Turn your employees into true ambassadors
Attracting talent for your company? Then it is best to opt for a strategy that goes beyond simply tossing vacancies around. Building a strong employer brand, for example. This is how you show why you are the preferred employer. And who is the best person to help you do that? Exactly, your own employees. Thanks to this blog, you will turn your colleagues into real top ambassadors.
Why choose employee advocacy or ambassadorship?
A corporate video with actors, an advertising campaign with photo models or stock photos off the internet … Not only does it cost you a ton of money as a company director or marketing manager: it also detracts from the authenticity of your communication.
Today it is allowed to be a little more real and imperfect.
Today, it’s all allowed to be a little more real and imperfect. So a unique opportunity to put your own employees in the picture. This way, your brand will come across as more credible and reliable to applicants and (potential) customers.
Find extras for your corporate video
Want to launch a recruitment campaign but don’t have the big resources? Only when there are limited possibilities does the master show himself. Even with few resources, you can be creative. Film your employees as in this film by Avanti and let them tell you why they like working for you. A little more budget? Buy a drone and get inspired by this impressive campaign video by Zoutman.
You can be creative even with limited resources.
Motivate likes and shares on social media?
Whether you spend little or a lot on your corporate videos: if they are not being watched, they are of no use. Therefore, share the content on your intranet or via e-mail and encourage your colleagues to like, share or applaud these videos, stories and posts on social media. What content we mean here? Photos of events, job vacancies, a sustainable initiative, an advertising campaign, news about your organisation, success stories…
And even more #socialmedia
Hate social media? Feel free to skip this paragraph, but know that social media are really important for recruitment. It’s so important that you should invent a #hashtag with which your colleagues can post anything: a photo of their teambuilding, event, business trip, sporting afternoon break …
Make up a #hashtag with which your colleagues can post anything.
Let your employees report back on Facebook, Instagram or LinkedIn, as this will provide reliable, authentic stories. Feel free to provide some tips and a framework to help them get started visually.
Scramble up quotes and sprinkle them around lavishly
Say it with words. Or rather: have your employees say it. Ask them – conversationally or via a survey – about the reasons why they like working for your company or organisation. What gives them satisfaction in their job?
Based on this survey, you can write quotes for a job page on your website, for brochures, flyers, etc. Discover how quotes and testimonials attract attention on this Helan site. Attention: always request written permission to publish quotes, photos or images of your employees.
Give your company a face
Involve your employees sufficiently at events: internally and externally. At your open day, for example, it is best to let your employees have their say. HR staff going to a job fair? Let them bring along an ambassador from another branch of your organisation. Or let your ambassadors speak on a panel or webinar.
Have your brand driven around
Do you want your brand or the name of your company or organisation to stand out in order to attract more applicants? Use your ambassadors as a promotion team. This can be done, for example, with a logo on their means of transport: their company car, company bike or scooter, but also the van or truck your drivers drive around in. A courtesy charter will be in order …
Getting your company name noticed to attract more job applicants?
Use your ambassadors as a promotion team.
Make ambassadors of your sporting colleagues
Sporty employees who go to padel, race or jog during their break or after hours? Sponsor them with sports jerseys featuring your logo. Or depict your brand on a water bottle, saddle cover, lanyard, bike lights … Want to encourage sports activities? Then facilitate a weekly sports appointment or organise a sports challenge. A corporate culture where a healthy mind and a healthy body go together is attractive to job applicants.
Sustainable goodies
Too many unnecessary gadgets: that’s a waste of money and resources. But some goodies really come in handy for your colleagues. Think of a power bank, a computer bag, charger, connector, reusable coffee cup, a fabric shopping bag, fluorescent jacket … All useful items you can put your logo on. A nice end-of-year gift for your loyal ambassadors.
Reward your ambassadors
A goodie bag is a nice gift for all your employees. But those who put their best foot forward should be honoured as ‘ambassador or employee of the month’.
A referral programme is an initiative
in which you offer a financial reward
for those who bring in a new colleague.
Some employers go a step further and start a referral programme: an initiative where you provide a financial reward or an extra day’s leave for those who bring in a new colleague. An extra motivation for employees to look in their own network.
No better ambassadors than your own employees.
Let them shine
Written by: Tine Sinnaeve
