Why Every Business Needs Employee Advocacy

Employee advocacy is becoming an indispensable aspect of modern business strategy. Harnessing the authentic voices of employee advocates can significantly impact a company’s reach, its reputation as a thought leader, and its employer brand. Employee advocacy refers to the promotion of an organisation by its workforce. This can take many forms, such as employees sharing company content on social media, participating in industry events, or even recommending the business to potential customers and clients. Read this post as we explore why every business needs employee advocacy and look at the practical steps to develop a successful strategy.

What is Employee Advocacy?

Employee advocacy refers to the promotion of an organisation by its own employees. This concept encompasses a range of activities where every employees can act as a brand ambassador for the company, sharing positive content and messages about the business on their personal and professional social media accounts, participating in industry discussions, and recommending the company to potential clients and customers.

The essence of employee advocacy lies in leveraging the credibility and authenticity of employees’ voices to enhance the organisation’s image and reach. When employees speak positively about their workplace, their genuine enthusiasm can resonate more deeply with audiences than traditional marketing methods.

Employee advocacy can benefit both the organisation and its employees. For the company, it can lead to increased brand awareness, stronger customer relationships, and more effective recruitment efforts. For employees, it offers a sense of empowerment and engagement, as they play a direct role in the company’s success and have the opportunity to share their achievements and insights.

Successful employee advocacy programmes typically involve clear guidelines and support from the organisation to ensure that employees feel confident and informed about what they share. Training and resources can help employees understand how to represent the company effectively while maintaining their personal voice and authenticity.

What are the Benefits of an Employee Advocacy Programme for Businesses and Employees?

Employee advocacy programmes offer a range of benefits for both businesses and their employees. By leveraging the authentic voices of employees, organisations can enhance their reputation and reach, while employees gain valuable opportunities and recognition.

Benefits for businesses:

Increased brand awareness: Employees who share company content and positive messages help to extend the organisation’s reach and should be part of any content marketing strategy. Their networks often include potential customers, partners, and job candidates, thus broadening the company’s visibility, particularly in social media.
Enhanced credibility: Recommendations and endorsements from employees are perceived as more genuine and trustworthy compared to traditional advertising. A potential customer might be won over by a quick social media exchange with a happy employee. This authenticity can strengthen the company’s reputation, building trust with the audience.
Cost-effective marketing: Employee advocacy can be a cost-effective way to amplify marketing and thought leadership efforts. By utilising the existing social networks of employees, companies can achieve significant reach and engagement without large advertising budgets.
Improved recruitment: Potential job candidates are more likely to be attracted to a company that its current employees speak positively about. Employee advocacy can highlight the company’s culture and values, highlighting employee satisfaction, contributing to your employer branding efforts and making it more appealing to top talent.

Benefits for employees:

Increased employee participation: Joining advocacy programmes can improve the employee experience, make your team feel more connected to the company. It provides them with a sense of involvement and contribution to the organisation’s success.
Professional development: Employees can enhance their professional presence and personal brand by sharing industry insights and company achievements. This visibility can open up new opportunities for career advancement.
Recognition and empowerment: Advocacy programmes often recognise and reward active participants, boosting their morale and motivation. Employees feel valued and appreciated for their efforts, leading to higher job satisfaction.
Skill enhancement: Through advocacy activities, employees can develop and refine skills such as content creation, communication, and social media management, which are valuable in today’s digital landscape.

What Are the Potential Challenges and Pitfalls of Employee Advocacy?

While an employee advocacy programme can offer numerous benefits, it is not without its challenges and potential pitfalls. Understanding these can help businesses anticipate and address them effectively.

