Why Social Media is The Most Important Recruitment Tool for Brands

When I first started my career over eight years ago as a social media specialist at a digital marketing agency, social media was just starting to find its footing. “Strategy” was a loose term that brands and individuals were experimenting with to create campaigns along the lines of, “Like if Agree, Comment if you Disagree.” These tactics don’t work anymore. 

Now, social media is one of the most powerful and effective tools for brands when it comes to marketing, driving sales, and even recruiting employees. According to data from EveryoneSocial, 90 percent of candidates would apply for a job from a company that actively maintains its employer brand, and 84 percent of job-seekers think the reputation of a company as an employer is important.

With 79 percent of applicants turning to social media during the job hunt, social media needs to align with business goals -- such as driving recruitment and top talent. At InkHouse, we take our culture very seriously -- creating a healthy blend between work and life, working from home every Friday to focus on strategic planning and writing, and offering unlimited vacation to give us the space we need to find perspective and creativity. Do we post about all of these benefits on social media? Yes. It’s meant as a business strategy to make our employees feel good, while inviting others to join us. In some cases, social can have a negative, envious effect on the viewer, but when done right, it is a powerful PR and recruitment tactic that should not be ignored.  

Here are some other interesting statistics about the power of social media and employer branding: 

• 75 percent of respondents think companies are more trustworthy when C-level executives and leadership teams use social media to communicate values and information about their company.
• Companies believe that social media marketing will be the most in-demand HR skill by 2020, second being data analysis.
• Employee voice is three times more credible than the CEO’s when it comes to talking about working conditions in that company. 

Forty-nine percent of employers believe they don’t have the tools to effectively enhance employer brands. If you’re one of them, connect with a member of our new business team at workwithus@inkhouse.com and we’re happy to discuss a PR and social media strategy for your brand and thought leaders. 

If you think we look like a fun place to work then reach out to us at hello@inkhouse.com- we’re hiring across all offices - Waltham, SF and NYC!