With 20+ years in the HR world, I’ve seen countless company initiatives come and go. But you know what’s consistently proven to be a real winner?
Employee advocacy.
And guess what the unsung hero of this powerful strategy is? It’s probably sitting right there on your employee’s ID badge, that’s right, the humble headshot!
Let’s dive into how these simple photos can empower your team to go from just doing their jobs to becoming passionate brand ambassadors for your company.
Employee Advocacy: It’s More Than Just Forced Corporate Cheerleading
First things first, let’s talk about what employee advocacy reallyis. It’s not about making your team plaster company logos all over their social media (nobody wants that!).
Instead, it’s about empowering your employees to authentically share their positive experiences, celebrate company wins, and yes, even talk honestly about the challenges they might face at work.
When you get it right, it’s like having a team of walking, talking, and sharing billboards for your brand, it’s word-of-mouth marketing on steroids!
Why Should HR Care? Let’s Look at the Impressive Numbers
Now, let’s get down to brass tacks. Employee advocacy isn’t just some feel-good HR fluff. It’s a powerful strategy that can seriously impact your company’s success.
Did you know that it can:
Boost your brand reach by up to a staggering 561%? (That’s not a typo! I saw that stat in Forbes, and it blew my mind.)
Increase brand trust by a whopping 90%? (Because let’s be honest, people trust recommendations from real people way more than they trust corporate jargon, again, thanks to Forbes for that eye-opener.)
Significantly improve your employer brand, making it so much easier to attract those top-tier candidates you’re always looking for.
Skyrocket employee engagement? (And get this, engaged employees are a remarkable 87% less likely to leave, according to Harvard Business Review. That’s a huge win for retention!)
Enter the Headshot: Your Brand’s Secret Weapon (Seriously!)
Now, you might be thinking, “Okay, Sarah, employee advocacy sounds great, but what do headshots have to do with all of this?” My friends, the answer is: everything!
Here’s why:
Faces Beat Logos, Every Single Time: In a world where we’re constantly bombarded with corporate logos and branding, a friendly, genuine face stands out like a beacon of authenticity. People connect with people, not logos.
The Power of Trust: Think about it, who do you trust more: a recommendation from a faceless brand or a recommendation from someone you know or can see? Exactly! A great professional headshot adds instant credibility and trustworthiness to every post, tweet, or share your employees make.
A Confidence Boost for Your Advocates: Give your employees a professional headshot that they’re proud of, and watch their confidence in representing the company soar! When they feel good about their online presence, they’re much more likely to share company news and successes.
Humanizing Your Brand, One Friendly Headshot at a Time
Think about it for a moment. When was the last time you felt a deep, emotional connection to a company logo? Probably never, right?
Now, think about how you feel when you see a photo of a friend or colleague sharing exciting news or celebrating a milestone.
That’s the incredible power of headshots in employee advocacy, they humanize your brand in a way that logos simply can’t.
Confidence is Absolutely Key: How Headshots Empower Your Team to Share
Here’s a little secret I’ve learned over the years: many employees genuinely wantto advocate for their company, they’re proud of where they work, but they might feel a little self-conscious about putting themselves out there on social media.
A professional headshot can be just the confidence boost they need to finally hit “post” on that LinkedIn update or share that insightful company blog article.
It makes them feel more professional and ready to represent the company.
Social Media Magic: Where Headshots Truly Shine Bright
Social media is the front line of effective employee advocacy, and headshots are your secret weapon in this digital landscape.
Did you know that posts with faces get a whopping 38% more engagement on LinkedIn? (That’s according to LinkedIn themselves, so you know it’s legit!)
That’s a huge difference between your company update disappearing into the vast social media void and sparking a meaningful conversation that could lead to your next big client or your next star employee.
From Theory to Practice: Your Simple Game Plan for Implementing a Headshot Strategy
Ready to unleash the incredible power of headshots in your employee advocacy program?
Here’s a straightforward game plan to get you started:
Headshots for All! Don’t just reserve those professional photos for the executive team. Every single employee is a potential brand ambassador, so make professional headshots available to everyone.
Quality Truly Matters: Invest in professional photography. Trust me on this one, the difference between a blurry smartphone selfie and a well-lit, professional headshot is night and day. It reflects well on your employees and your brand.
Keep It Fresh and Current: Schedule regular photo sessions to keep everyone’s headshots up-to-date. People’s appearances change, and so should their photos to maintain authenticity.
Consistency is Your Friend: Establish some simple guidelines for headshot style to ensure a cohesive and professional brand image across all platforms. This doesn’t mean everyone has to look exactly the same, but having some general guidelines helps.
Make It Easy for Them: Provide employees with their professional headshots in various formats and sizes that are optimized for different social media platforms. The easier you make it for them, the more likely they are to use them!
Celebrating Your Amazing Advocacy All-Stars (Headshots and All!)
When your employees go above and beyond in their advocacy efforts, make sure you recognize and celebrate them, headshot and all!
Consider creating an “Advocacy Wall of Fame” on your company intranet or featuring your top advocates in your company newsletter.
It’s amazing how a little recognition can fuel even more positive engagement and encourage others to get involved.
Seeing the Bigger Picture: The Local Advantage (Omaha and Lincoln, Take Note!)
Employee advocacy can be an absolute game-changer in helping your company stand out in your local business community.
A team of engaged employees, armed with professional headshots and a genuine passion for their work, can elevate your company’s profile faster than you can say “Go Big Red!” (Just a little Nebraska shout-out there!).
Remember, in the exciting world of employee advocacy, a picture isn’t just worth a thousand words, it’s worth thousands of authentic, trust-building interactions that can take your brand to incredible new heights.
So, are you ready to really focus on turning your employees into your most powerful marketing force?
Trust me, with the right headshots and a solid strategy, your team won’t just be facing the camera, they’ll be facing a whole new world of brand-building opportunities!
Corporate Portrait
Think school picture day meets the business world.
Corporate Portrait brings professional headshot photography directly to your business in Omaha, Lincoln, and surrounding Nebraska communities. Starting at $30 per employee with full ownership rights included. Because getting great headshots shouldn’t be complicated.