Lack of engagement: One common challenge is the lack of engagement from employees. Not all employees may feel comfortable or inclined to share company content on their personal social media channels. This can result in a programme that lacks widespread participation and impact. To mitigate this, it is important to ensure that participation is voluntary and that employees feel supported and motivated to engage.
Inconsistent messaging: Without clear guidelines, employees may share information that is inconsistent with the company’s brand and messaging. This can create confusion and potentially damage the company’s reputation. Providing comprehensive guidelines and regular training can help maintain a consistent and professional image.
Overwhelming content creation: Expecting employees to regularly create and share content can become overwhelming, especially if it is outside their usual job responsibilities. To address this, companies should provide ready-to-share content and resources that make it easy for employees to participate without feeling burdened.
Privacy concerns: Employees may have concerns about mixing their personal and professional lives online. This can deter them from participating in the advocacy programme. It is important to respect employees’ privacy and offer options that allow them to advocate in ways that feel comfortable to them.
Potential for missteps: There is always the risk that an employee might inadvertently share incorrect or sensitive information, or make a post that reflects poorly on the company. Having a crisis management plan in place is essential to quickly address and rectify any issues that arise, protecting both the employee and the company.
Measuring success: Evaluating the effectiveness of an employee advocacy programme can be challenging. It requires clear metrics and regular analysis to understand the programme’s impact on brand awareness, engagement, and other key objectives. Without proper measurement, it is difficult to make informed adjustments and improvements.

How Can Businesses Effectively Implement an Employee Advocacy Programme?

Implementing an employee advocacy programme requires careful planning and structured execution. Businesses can follow several key steps to ensure the programme is effective and sustainable.

Set clear objectives: Begin by defining the goals of the employee advocacy programme. These might include increasing brand awareness, improving employee engagement, or boosting recruitment efforts. Clear objectives will guide the development and measurement of the programme.
Issue clear guidelines: Provide a clear set of employee advocacy guidelines that cover social media and other channels. This ensures all employees understand when they can and cannot act as company brand ambassadors, maintaining consistency and compliance.
Do not force It: Ensure that employees who are more reserved, less expressive, or otherwise disinclined to participate do not feel compelled to take part in the programme. Voluntary participation is key to maintaining genuine advocacy and positive morale.
Create and share valuable content: Develop a repository of shareable content that employees can easily access and distribute. This might include blog posts, infographics, company news, and industry insights. Ensure that the content is engaging and relevant to the audience.
Encourage participation: Foster a culture that encourages employees to participate in the advocacy programme. Recognise and reward employees who actively contribute. This could be through public recognition, incentives, or professional development opportunities.
Crisis management plan: Put a crisis management plan in place should any employee post go wrong. This plan should outline steps for addressing negative publicity, correcting misinformation, and mitigating any potential damage to the company’s reputation.
Identify and train employee advocates: Select employees who are enthusiastic about the company and active on social media. Provide them with training and resources to help them understand how to represent the organisation effectively. This might include guidelines on social media usage, content creation, and compliance with company policies.
Monitor and measure: Regularly track the performance of the advocacy programme against the set objectives. Use metrics such as engagement rates, reach, and conversion rates to assess the impact. Gather employee feedback to identify areas for improvement and to understand what is working well.
Adapt and improve: Be prepared to make adjustments based on the performance data and feedback. Continuous improvement is essential for maintaining the relevance and effectiveness of the programme.

What to Include in Employee Advocacy Guidelines

Creating clear guidelines, particularly social media guidelines is essential for ensuring that employee advocacy efforts are consistent, professional, and aligned with the company’s values. These guidelines should empower employees with the necessary information to confidently share content while maintaining the company’s integrity and brand advocacy. Here are key elements to include in your social media guidelines:

