Think about your interactions with the employees of another business. Which ones left you wanting to come back for more - wanting to come back to spend more of your money on their product or service? Chances are, it was because you had a good experience where the interaction felt clear and profitable. The decision-makers of that business are doing something to achieve that clarity and value for you, and it is all a function of their marketing. Salespeople, account managers, producers, and customer service reps are all extensions of their brand, pieces of the marketing mix who touch customers in various ways regularly – make sure they are a part of your marketing strategy.
How can you help ensure that your employees are satisfied, and in turn satisfying your customers? Read on to see how you can consider internal marketing, how it impacts employees, and how it can have a big impact on your external brand - and your bottom line.
A holistic marketing strategy is developed by thinking about the business as a whole, its place in the broader economy and society, and in the lives of its customers. It attempts to develop and maintain multiple perspectives on the company's commercial activities.
From here, internal marketing – communicating internally to your employees – goes down two paths using these three concepts, and both are important to your business.
Marketing should not simply be confined to the marketing department. Rather, it should be a function that the entire business represents. As a communication function, employee awareness helps eliminate confusion or mixed messages. If your 50 employees are considered spokespeople for your brand, then you ought to make sure that they are not spreading 50 different messages.
"Employees can best serve as an extension of my brand if they are equipped with the tools and information to understand customer needs, communicate clearly, and achieve value for the customer."
"As a manager, I can best equip my employees to serve as an extension of our brand if I understand their needs, communicate clearly, and achieve value for them."
As a manager, I can best equip my employees to serve as an extension of our brand if I understand their needs, communicate clearly, and achieve value for them.
"My employees will be happiest and most engaged if I understand their needs, communicate clearly, and achieve value for them - both personally and professionally."
In the above statement, "personally" refers to the HR function - benefits, work environment, comfort, etc. "Professionally" refers to the idea of job satisfaction - autonomy, recognition, success, development, etc.
As we worked on an inbound marketing campaign with a recent client, we understood that the most likely customer for the product/service in question was "existing customers." This piece of information prompted the question - "Do your salesepeople or account managers know to promote this new product/service alongside the campaign?"
Arming salespeople with the information from this campaign allows them to be a better extension of the marketing function. It would at the same time achieve value for those employees and achieve value for their customers; employees want to feel "in the know" and effective. Hubspot calls this joint sales/marketing effort "smarketing," and it is a key mechanism in a holistic marketing approach.
What are some ways to keep your internal marketing on point?
Think about your internal market like you do your external markets. There are unique personas within your business, and they might not all be employees (think vendors, contractors). Just like personalized marketing works externally, it works internally too. Are your employees new or old? Do they care more about flexibility or pay? Do they interact with clients or not?
Internal marketing needs to account for management styles and culture, but they have the best effects when approached individually. Much like a salesperson should have a closer relationship with a specific customer, managers should be closer to their employees than anyone else, as they are best suited to individualize their communication.
Look for ways to find synergy and for departments to be able to support one another. A big marketing campaign should have the sales team and even the customer service team involved to market to existing customers. Front-line service people should be aware of company objectives and included within tactics. Share goals with all levels so that all are a part of the holistic mix.
Consider your employee a "customer"
Just as you want customers to be loyal, enthusiastic, and engaged with your brand, you should put that same effort into getting those traits from employees. Looking through this lens will help your marketing efforts be truly brand-wide.
Are you understanding needs, communicating clearly, and achieving value?
TBH Creative has over a decade of experience helping businesses and nonprofits find their brand, and leverage that brand in a modern economy. With our wide range of services, we can help you achieve the best marketing mix to make the most of every piece of your brand – including your employees.
Contact us to learn more about TBH's custom marketing solutions.