TALENT COMMUNICATIONS IN A DIGITAL AGE.
Welcome. 
Today’s facilitator: 
N. Robert Johnson, APR 
Practice Leader, Workforce Communications Practice
Expectation setting. 
Interested in a specific topic? Let us know. 
•New ways of thinking about employer brand, employee communications and employee engagement 
•Ideas that you can use 
•All within 30 minutes
Recap of last webinar. 
Employee Value Proposition. How and why your EVP plays a critical role in your employer brand communications. 
•Your EVP is the foundation of your employer brand communications 
•Companies with a clearly defined EVP outperform those that don’t have one 
•To do: focus on the behaviors that drive success; have a strategic plan; and have managers who walk the talk
Today’s webinar. 
Talent Communications in a Digital Age. 
Employee and employer brand strategies to connect in a digital world.
WELCOME TO A DIGITAL WORLD
What is a digital world? 
It’s how we live our lives today. It’s the messages we send, the messages we get and the messages we seek. 
But it’s more than messaging. It’s also the experience that surrounds each message.
… communication through Internet-based channels and devices. 
Digital communication is ... 
High performing digital communication is smooth, non-intrusive and relevant. 
Hi Bob! 
Hi Bob! 
Hi Bob! 
And it’s highly personalized.
Let’s define it a little further. 
According to Adobe 
Personalization is the use of data to deliver a relevant and engaging experience to a customer across channels and devices. 
It’s the same for talent communications! 
Adobe 2014
In talent communications segmentation is personalization.
Think about talent segmentation as a driver ... 
To create relevant and engaging experiences.
Where to start? 
1.Understand the new digital communications dynamic 
2.Develop a plan to segment
Not one, or two-way but all-way.
The new dynamic: the old paradigm is banished. 
Companies used to rely on basic one-way communications. No more. Today, current and future employees use communication-relationships that are … 
•Informal and collaborative 
•Fueled by social interactions via social networks 
•Centered on personal opinion and expression 
[ top-performing organizations embrace this ]
The new dynamic: multi-tasking through multi-channels. 
At work, home or on the road, we’re fully tuned into many conversations happening at the same time. 
29% will use smartphone to email/text 
41% will use tablet to look up characters’ information 
12% will send notes or comments 
While watching a favorite TV show … 
18% will read conversations in social media 
For example 
Nielsen 2014
Another illustration – mobile shopping behavior. 
Use store locator 76% 39% 
Check prices 66% 51% 
Research before buying 59% 65% 
Use lists while shopping 49% 14% 
Use mobile coupon 49% 10% 
Read reviews 47% 55% 
Make digital purchase 39% 45% 
Use device for payment 37% 27% 
Purchase item on device 32% 40% 
Write a review of a purchase 14% 23% 
Comment on social media re purchase 26% 21% 
Nielsen 2014
Segmentation.
Workforce Communications Practice 
framework for broad-based employee and employer brand communication
Illustration. 
Primary message 
Our company, and people, thrive because we deliver excellence. 
Campaign 
“Good enough is not enough.” Employee demonstrations of excellence throughout the organization. 
−Employee profiles on achieving excellence 
−Recognition event and Facebook dedicated page 
−Motivational customer testimonials 
−Training and support materials (how-to) 
−Internal discussion board 
−Gamification 
[employer brand pillar: excellence]
Expression map. 
Communication Tools 
−Social media 
−Facebook page 
−Instagram 
−Google+ 
−Intranet/portal 
−Emails/ecards 
−Special events 
−Video 
−Leadership/peer communications
Talent segmentation. 
Typical segmentation might include: 
•Employer brand promise and attributes (recruitment/attraction) 
•Behavioral profiles (recruitment/attraction) 
•Geography (recruitment/attraction) 
•Engagement levels (retention/engagement) 
•Job roles (retention/engagement) 
•Workforce segments (retention/engagement)
Segmentation illustration: engineering segment within global framework. 
Primary message for segment 
We’re engineering problem solvers solving the world’s greatest problems. 
Campaign 
“Good enough is not enough.” A relentless mission to solve the world’s most challenging engineering problems. 
−Engineers’ profiles highlighting engineering success 
−Engineering competition (gamification) 
−Dedicated Facebook page on engineering excellence and best practices 
−Teamwork video with client 
−Special event at national tradeshow 
−Tie-ins to diversity and college recruitment programs (incl. dedicated FB page) 
−Dedicated images and sub-branding elements for engineers
How to engage – content: connect through interests. 
Tap into the drivers of interest for each segment. (Global shown but dig deeper for each segment.) 