Purpose and objectives: Explain the purpose of the employee advocacy programme and its goals. This helps employees understand the importance of their participation and how their efforts contribute to the company’s success.
Brand voice and tone: Define the company’s brand voice and tone to ensure consistency across all social media posts. Provide examples of appropriate language and style to guide employees in their communications.
Content guidelines: Specify the types of content employees should share, such as company news, industry insights, and personal achievements related to their work. Outline any content that should be avoided, including confidential information or anything that could damage the company’s reputation.
Dos and don’ts: Offer clear dos and don’ts for social media behaviour. This might include best practices for engagement, such as responding to comments and questions, or responding to customer service queries. It can also touch on behaviours to avoid, such as engaging in arguments or sharing sensitive information.
Disclaimer for personal opinions: Advise employees to include a disclaimer stating that their opinions are their own and do not represent the views of their employer. This can protect the business and help employees feel more comfortable sharing their own thoughts.
Confidentiality: Clearly define what type of information is considered confidential and should not be shared on social media. Ensure employees understand the importance of maintaining confidentiality to protect the company’s business interests.
Hashtags and tagging: Provide a list of approved hashtags and tagging practices to increase the visibility and reach of posts. Explain how to use these elements effectively to support the company’s branding and marketing efforts.
Compliance and legal considerations: Outline any legal and compliance issues related to social media use, such as respecting copyright laws, adhering to advertising regulations, and maintaining confidentiality. Ensure employees understand their responsibilities in these areas.
Crisis management: Include procedures for handling potential issues or negative feedback on social media. This should cover how to escalate concerns and the appropriate steps to take in various scenarios to protect both the employee and the company.
Resources and support: Offer resources to help employees create and share content, such as templates, graphics, and links to approved content. Provide contact information for someone within the company who can offer support and answer questions about the advocacy programme.

What Are the Best Channels to Use for Employee Advocacy Programmes?

Selecting the right channels is vital for the success of an employee advocacy programme. Different channels can serve various purposes and reach distinct audiences. Here are some of the best options to consider:

Social media platforms: Social media advocacy is very powerful. Platforms like LinkedIn and Twitter are excellent for sharing professional achievements, company news, and industry insights. LinkedIn, in particular, is highly effective for reaching a professional audience and enhancing the company’s reputation within industry circles.
Company blogs: Encouraging employees to contribute to the company blog can be a powerful way to share their expertise and perspectives. Blog posts can be shared across multiple platforms, increasing their reach and impact. This also provides a more controlled environment for content, ensuring it aligns with the company’s messaging.
Internal communication tools: Tools such as Slack and Microsoft Teams can be used to share advocacy content internally, which employee influencers can then share externally. These tools can also facilitate the coordination and tracking of advocacy efforts, making it easier for employees to participate.
Email newsletters: Regular email newsletters are a very effective employee communication channel, helping you to keep employees informed about advocacy opportunities and provide them with ready-made content to share. This can help maintain engagement and ensure that employees are consistently contributing to the advocacy programme.
Industry events and webinars: Encouraging employees to participate in and speak at industry events and webinars can significantly boost the company’s visibility and credibility. These channels allow employees to share their knowledge and represent the company in a professional setting.
Employee personal blogs and websites: Some employees may already have personal blogs or websites where they share their professional experiences and insights. Encouraging them to mention and link back to the company as brand advocates can enhance the programme’s reach.
Video platforms: Video content is increasingly popular and engaging. Platforms like YouTube and Vimeo, as well as social media live streams, can be used to share interviews, behind-the-scenes looks, and other engaging content created by employees.

What Are the Best Social Media Platforms to Use for Employee Advocacy?

Choosing the right social media platforms is essential for the success of an employee advocacy programme. Each platform offers different benefits and can reach various audiences. Here are some of the best social media platforms to consider, along with content tips and ways to support employees in content creation:

