Professionals utilize social media to enhance their candidacy, network, and online brand, but many people overlook the value it can bring to their current employer, too. Let’s take a look at how social media can make you a more valuable employee.
(Photo Credit: Gavin Llewellyn/Flickr)
If your job is not directly involved with social media, then it may be a taboo subject in the office. Many employers have banned their employees’ use of social media during office hours because of the potential distraction. However, this “waste of time,” called social media, could actually be the key to boosting your worth at the company – and the brand itself.
In his interview with Business2Community.com, Ian Greenleigh, social media and content strategist and author, explains how employees can leverage their social networks to become more successful and valuable employees, regardless of what their position is within the company. Greenleigh proclaims that, “There’s no role I can think of, for example, that shouldn’t be tuning in to what the outside world is saying about their employer through social. Not as a watchdog so much as a stakeholder.”
Many companies pay people to promote their brands on social media – often called “brand ambassadors” – but the best and most genuine brand ambassadors for any company are its very own employees. Forbes published findings from the 2012 Edelman Trust Barometer study, which “found that regular rank-and-file company employees have more credibility than executives,” which presents a “fantastic opportunity” for employees to leverage their brand ambassador capabilities and their value at the company. So, how exactly does one become a brand ambassador for an employer?
1. The easiest way employees can promote the company they work for “is simply to share content,” Greenleigh says. If your employer publishes something that you think your networks will benefit from or find interesting, then feel free to share the wealth.
2. Also, find what your employer is good at – customer service, employee satisfaction, or a unique product/service – and generate posts around those positive aspects, rather than posting about how much you despise work (like far too many people regrettably do). You’ll be surprised how well your employer takes to the positive (and free) promotion you’re doing for the company.
3. Lastly, suggest new content for the company to share with its audience (and yours). Greenleigh points out that, “content from non-marketers performs better overall than content from marketers. It tends to be unique, useful, honest and concise.” Therefore, keep your eyes and ears peeled for topics that will pique the interest of your employer’s customer base.
Becoming a brand ambassador is beneficial to your career in so many ways – and it probably helps a bit with job security, too. When you share the positive things happening in your everyday work, you’ll find that not only is your employer a happy camper, but so are you.
Tell Us What You Think
How else has social media helped your career? Share your story with our community on Twitter or in the comments section below.
One of the best things a business can do to reduce risk associated with social sharing is to educate its employees. Make sure they understand the social media policy and the risks associated with sharing sensitive information online. Teach them how to secure their online profiles by doing things like setting strict privacy settings and checking them frequently, only connecting with contacts they know, and setting different passwords across websites. These action items may seem pretty elementary, but you would be surprised.
Word of caution: Before you do this, please review your company’s social media policy. There might be some guidelines about whether or not, or the manner in which, an employee should post thoughts via social media while identifying him/herself as an employee.