Launching an Employee Advocacy Program: Beyond the Platform
In this article, I aim to provide a concise overview of the necessary steps that must take place beyond the platform's boundaries. As a Customer Success Manager, we often have limited influence over the progress, but through effective planning and shared responsibility, we can guarantee the success of your advocacy program launch.
When embarking on launching an employee advocacy program using a platform like Ambassify, the focus often falls on the tasks within the platform itself. However, it's essential to understand that the foundation for a successful program launch extends beyond the platform and take measures accordingly.
This article will highlight five critical steps that need attention outside the platform, setting the stage for a triumphant program kickoff.
1. Prepare internal communication
The prologue to any grand event is anticipation. Before the curtain rises on your advocacy program, orchestrate a well-crafted internal communication.
This is the time to unveil the program's overarching objectives, show its potential impact, and align it seamlessly with the collective business goals of your organization. You create a fertile ground for the upcoming program launch by nurturing curiosity and anticipation during this phase.
You can take advantage of this initial communication to explain what the program is about, why you decided to launch it, and everything that might give a bit more context to the whole thing in the eyes of your employees, who, after all, are the one who will be taking part in it.
Try to answer these four questions, and you will have the foundations of your internal comms campaign:
- What is employee advocacy?
- Why is it essential to the company?
- What’s in it for you (as an advocate)?
- How do you join?
If you announce the program via multiple touchpoints, this will help increase your adoption rate. A one-time internal newsletter isn’t enough; consistency is key because it takes time for people to get used to the idea of a new tool and a new business strategy.
2. Obtain C-level buy-in
Imagine the program's success gaining resounding applause from the top suite of your organization. Securing endorsement from the C-level executives and management is more than symbolic — it's foundational.
Engage in a dialogue with these key decision-makers, articulating the strategic significance of the advocacy initiative, why it makes sense to rely on this solution to work on specific goals, and highlight the importance of your employees in all of this – why it makes business sense to trust advocacy to move the needle for you.
Their backing shows authenticity in the program and ignites a chain reaction of enthusiastic engagement down the organizational hierarchy.
3. Host user workshops
Transitioning from concept to proficiency requires clarity, and even if everything seems straightforward to you, putting theory into practice won’t be for everyone.
Enter the user workshops — a forum where the intricacies of the Ambassify platform come to life. These are practical and actionable training sessions where employees comprehensively understand content-sharing, engagement analytics, and the advocacy journey. This hands-on approach fosters proficiency and cultivates confident advocates.
We’ve seen it working very well if you host a short user workshop where employees can attend and ask questions. Immediately at the end of the workshop, the result is that the employees have shared their first post on social media on the spot. Doing this together ensures that employees use the platform or have installed the mobile app, can log in successfully, and experience how effortless it is to share.
4. Consider SSO configuration (add-on)
For organizations accustomed to Single Sign-On (SSO) conveniences, we recommend configuring the same on Ambassify.
Configuring SSO for Ambassify offers an enhanced experience: simplifying the login process for employees, SSO ensures seamlessness and security. If you're considering this option, proactive collaboration with your technical counterparts is recommended to facilitate a smooth setup.
5. Explore DNS Records Configuration (add-on)
Should you opt for the White-label Package, transforming the platform into a seamless extension of your brand will become possible. As you white-label domain names and email addresses, configuring DNS settings outside the platform becomes essential. Rely on your domain administrators or internal tech experts to navigate this technical aspect effectively.
In this article, I aim to provide a concise overview of the necessary steps that must take place beyond the platform's boundaries. As a Customer Success Manager, we often have limited influence over the progress, but through effective planning and shared responsibility, we can guarantee the success of your advocacy program launch.