LinkedIn: LinkedIn is a recognised advocacy platform, ideal for professional networking and sharing industry-related content. It is highly effective for reaching professionals and enhancing the company’s reputation, particularly if you cater to B2B audiences.
- Best Content: Articles, industry news, personal achievements, company updates, and professional insights.
- Support: Provide templates for articles, pre-approved industry news, and suggested personal achievements to share. Encourage employees to participate in LinkedIn groups and discussions relevant to their roles.
TikTok: TikTok is a platform for short, creative videos and can be an innovative way to showcase the company’s personality and culture.
- Best Content: Short, creative videos, trending challenges, and behind-the-scenes clips.
- Support: Provide examples of successful TikTok content and trends. Offer training on using TikTok features and tools, and encourage employees to participate in relevant challenges. Create a library of branded music and effects.
Instagram: Instagram is a visual platform that is excellent for sharing photos and videos. It can be used to showcase company culture, behind-the-scenes activities, and employee achievements.
- Best Content: High-quality photos, short videos, Instagram Stories, and IGTV videos showcasing company culture and events.
- Support: Provide employees with access to branded visual assets and photography tips. Encourage the use of Instagram Stories templates and offer ideas for IGTV content. Host workshops on creating engaging visual content.
X (Twitter): Twitter is useful for sharing short, timely updates and engaging in industry conversations. It allows employees to share news, participate in trending topics, and connect with influencers and thought leaders. We recommend using Twitter particularly for your C-Suite or senior leadership.
- Best Content: Short updates, industry news, live-tweeting events, sharing articles, and engaging in hashtag discussions.
- Support: Offer pre-written tweets, a list of relevant hashtags, and guidelines on how to live-tweet from events. Use scheduling tools to help employees plan their tweets.
YouTube: YouTube is perfect for sharing longer video content, such as interviews, tutorials, and company events. It allows employees to create and share in-depth content that can provide valuable insights into the company’s operations and culture.
- Best Content: Interviews, tutorials, behind-the-scenes videos, and event recordings.
- Support: Offer video production resources, including access to editing software and equipment. Provide a list of content ideas and step-by-step guides on creating engaging videos. Encourage collaboration on video projects.
Facebook: Facebook is beneficial for sharing a wide range of content, from company news to employee stories. It can be particularly effective for reaching a diverse audience, including current and potential customers, as well as employees’ personal networks.
- Best Content: Company news, employee stories, behind-the-scenes content, event highlights, and community involvement.
- Support: Create a content library with ready-to-share posts and images, and provide guidelines for writing personal stories. Encourage employees to join and participate in relevant Facebook groups.

Which are the Best Employee Advocacy Tools?

Implementing an effective employee advocacy programme can be greatly simplified with the right tools. More advocacy software platforms have emerged in recent years, including the ones listed below. Please note that we at Albatrosa have not tested those and are therefore not endorsing them through this post. For a more extensive list, visit this page by Gartner.

LinkedIn Elevate: LinkedIn’s “My Company” tab allows employees to share curated content directly from their LinkedIn profiles. It’s a powerful employee advocacy tool for amplifying brand messages and engaging within professional networks.
Haiilo: Haiilo stands out as a premier tool for employee advocacy. It transforms employees into genuine brand ambassadors by simplifying content sharing. Features include comprehensive social media integration, captivating captions, and advanced analytics.
EveryoneSocial: This platform empowers employees to share curated content with their social networks. It provides a content strategy to guide efforts and track ROI. EveryoneSocial fosters greater brand recognition and increased web traffic.
PostBeyond: PostBeyond enables employees to share company content seamlessly. It’s an effective way to amplify brand reach and engage audiences across social media platforms.
Sociabble: Sociabble offers an all-in-one employee advocacy solution, ensuring consistent brand messaging. It helps turn employees into social media advocates, driving real business results.
Oktopost: Oktopost focuses on B2B social media marketing and employee advocacy. It allows employees to share content across various channels, enhancing brand visibility.

How Can You Sustain an Employee Advocacy Programme?

Maintaining momentum in an employee advocacy programme requires ongoing effort and attention. Here are some best practices to help sustain engagement and ensure the programme continues to deliver value:

Regular training and updates: Keep employees informed about the latest social media trends, platform updates, and company news. Regular training sessions can help employees feel confident and equipped to share relevant content.
Incentives and recognition: Recognise and reward employees who actively participate in the advocacy programme. This can include shout-outs in company meetings, digital badges, or even small incentives to keep motivation high.
Content variety: Provide a diverse range of content for employees to share, including articles, videos, infographics, and personal stories. This variety keeps the programme interesting and allows employees to choose content that resonates with them.
Feedback loop: Create channels for employees to provide feedback on the advocacy programme. Understanding their experiences and suggestions can help refine the programme and address any concerns.
Leadership involvement: Encourage company leaders to participate in the advocacy programme. When leadership is actively involved, it sets a positive example and demonstrates the importance of the initiative.
Community building: Promote a sense of community among participants by creating internal groups or forums where employees can share their experiences, tips, and success stories. This can build camaraderie and collective enthusiasm for the programme.