Top Attraction Drivers 
1.Base pay/salary 
2.Job security 
3.Career advancement opportunity 
4.Learning and development opportunities 
5.Challenging work 
6.Organization’s reputation as a good employer 
7.Vacation/PTO 
Top Retention Drivers 
1.Base pay/salary 
2.Career advancement opportunity 
3.Trust/confidence in sr. leadership 
4.Job security 
5.Length of commute 
6.Relationship with supervisor / manager 
7.Vacation/PTO 
Towers Watson 2014
Tap into the media, channels and language used by each audience segment. 
Social Media 
Facebook 
LinkedIn 
Google+ 
Instagram 
YouTube 
Twitter 
How to engage – channels and media. 
EE Comm Chat groups Leadership blogs Videos Pulse surveys Profiles 
Event-Based 
Leadership forums 
Networking events 
Training 
Recognition
Action step #1: Document or update overall communications messaging. 
Before segmenting, establish your overall communications framework. This will serve as a positive structure for your segmentation strategy. 
Things to do 
Organize ee and eb communications in a framework like the one provided herein. 
Validate/verify messages with ees (focus groups, engagement data).
Action step 2: Develop your segmentation approach. 
Pick the segment(s) to focus on then profile demographics … 
•Drivers of engagement (line of sight, commitment, culture, mission) 
•Align to employer brand/EVP pillars 
•Communication preferences – think about the media and channels used by your segmented audiences (think communications audit) 
Remember Think big, start small and scale up. You don’t have to segment your entire workforce all at once. Testing is a staple of all communications programs.
Action step 3: Embrace the digital age and stay focused on being relevant and engaging. 
Truly embracing the digital age requires embracing a lot more than a Facebook page. It’s about embracing a new framework for people communications. 
Things to do Focus on 
Collaboration 
Peer to peer 
Openness/transparency 
Different approaches
How Strong is Your Employer Brand? A new approach to strengthening your employer brand. 
Introducing … 
Thank you! Offline questions? Contact me at 216.685.4486 or nrjohnson@davidgroup.com 
Our next webinar.
Our approach to employer brand. 
Discover 
•Stakeholder interviews 
•Focus groups 
•Employee engagement data 
•Communication audits 
•External brand alignment 
•Culture, mission and values alignment 
Invent 
•Employer brand promise 
•Employer brand attributes 
•Employee value proposition 
•Creative design expression 
•Strategic communications planning 
Deliver 
•Employer brand architecture 
•Integrated communications 
•Certified brand ambassadors 
•Customer experience and employer branding

Talent Communications in a Digital Age

  • 1.
  • 2.
    Welcome. Today’s facilitator: N. Robert Johnson, APR Practice Leader, Workforce Communications Practice
  • 3.
    Expectation setting. Interestedin a specific topic? Let us know. •New ways of thinking about employer brand, employee communications and employee engagement •Ideas that you can use •All within 30 minutes
  • 4.
    Recap of lastwebinar. Employee Value Proposition. How and why your EVP plays a critical role in your employer brand communications. •Your EVP is the foundation of your employer brand communications •Companies with a clearly defined EVP outperform those that don’t have one •To do: focus on the behaviors that drive success; have a strategic plan; and have managers who walk the talk
  • 5.
    Today’s webinar. TalentCommunications in a Digital Age. Employee and employer brand strategies to connect in a digital world.
  • 6.
    WELCOME TO ADIGITAL WORLD
  • 7.
    What is adigital world? It’s how we live our lives today. It’s the messages we send, the messages we get and the messages we seek. But it’s more than messaging. It’s also the experience that surrounds each message.
  • 8.
    … communication throughInternet-based channels and devices. Digital communication is ... High performing digital communication is smooth, non-intrusive and relevant. Hi Bob! Hi Bob! Hi Bob! And it’s highly personalized.
  • 9.
    Let’s define ita little further. According to Adobe Personalization is the use of data to deliver a relevant and engaging experience to a customer across channels and devices. It’s the same for talent communications! Adobe 2014
  • 10.
    In talent communicationssegmentation is personalization.
  • 11.
    Think about talentsegmentation as a driver ... To create relevant and engaging experiences.
  • 12.
    Where to start? 1.Understand the new digital communications dynamic 2.Develop a plan to segment
  • 13.
    Not one, ortwo-way but all-way.
  • 14.
    The new dynamic:the old paradigm is banished. Companies used to rely on basic one-way communications. No more. Today, current and future employees use communication-relationships that are … •Informal and collaborative •Fueled by social interactions via social networks •Centered on personal opinion and expression [ top-performing organizations embrace this ]
  • 15.
