{"id":3821,"date":"2019-11-14T10:00:00","date_gmt":"2019-11-14T11:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sonusbenefits.com\/hrs-secret-weapon-marketing-communications\/"},"modified":"2019-11-14T11:56:40","modified_gmt":"2019-11-14T11:56:40","slug":"hrs-secret-weapon-marketing-communications","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sonusbenefits.com\/hrs-secret-weapon-marketing-communications\/","title":{"rendered":"HR\u2019s Secret Weapon: Marketing Communications"},"content":{"rendered":"

If you were asked what HR’s job is, I’m sure you’d come up with a list of answers. Keeping the company in compliance, managing workplace risk, providing resources and support to employees, payroll, hiring top talent, maintaining a positive company culture… the list goes on and on. But what ties this all together?<\/span> <\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n

Communication. <\/h3>\n

HR has the responsibility to communicate all this and more to company employees, but all too often the tactics fail to actually get enough attention to be noticed. This is where HR can take some pointers from marketing. Because when it comes down to it, marketing <\/span>is <\/span><\/i>communication. And HR needs high quality communication to do their job<\/span> well<\/span>. <\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n

Think about it. How difficult is it to get an employee to read (and <\/span>understand<\/span><\/i>) their benefits package, or the employee handbook, or any other important information HR needs them to have? Difficult enough to be causing HR professionals some frustrating headaches<\/span> for sure<\/span>. <\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n

So how do you approach this problem? <\/span>Following<\/span> are some marketing tips HR can apply to their communication tactics to get<\/span>, <\/span>and hold<\/span>,<\/span> the attention they need<\/span>.<\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n

Send out a weekly or monthly email\/ newsletter  <\/h3>\n

Highlights<\/span><\/strong>: <\/span>Use this to highlight work events that are coming up, give a shout-out to a team or employee <\/span>who<\/span> has gone above and beyond or completed a big<\/span> project<\/span>, and talk about t<\/span>hings<\/span> you want the entire company to know about. This could be an upcoming employee survey, a <\/span>deadline for enrollment for benefits, or a reminder about checking tax withholdings to help employees <\/span>prepare <\/span>for tax season. <\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n

Perks<\/span><\/strong>: <\/span>Overview the perks you offer to employees such as opportunities for personal development and career coaching, company retreats, <\/span>and PTO. <\/span>Keep the resources you make available to employees top of mind<\/span>. <\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n

Goals<\/span><\/strong>: <\/span>R<\/span>eview<\/span> company goals and how specific teams and departments can help reach them. This is a great opportunity to highlight what different teams are doing to reach the same overarching goal. <\/span>T<\/span>his can help align departments and keep everyone focused and feeling the team spirit. Plus, if you give a shout-out to a team or an individual, you’re creating a culture of appreciation and recognition! Talk about a good employee retention strategy! <\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n

Teamwork<\/span><\/strong>: <\/span>This also encourages different departments to see how they support each other, further brin<\/span>g<\/span>ing the community together. The more clarity there is about how teams work <\/span>together and support each other, the higher functioning the company. <\/span>And the less time HR spends on mitigating interdepartmental disputes. <\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n

Attract the talent your company is looking for  <\/h3>\n

Marketing works to help guide people from <\/span>being prospects to customers by meeting them at all the various points of contact they might have with your company. It’s marketing’s job to draw customers in with useful information, content offers, and guidance specifically targeted to where they are in their journey to becoming a customer. <\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n

HR can take the same approach with attracting the type of employees they want working <\/span>for the company<\/span>, sometimes even hitting two birds with one stone. <\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n

For instance, you can create a video highlighting your company values, perhaps interviewing a<\/span>n <\/span>employee<\/span> about their experience<\/span> or covering a recent charitable event your company hosted or participated in. This type of content is not only one of the more <\/span>successful<\/span><\/a> types of content marketing, but it could also help promote you to prospective <\/span>employees<\/span>. People tend to want to buy from (and work for) a company that shares their values and makes them feel good. <\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n

HR can also take a page from marketing’s book by streamlining the process to apply. Just like you want to make it as easy as possible for customers to interact with your company (i.e., providing social icons for sharing and hav<\/span>ing easy options for answering questions and contacting support) you want to make it as easy as possible for job seekers to apply to work for you. <\/span>You can:<\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n