What is Employee-Generated Content (EGC)?

Similar to user-generated content (UGC), employee-generated content has the power to yield positive impact on engagement and connection among employees, management, and executives. When shared on your intranet, website, and social media platforms, EGC creates a vibrant community that enhances communication and collaboration within the company.

Why employee generated content is important?

Employee-generated content (EGC) is becoming increasingly important in today’s digital landscape, as prospective employees are 3 times more likely to trust company information from employees than from the CEO, according to LinkedIn. This trust makes EGC a powerful tool for building credibility and fostering authentic connections with customers, stakeholders, and potential employees. 

Moreover, studies show that EGC can achieve up to 8 times more engagement than traditional brand content on social media platforms, significantly enhancing brand visibility. This type of content allows employees to share their genuine experiences, effectively humanizing the brand and creating relatable narratives that resonate with consumers. 

By leveraging the unique insights and perspectives of employees, businesses can not only expand their reach but also cultivate a sense of community and loyalty among their workforce.

Types of employee generated content

Employee generated content takes many forms, each offering unique insights into the organization and its culture. Here are some common types:

Social media posts

• Employees share photos or videos of their workspaces, team events, or day-to-day activities on platforms like LinkedIn, Instagram, or Twitter.

Testimonials

• Written or video stories from employees sharing their career growth, positive experiences, or why they love working for the organization.

Blog posts

• Detailed articles or personal blogs authored by employees about their roles, projects, or insights into the company culture.

Behind-the-scenes content

• Informal videos or pictures of team-building activities, celebrations, or how the company operates behind closed doors.

Training or educational content

• Tutorials, webinars, or knowledge-sharing sessions created by employees to showcase expertise or mentor others.

Employee spotlights

• Features on individual employees highlighting their achievements, journeys, or unique contributions to the organization.

Work-life balance showcases

• Posts or stories showcasing how the organization supports work-life balance, such as remote work setups, wellness programs, or flexibility.

Event highlights

• Photos, videos, or updates from employees attending or participating in company events, conferences, or community activities.

Product/service advocacy

• Employees share their perspectives on the products or services the organization offers and how they contribute to creating them.

Celebratory posts

• Posts celebrating milestones like promotions, work anniversaries, or team achievements.

Benefits of employee generated content

Employee generated content (EGC) offers numerous advantages over traditional marketing methods. Let’s explore some of the key benefits:

Builds trust and authenticity

People tend to trust an organization’s employees over its in-brand messaging. When employees share their authentic experiences and insights, they play a crucial role in shaping the organization’s narrative. This not only fosters a sense of community and trust internally but also enhances the company’s reputation externally.

Related: Read our blog on building engagement and trust using employee generated content

Improves brand reputation

Employee generated content helps in building and maintaining a positive brand reputation. Employees proud of their company’s reputation are more motivated and engaged, contributing to higher productivity and lower turnover rates. When these employees share positive experiences, it builds credibility and trust among potential hires. Authentic testimonials and stories can significantly influence job seekers’ perceptions, making them more likely to apply for positions within the company.

Attracts the top talent

Potential employees often seek a workplace where they can fit in and thrive. They are expecting answers to questions like: 

• How does the organization prioritize mental health for their employees?
• What extra benefits are offered to ensure career advancement?
• How realistic are workloads and conditions?

And they don’t necessarily need the organization to answer these questions for them. Instead, they look for an authentic, unfiltered glimpse into the company culture, values, and work environment from the current employees’ perspective. This helps them assess their potential fit within the organization, making employee-generated content a vital tool in attracting top talent.

Increases employee engagement

According to Gallup, only 23% of employees worldwide and 33% in the U.S. fall in the “engaged” category. Therefore, creating and sharing employee generated content can significantly improve engagement levels. When employees are encouraged to contribute, they feel valued and more connected to the company’s mission. This involvement fosters a sense of ownership and pride, leading to increased motivation and job satisfaction.

Enhances communication and collaboration 

Employee generated content contributes to a culture of open communication, where information flows more freely across departments and hierarchies. This content encourages knowledge sharing, allowing employees to learn from each other’s experiences and insights, thereby increasing collaboration and teamwork within the organization.

Reduces marketing cost

Creator marketing can be costly. According to Edelman’s 2024 State of Influencer Marketing report, most U.S. organizations spend less than $50,000 on influencer marketing, while 15% invest over $500,000. These expenditures can be significant for both small and large businesses. Therefore, by utilizing in-house talent i.e. your employees, you can create relatable content, foster organic engagement, and enhance brand credibility without extensive expenditure.

Employee generated content example

Microsoft’s ‘Mi Día’ feature

Microsoft’s ‘Mi Día’ (Spanish for “My Day”) feature is a compelling example of how employee-generated content can be leveraged to showcase workplace culture. The content often includes personal narratives, photos, or videos of their work environment, collaboration with teams, and how they integrate Microsoft tools into their day-to-day tasks. Employees also share stories about their passions and how the company supports them in achieving a fulfilling professional and personal life.

