Why Recognizing Employees on Social Media is so Important
RPI’s
7 Best Practice Standards® were developed based on a wealth of knowledge, experience and academic sources. These practices were designed to help you build a successful recognition program. The first standard is recognition strategy and the second standard is management responsibility. You have the power to create a culture of recognition. Here is why you should include social media in your strategy:
1. It is a natural environment for millennial and gen-z employees
Incentive Magazine wrote in an article about the prevalence of social media among millennials. In fact, three-quarters of them spend 1.8 hours on social media every day. Millennials have made their way into the workforce and gen-z is arriving. These generations have grown up using the internet and are thus accustomed to interacting online. While sending out a tweet or Facebook post thanking an employee for their good work may seem impersonal, it is actually a highly effective way to meet employees where they are.
2. It is convenient
A lot of us have either a smartphone or a laptop in front of us at any given time. All it takes is a minute or two to send out a tweet. This can go a long way coming from the official company social media accounts. Remember to make your recognition as specific as you can with the character limit. The clearer you are about what you are recognizing, the better. The employee feels like you have paid attention to their work and you further your standards and values for your company.
3. It helps your brand
Mashable highlighted an example of how social media can help a brand. A Best Western hotel created a Facebook page “Wallace Should Win” for an employee who was nominated for an industry award. A great number of their guests visited the page. This not only helped Wallace’s campaign, but also brought positive publicity to the hotel. Obviously, this is an extreme example, but using social media to show how much you value your employees will help your brand be seen as positive and collaborative.
4. It builds community
One of Nielsen’s Global Trust in Advertising Reports found that 92% of people trust earned media, meaning recommendations and information from their peers. Social media has proven to be a powerful tool for building community. By harnessing the power of social media to recognize and encourage employees, you are building your community.
Tips from Incentive Magazine:
- Be consistent. Recognizing employees on a regular basis via social platforms can show that recognition is something employees should expect. It can be a great motivator.
- Use pictures. If you have a recognition event or an awesome conference — share it!
- Make posts searchable with a unique hashtag so you can keep a record of your recognition online.
- Start discussions on social platforms. Engagement is key to a successful social media strategy.
Learn more about RPI’s 7 Best Practices.
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