opportunities or charitable donations in their name.
Employee-Generated Content (EGC) Campaigns
Launch campaigns that empower employees to create original content around specific themes. This not only fuels your advocacy program but provides authentic marketing gold.
For example, a 'Day in the Life' campaign could have employees sharing snapshots, videos, or blogs about their daily roles. It gives future employees a peek into your company culture while spotlighting your employees as industry experts.
Showcase Your Brand with VR and AR
Provide select employees with virtual or augmented reality tools to give immersive tours of your office or product demos, adding a futuristic twist to your advocacy strategy. This works especially well for companies with impressive physical spaces or complex products.
Picture a manufacturing employee guiding a virtual tour of the production line or a software engineer demonstrating a new feature through AR.
Advocacy Analytics Dashboard
Develop an advanced analytics dashboard to track individual and team advocacy efforts and how they contribute back to key business metrics. Go beyond just measuring shares and likes; track how advocacy influences lead generation, sales, and employer branding. Use this data to constantly fine-tune your program and clearly show its value to leadership.
One-on-One Advocacy Coaching
Set up personalized coaching for your employee advocates. With data from your analytics dashboard, you can provide customized feedback to each employee. Whether it’s advising on the best times to post, the types of content that resonate most with their audience, or how to craft more engaging messages, this coaching helps advocates continuously improve.
Make Employee Advocacy a Part of Employee Growth
Implement advocacy into your employee's development plans. Provide training on personal branding, professional social media best practices, and current industry trends. Not only will it enhance your advocacy program, but it will also help in employee growth, which leads to greater retention and job satisfaction.
By implementing these strategies, you’re not just keeping up—you’re leading the way. Employee advocacy is evolving from a marketing tactic into a holistic strategy that covers marketing, HR, and product development. With these tools, your team will help shape this new frontier, turning every employee into a powerful ambassador for your brand.
Ready to supercharge your advocacy program? Let’s make waves together and turn your employees into your most influential advocates. Connect with us today or book your demo.
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