Should your employees post on LinkedIn?
For years, we have been taught that employees should moderate their activity on social media. Yet as we enter the age of LinkedIn content creators, personal branding and employee influencers - do the same rules apply? In this article, we'll explore why it's beneficial to have your team engaged on LinkedIn and how it can serve as a valuable asset for your design studio.
LinkedIn has grown from a job-seeking platform where professionals can connect to an indispensable tool for businesses looking to expand their reach and enhance their reputation. And while you could try and do it all yourself, why not bolster your potential and get your team to help you out? Let’s explore a few reasons why it's a good idea to do so.
Employees can act as quasi-business development reps
Your employees are the backbone of your business, and they can also serve as quasi business development representatives when they actively engage on LinkedIn.
LinkedIn provides a unique opportunity for your employees to showcase their expertise. When they share their knowledge and insights, they position themselves as industry thought leaders. This not only enhances their personal brand but also reflects positively on your business.
By participating in discussions, leaving insightful comments, and sharing about projects they’re working on or the successes they’ve achieved, your employees can initiate conversations with potential clients and partners. Their posts can generate interest from potential clients who might not have discovered your services otherwise. This subtle form of networking can lead to meaningful connections, which could translate into new clients.
It can help attract new talent
If we think back to the early days of LinkedIn, it’s a job-seeking platform at its core. That means there are plenty of talented designers, graduates, project architects, model makers, draftspeople - you name it - on there looking for work.
When your employees share their experiences working at your company, it provides an authentic, honest view of your firm and its culture. Potential job candidates are more likely to trust these insights, and this can make your company more attractive to top talent.
It can also (quite literally) expand your search for potential candidates. When an employee posts about a new role at your firm, it reaches a wider network of like-minded professionals who are already connected to your employee. This network effect can lead to a more targeted and diverse talent pool.
Personal branding is on the rise
Gone are the days where a CEO is the only person capable of communicating a company’s brand. Personal branding for employees is on the rise, and it's essential for companies to recognise and embrace this shift.
Personal branding helps individuals establish trust and authority in their respective fields. When your employees actively engage on LinkedIn, they're not just representing your company; they're also building their own brand as experts in their domains. This, in turn, reflects positively on your organisation, as it means you’re associated with knowledgeable and credible professionals.
It also helps humanise your brand. Clients want to do business with firms that have a human face, not just a corporate logo. Encouraging your employees to showcase their personalities, interests, and expertise on LinkedIn helps build this human connection. It fosters approachability that can set you apart in the eyes of your audience.
Key takeaway
Everyone on your team should be posting on LinkedIn. Rather than shying away from it out of fear that it might divert your employees’ attention or provide them with new job opportunities, embrace it and lean in! In fact, you may discover that allowing your employees to cultivate their personal brands can attract more of the projects they're passionate about, which, in turn, motivates them to stay with your firm. The more you champion your employees’ individuality and voice - both online and offline - the better it will be for your company culture, profile and reputation.