10 Tips to Activate Your Team and Boost Employee Advocacy

Why Activation Matters

Employee advocacy relies on the participation of your team. The more motivated and active they are, the greater your program’s reach, engagement, and results. Activation isn’t just about asking your team to share posts—it’s about creating a positive experience that makes them feel valued and inspired. This not only benefits your company but also supports their personal and professional growth.

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Best Practices to Activate Your Team

1. Create a Leaderboard and Incentive Program

People love recognition and rewards. A little competition can go a long way in keeping your team motivated. Create a leaderboard that highlights top-performing brand ambassadors based on their activity, such as shares or engagement. Complement this with an incentive program, like monthly rewards for the most active contributors. This not only boosts participation but also fosters a sense of accomplishment and fun.

Task: Set up a leaderboard to showcase your top-performing brand ambassadors. Offer rewards for milestones, like a gift card for the most shared post or recognition in a team meeting.

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2. Involve Internal Influencers

Your leadership team plays a crucial role in promoting employee advocacy. When employees see management’s support, they’re more likely to join. Leaders can amplify the importance of your program by sharing their own experiences or even recording a short video message. Their involvement signals that advocacy is a priority for the company.

Task: Record a short, inspiring video with your CEO or other executives to emphasize the importance of advocacy. Share it during a team meeting or as part of an internal campaign.

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3. Use Groups and Topics to Customize Content

Avoid sending the same post to everyone. Instead, group your team by roles, departments, or interests and tailor content to their preferences. For example, sales teams might prefer content related to customer success stories, while HR might share recruitment campaigns. This targeted approach increases the likelihood that posts resonate and get shared.

Tip: Match posts to relevant groups and topics to maximize share rates and engagement.

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4. Provide Regular Updates

Keep your team in the loop with program updates, successes, and upcoming plans. Regular communication keeps advocacy top-of-mind and helps maintain momentum. Updates can include new content themes, campaign results, or upcoming events to involve them further. Consider creating a shared Teams or Slack channel where you can easily post updates, share tips, and answer questions from your team.

Task: Schedule regular announcements or newsletters to celebrate milestones and share updates.

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5. Collect and Act on Feedback

Understanding what your team needs and thinks is key to improving your program. Feedback helps you identify challenges, improve your content, and address any barriers to participation. Regular surveys are a great way to gather insights and adapt your strategy.

Task: Use a simple survey to gather feedback on the program. Ask about the quality of the content, what topics they’d like to share, and their overall experience. Use our survey template to get started.

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6. Highlight the Benefits

Make it clear how advocacy benefits both the company and the individual. For employees, it could mean boosting their personal brand, expanding their professional networks, or gaining recognition for their expertise. For the company, it’s about increasing visibility and building trust through authentic voices.

Task: Prepare a short presentation or email to explain these benefits to your team. Show how they’re contributing to the company’s success while growing their own visibility.

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7. Share Success Stories

Celebrate wins! Highlight stories of colleagues who’ve achieved great results through advocacy. Success stories can inspire others to participate and showcase the real impact of the program. Include tangible results like increased engagement or new leads. Sharing these stories in a dedicated channel, like a Slack or Teams group, ensures they reach your entire team and foster a sense of community.

Task: Collect success stories from your team and share them during meetings or in your internal updates. Highlight specific outcomes like leads, engagement, or personal achievements.

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8. Host Skill Workshops

Confidence is key. Equip your team with the skills they need to feel comfortable sharing content. Workshops can range from basic social media skills to more advanced topics like using AI tools for content creation. The goal is to empower your team with knowledge and remove barriers to participation.

Task: Schedule workshops on topics like:

• LinkedIn Profile Optimization
• Writing Captivating Posts
• Using AI for Social Media
• Content Creation Basics
• Understanding Social Media Algorithms

Don’t have the expertise or time to run workshops yourself? Get in touch with us. We have a wide network of partners who can help you deliver in-depth workshops.

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9. Address Concerns Individually

Not everyone will feel comfortable with advocacy at first. Take the time to listen and address their concerns. This might include fears about privacy, making mistakes, or feeling unsure about the content. Personal attention can help them feel more confident and supported.

Task: Hold one-on-one sessions to tackle issues like privacy concerns or fear of making mistakes. Show them how simple and safe advocacy can be.

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10. Involve Your Team in Content Creation

Make your team part of the process by asking for their input on topics or encouraging them to share ideas. This fosters a sense of ownership and increases engagement. Teams that feel heard are more likely to stay active. Use collaborative platforms like Teams or Slack to brainstorm ideas and gather input effectively. Be sure to read more about our Social Creator role to give this even more substance.

Task: Organize small brainstorming sessions or editorial meetings to gather ideas and recruit new content creators.

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Getting Started

Every team is different, so not all of these tips will apply to you. Pick a few that resonate most and start small. The key is consistency—activate, evaluate, and improve your program over time. Remember, a well-activated team isn’t just posting content; they’re proud advocates of your brand.

Good luck, and let’s activate your team together!

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