The Role of Employee Advocacy in Strengthening Your Small Business Brand on LinkedIn

Employee advocacy is when employees promote their company on their social media. They share company news, updates, and job postings with their friends and followers. This helps the company look more trustworthy and engaging. 

In my newsletter, I'll explain the benefits of employee advocacy and how it's different from traditional Marketing. I'll also talk about how you can use it to make your small business look better. 

Let's get started!

Key Elements of Employee Advocacy

1. Sharing: Employees share company-related content like blog posts, articles, and product updates to help more people see and know about the company.

2. Personal Branding: Employees build their personal brand by sharing what they know and think about their work. This shows that the employees are smart and care about their jobs, which also makes the company look good.

3. Engagement: Employees like, comment, and share the company's posts to help more people see them.

4. Advocacy Programs: Some companies have programs to encourage employees to do these things. They might get training, ideas for what to share, and rewards for taking part.

Employee Advocacy vs. Traditional Marketing

Employee advocacy and traditional marketing are both ways to get the word out about a business, but they work in different ways and have different effects. Here are the main differences:

1. How It's Done - 

Employee Advocacy - Involves employees in sharing news about the company on their personal social media. It relies on employees being real and trustworthy to reach their friends and followers.

Traditional Marketing - The company promotes itself using ads, mail, TV, radio, and social media. It's more controlled and planned.

2. What's Shared - 

Employee Advocacy - Employees share personal experiences, behind-the-scenes stuff, and their thoughts. It's more personal and real.

Traditional Marketing - The company shares carefully made messages about the brand and its products. It includes ads, press releases, brochures, and corporate social media posts.

3. Who Sees It - 

Employee Advocacy - Reaches the personal networks of employees, which can be big and varied. It can introduce the brand to new people who might not see traditional ads.

Traditional Marketing - Targets a bigger audience through mass media or specific groups through targeted ads.

4. Trust -

Employee Advocacy - Seen as more trustworthy because people trust their friends' recommendations and thoughts.

Traditional Marketing - This can seem less genuine because people know it's trying to sell something.

5. Cost - 

Employee Advocacy - Usually costs less. It uses people who are already working for the company and don't need a lot of money for ads.

Traditional Marketing - This can be expensive with costs for ads, making the ads, hiring an agency, and other expenses.

6. Goals -

Employee Advocacy - Aim to get the word out about the brand, build trust, get people interested, and bring in new employees.

Traditional Marketing - Focuses on making sales, finding leads, getting a bigger share of the market, and promoting specific products or services.

While both employee advocacy and traditional marketing are about promoting a business, they work differently and have different goals. Using both can create a strong way to get the word out about a business.

Benefits of Employee Advocacy on LinkedIn

Employee advocacy is when your employees help promote and support your small business on LinkedIn. This can benefit your business in several ways: 

1. Getting Your Brand Out There - When your employees share your company's posts or interact with your business on LinkedIn, it reaches more people than just your followers. Each employee has a network, so your content can be seen by a wider audience.

2. Building Trust - People trust recommendations from individuals they know, so when employees talk positively about your business, it helps build trust with their connections.

3. Getting Noticed - Content shared by employees usually gets more likes and comments, which helps it show up more in people's feeds. This can lead to more meaningful interactions with potential customers or partners.

4. Sharing Your Company Culture - When employees share their experiences and behind-the-scenes moments, it gives others an idea of what it's like to work at your company. This can attract potential hires and show off what makes your company special.

5. Affordable Marketing - Employee advocacy is a cost-effective way to promote your business. It doesn't require a big budget like traditional advertising, but it still helps your business grow.

6. Becoming a Leader - Encouraging employees to share their insights and participate in discussions on LinkedIn can help them become known as leaders in your industry. This also reflects well on your business and shows that you're a leader too.

Getting your employees involved in promoting your business can also make them feel more engaged and motivated. When they feel like they're part of the success, they're more likely to be happy and work harder.

Implementing an Employee Advocacy Program on LinkedIn 

Consider starting an employee advocacy program to boost your company's presence on LinkedIn. This program involves your employees sharing company updates and content on their own LinkedIn profiles. Here's a simple guide to help you get started:

Step 1: Set your goals - Decide what you want to achieve with the program, such as increasing brand awareness or attracting new talent.

Step 2: Make a plan - Figure out what you want your employees to share, like company news or success stories.

Step 3: Pick the right people - Choose employees who are excited about the company and are active on LinkedIn.

Step 4: Train them - Help your employees understand how to use LinkedIn and what kind of content to share.

Step 5: Create good stuff to share - Make content that your employees will be proud to share, like behind-the-scenes looks and personal stories.

Step 6: Get them involved - Let your employees know how participating can benefit them and the company.

Step 7: Keep an eye on what's happening - Use LinkedIn's tools to see how well your program is working.

Step 8: Give credit and rewards - Recognize and reward employees who actively participate.

Step 9: Encourage everyone to join in - Get your company's leaders involved and create a culture where everyone feels comfortable sharing their ideas.

By following these steps, you can create a strong employee advocacy program on LinkedIn that helps your company stand out and connect with more people.

Encouraging your employees to share and talk about your small business on LinkedIn can boost your brand. It's a refreshing change from traditional marketing because it's all about personal connections and building trust. By involving your employees, you can reach more people, build trust, and show that your business is a leader in its field.

I hope you found this newsletter insightful. Thank you for being part of my newsletter community. 

Stay tuned for more content related to personal branding!

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