By highlighting real stories, ‘Mi Día’ reinforces the company’s commitment to employee well-being and helps attract top talent who resonate with its culture. You can check out the blog post of a Microsoft employee, Alexis Tenorio, which exemplifies this initiative.

Simpplr hosts podcast series

The Simpplr Podcast Series is a great example of how companies can effectively use employee-generated content to highlight their culture and values. In the series, employees take the lead as hosts and contributors, sharing their thoughts, experiences, and expertise on topics like workplace culture, employee engagement, and internal communication.

The podcast features employees discussing real-life challenges, success stories, and innovative ideas, showcasing their authentic voices and diverse perspectives. By involving employees directly, Simpplr not only humanizes its brand but also establishes itself as a thought leader in the field of employee experience and workplace collaboration.

You can now listen to the podcast series on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts or Spotify.  Additionally, blogs and ebooks are available for each episode, providing further insights into the discussions.

Best strategies to create successful employee generated content

Here are a few strategies that can help your employees create impactful content:

Define your goals and expectations in EGC strategy

Start by clearly outlining the objectives of your EGC strategy. Determine what you want to achieve, whether it’s enhancing brand visibility, fostering community engagement, or attracting top talent. Set specific expectations for the type of content you wish to see and how it aligns with your company’s values.

Example: Incorporate analytics and reporting features that track engagement metrics, allowing you to measure the effectiveness of your EGC strategy based on real-time data.

Cultivate a culture of open communication

Encourage dialogue at all levels of the organization by creating platforms for employees to share their thoughts and collaborate openly. Providing safe spaces for feedback and suggestions fosters trust and inclusivity, ensuring that employees feel confident contributing to your EGC strategy.

Example: Conduct regular town hall meetings or brainstorming sessions to encourage employees at all levels to voice their thoughts, leading to a more inclusive EGC strategy.

Encourage voluntary participation

Make participation in EGC initiatives voluntary to ensure authenticity. Employees should feel comfortable sharing their stories without pressure, which will lead to more genuine and relatable content.Example: Create reward and recognition programs or content contests to encourage and inspire employees to contribute their best work.

Related: Check out our blog on 12 examples of employee recognition programs.

Actively monitor and respond to feedback

Regularly monitor the performance and impact of employee-generated content. Foster two-way communication to engage with employee contributors and audiences. Additionally, responding to feedback, acknowledge contributions, and address concerns. This shows employees that their voices are valued and helps refine the strategy over time.

Example: Utilize advanced sentiment analysis tools to track employee sentiments, identifying potential reputation risks early and responding effectively.

Promote cross-functional collaboration

Cross-functional collaboration enhances the diversity and richness of EGC. Encourage teams from different departments to work together using intranet collaboration tools such as shared workspaces and project boards.

Example: Utilizing a project management tool within the intranet can facilitate collaborative efforts between marketing and product development teams, fostering new stories and authentic content that resonate with diverse audiences.

Employ employee training and development programs

Empower your employees to become brand ambassadors by equipping them with the knowledge and tools they need to represent your values effectively. Implement employee training and development programs to educate them on brand voice, messaging and customer service expectations. Encourage your employees to share their experiences and achievements on social media, showcasing your company culture and commitment to excellence.

Example: Organize interactive workshops, role-playing exercises, and real-life case studies that help employees understand how to communicate their values effectively.

Equip employees with the right technology

Providing employees with the right technology is essential for facilitating efficient employee generated content creation. Access to user-friendly tools and platforms like social media management software, content creation apps, collaboration tools, and internal communication systems ensures employees can easily produce, edit, and share high-quality content.

Example: Integrate an intuitive AI-powered intranet where employees can easily share content, collaborate on ideas, and access resources, enabling seamless communication and content creation within the organization.

The role of intranets in strengthening employee generated content

In the modern workplace, EGC is transforming internal communication and collaboration by empowering employees to actively participate in the dissemination of knowledge and insights. Therefore, one of the most effective solutions for enhancing EGC is the implementation of a robust intranet system like Simpplr.

With Simpplr’s AI-powered employee experience platform, you can create a dynamic digital workplace that encourages employees to share expertise, ideas, and achievements through an intuitive interface with customizable features for contributing content. 

With AI personalization, employees can receive relevant information to boost productivity and engagement while fostering community by facilitating cross-departmental collaboration and breaking down silos. 

Simpplr’s analytics tools provide insights into content performance and employee engagement, enabling continuous strategy refinement to keep the intranet a vibrant resource. 

By leveraging such advanced features, organizations can enhance their employee-generated content initiatives, leading to improved communication, innovation, and organizational alignment.Watch a quick demo of Simpplr and see how it can strengthen employee generated content initiatives today!