    The new dynamic:multi-tasking through multi-channels. At work, home or on the road, we’re fully tuned into many conversations happening at the same time. 29% will use smartphone to email/text 41% will use tablet to look up characters’ information 12% will send notes or comments While watching a favorite TV show … 18% will read conversations in social media For example Nielsen 2014
  • 16.
    Another illustration –mobile shopping behavior. Use store locator 76% 39% Check prices 66% 51% Research before buying 59% 65% Use lists while shopping 49% 14% Use mobile coupon 49% 10% Read reviews 47% 55% Make digital purchase 39% 45% Use device for payment 37% 27% Purchase item on device 32% 40% Write a review of a purchase 14% 23% Comment on social media re purchase 26% 21% Nielsen 2014
  • 17.
  • 18.
    Workforce Communications Practice framework for broad-based employee and employer brand communication
  • 19.
    Illustration. Primary message Our company, and people, thrive because we deliver excellence. Campaign “Good enough is not enough.” Employee demonstrations of excellence throughout the organization. −Employee profiles on achieving excellence −Recognition event and Facebook dedicated page −Motivational customer testimonials −Training and support materials (how-to) −Internal discussion board −Gamification [employer brand pillar: excellence]
  • 20.
    Expression map. CommunicationTools −Social media −Facebook page −Instagram −Google+ −Intranet/portal −Emails/ecards −Special events −Video −Leadership/peer communications
  • 21.
    Talent segmentation. Typicalsegmentation might include: •Employer brand promise and attributes (recruitment/attraction) •Behavioral profiles (recruitment/attraction) •Geography (recruitment/attraction) •Engagement levels (retention/engagement) •Job roles (retention/engagement) •Workforce segments (retention/engagement)
  • 22.
    Segmentation illustration: engineeringsegment within global framework. Primary message for segment We’re engineering problem solvers solving the world’s greatest problems. Campaign “Good enough is not enough.” A relentless mission to solve the world’s most challenging engineering problems. −Engineers’ profiles highlighting engineering success −Engineering competition (gamification) −Dedicated Facebook page on engineering excellence and best practices −Teamwork video with client −Special event at national tradeshow −Tie-ins to diversity and college recruitment programs (incl. dedicated FB page) −Dedicated images and sub-branding elements for engineers
  • 23.
    How to engage– content: connect through interests. Tap into the drivers of interest for each segment. (Global shown but dig deeper for each segment.) Top Attraction Drivers 1.Base pay/salary 2.Job security 3.Career advancement opportunity 4.Learning and development opportunities 5.Challenging work 6.Organization’s reputation as a good employer 7.Vacation/PTO Top Retention Drivers 1.Base pay/salary 2.Career advancement opportunity 3.Trust/confidence in sr. leadership 4.Job security 5.Length of commute 6.Relationship with supervisor / manager 7.Vacation/PTO Towers Watson 2014
  • 24.
    Tap into themedia, channels and language used by each audience segment. Social Media Facebook LinkedIn Google+ Instagram YouTube Twitter How to engage – channels and media. EE Comm Chat groups Leadership blogs Videos Pulse surveys Profiles Event-Based Leadership forums Networking events Training Recognition
  • 25.
    Action step #1:Document or update overall communications messaging. Before segmenting, establish your overall communications framework. This will serve as a positive structure for your segmentation strategy. Things to do Organize ee and eb communications in a framework like the one provided herein. Validate/verify messages with ees (focus groups, engagement data).
  • 26.
    Action step 2:Develop your segmentation approach. Pick the segment(s) to focus on then profile demographics … •Drivers of engagement (line of sight, commitment, culture, mission) •Align to employer brand/EVP pillars •Communication preferences – think about the media and channels used by your segmented audiences (think communications audit) Remember Think big, start small and scale up. You don’t have to segment your entire workforce all at once. Testing is a staple of all communications programs.
  • 27.
    Action step 3:Embrace the digital age and stay focused on being relevant and engaging. Truly embracing the digital age requires embracing a lot more than a Facebook page. It’s about embracing a new framework for people communications. Things to do Focus on Collaboration Peer to peer Openness/transparency Different approaches
  • 28.
    How Strong isYour Employer Brand? A new approach to strengthening your employer brand. Introducing … Thank you! Offline questions? Contact me at 216.685.4486 or nrjohnson@davidgroup.com Our next webinar.
  • 29.
    Our approach toemployer brand. Discover •Stakeholder interviews •Focus groups •Employee engagement data •Communication audits •External brand alignment •Culture, mission and values alignment Invent •Employer brand promise •Employer brand attributes •Employee value proposition •Creative design expression •Strategic communications planning Deliver •Employer brand architecture •Integrated communications •Certified brand ambassadors •Customer experience and employer branding