What you need to know about the new direct marketing guidance note
Nadine Mather and Chloë Loubser
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6 tips to support employee ambassadors on social media
Social media is a great way of showcasing company culture and introducing the business to people in an authentic and unpushy way.
Source: © 123rf 123rf Employees are an organisation’s biggest ambassadors, online and offline says Miliswa Sitshwele, head of social media at Flow Communications
People want to read about people – where people work, what the company culture is like, and what a day in their life would look like if they worked there.
What are employee ambassadors?
“Employee advocacy [or brand ambassadors] is where individual workers promote their organisation on their personal social media channels. As a result, positive word of mouth is spread more authentically than buttoned-up brand accounts ever could,” explains tech recruitment company, Built In.
Through these ambassadors, the “brands gain meaningful exposure that rises above the din of social media and, in some cases, generates new business as a result”.
Why is it important for employees to be brand ambassadors?
Employees act as bridges between you, their audiences, and your clients. They humanise the brand and its promises. And they offer people a glimpse into the company culture.
People place their trust in other people – real individuals, not hired spokespeople. Employee endorsements, affirmations and organic content creation are often viewed as more reliable than conventional marketing and advertising methods.
Think about it: when was the last time you bought something based on a recommendation from a friend or someone you follow online? Did you read the reviews or check for many positive reviews before paying for something online? Their input had more of an impact on your purchase than other forms of marketing conducted by the brand.
Companies that have used employees as ambassadors
Image supplied.
- TikTok: Dunkin’ Donuts
Dunkin’ Donuts is excellent at showcasing employees’ experiences of working at Dunkin’ Donuts on TikTok. The result? “…Sales skyrocketed when Dunkin’ Donuts created a programme to inspire employees to create videos while working and posting them on social media. This led to a 57% increase in app downloads and a 20% surge in cold brew sales,” says Tribe.
- LinkedIn: Netflix
On LinkedIn, Netflix has effectively used the “Life” section on its company page to highlight the meaningful work that staff members are engaged in with videos and articles that give the audience a glimpse into the vibrant company culture.
This approach strengthens internal bonds among team members and also projects Netflix as an organisation that deeply values and takes pride in its workforce. It’s an excellent internal marketing strategy initiative.
Image supplied.
6 Tips on how to support your brand on social media
Here are six tips from the Flow Communications team on how you can support your brand or organisation on social media.
- Review them on Google
Give an honest review of what it’s like being an employee at your company. Your feedback helps others discover and trust the services of the brand, but also gives some insight into the employee’s experiences.
- Write a review on Facebook
Similar to the Google review, you can write a few lines on the organisation’s Facebook page. Your insights can make a big difference to potential customers and future employees.
- Share company news and blogs on your LinkedIn account
Share company blogs on your personal LinkedIn platform. Add your unique perspective or comments to engage your network and spark discussions.
- Unboxing videos
Film the excitement of receiving a delivery from your organisation with an unboxing video. In winter, Flow sent warm blankets and some of the team tagged the agency while opening their gift.
- Recommend your company’s pages to your personal network
Encourage your connections to like and follow the company’s social media pages. Your endorsement carries weight and can introduce the organisation to a wider audience.
- Like, comment and share
Shares and comments push content up higher on the news feed and allow the organisation to reach other audiences.
About Miliswa Sitshwele, head of social media, Flow Communications
Miliswa Sitshwele is the head of social media at Flow Communications, an independent agency Founded in 2005, Flow now has a permanent team of over 60 professional staff with more than 700 years of collective experience in marketing and communications.
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