Social Media Hacks: How to find your next Sales star online!
Introduction
In today's digital age, finding the right talent for your start-up is not limited to an advert in the local newspaper (thank goodness!). Sales professionals, in particular, are crucial for driving growth and achieving business milestones but it is an industry which is renowned for low retention rates and high turnover. While traditional recruitment methods have their merits, leveraging social media can significantly enhance your ability to find top-tier sales talent who have a genuine affinity to your business. Following are some tips and tricks for start-up founders and their recruitment teams with actionable hacks to effectively use social media for discovering and attracting their next sales star.
Understanding the Power of Social Media in Recruitment
The Shift to Social Media
The recruitment landscape has dramatically shifted over the past decade. Traditional methods such as job boards and recruitment agencies are being complemented, and in some cases replaced, by social media platforms. According to recent studies, over 70% of job seekers now use social media to find new opportunities. This shift is especially pronounced among millennials and Gen Z, who are increasingly reliant on digital channels.
Benefits of Social Media Recruitment of Sales Candidates.
Utilizing social media for recruitment offers several advantages:
Wider Reach: Social media platforms have billions of active users, allowing you to reach a diverse pool of candidates.
Targeted Advertising: Advanced targeting options enable you to focus on specific demographics and skill sets.
Real-Time Engagement: Interact with potential candidates instantly through comments, messages, and live sessions.
Employer Branding: Showcase your company culture and values to attract like-minded individuals.
Identifying the Right Platforms in the UK and EMEA.
Key Social Media Platforms for Recruitment
Each social media platform has its strengths and can be leveraged in unique ways for recruitment:, depending on your type of start-up:
LinkedIn: The go-to platform for professional networking, LinkedIn is ideal for finding experienced sales professionals. Utilize features like LinkedIn Recruiter and InMail to connect with potential candidates.
Facebook: With its vast user base, Facebook allows for targeted job ads and company pages to highlight your employer brand. Facebook Groups can also be a valuable resource for finding niche talent.
Twitter: Twitter's real-time nature makes it great for sharing job openings and engaging with industry influencers. Use hashtags like #SalesJobs and #Hiring to increase visibility.
Instagram: Ideal for showcasing your company culture through visuals. Instagram Stories and IGTV can be used to give behind-the-scenes looks at your team and office environment.
Choosing the Right Platform
To select the right platform, consider where your ideal candidates are most active. For example, if you're looking for experienced sales executives, LinkedIn might be your best bet. For younger, more dynamic sales candidates, Instagram and Twitter could be a solid option.
Crafting a Compelling Employer Brand Online
Building Your Employer Brand
A strong employer brand attracts top talent by showcasing what makes your start-up not only a great business but also a great place to work (the two do not necessarily go together). Here are steps to build and promote your brand:
Consistent Messaging and Visuals: Ensure your branding is consistent across all platforms. Use your logo, company colors, and a unified tone of voice.
Highlight Company Culture and Values: Share posts about your mission, values, and what it's like to work at your company. This could include employee spotlights, team-building activities, and office events.
Showcase Employee Testimonials and Success Stories: Share stories and testimonials from your current sales team. This not only boosts your credibility but also gives potential candidates a glimpse into their future at your company.
Real-Life Example
During a project at a start-up in 2019, we created a series of short videos featuring different team members sharing their experiences and career growth. We posted these on LinkedIn and Instagram, which significantly increased our engagement and attracted a number of high-quality sales candidates who resonated with our culture and values, as well the start-up product.
Creating Engaging Job Posts
Elements of a Compelling Job Post
Your job posts need to stand out and grab the attention of potential candidates. The overall feels of a job post should depend on the audien and type of roles that you are recruiting for. At the risk of making generalisations, if you want to hire sales professionals then a dynamic, growth centric narrative is going to appeal more.
Here’s how to craft them:
Attention-Grabbing Headlines: Use clear and engaging headlines that highlight the role and its benefits.
Clear and Concise Job Descriptions: Avoid jargon and get straight to the point. Outline the key responsibilities, qualifications, and what makes the role exciting.
Highlight Unique Selling Points (USPs) and Benefits: Mention any unique perks, such as remote work options, flexible hours, or opportunities for career advancement.
Include a Call-to-Action: Encourage candidates to apply or reach out for more information.
Using Multimedia to Enhance Posts
Visual content performs better on social media. Incorporate images, infographics, and videos to make your job posts more engaging. A behind-the-scenes video tour of your office or a day-in-the-life video featuring a current sales team member can make a big impact.
Leveraging Social Media Advertising
Benefits of Paid Social Media Ads
Paid advertising can significantly boost your recruitment efforts by reaching a wider and more targeted audience. Here are some benefits:
Advanced Targeting: Narrow down your audience based on location, industry, job title, and more.
Increased Visibility: Paid ads ensure your job posts are seen by more people, including passive candidates who may not be actively searching for a job.
Measurable Results: Track the performance of your ads to see what works and adjust accordingly.
Creating Effective Recruitment Ads
To maximize the effectiveness of your ads:
Target the Right Audience: Use the platform's targeting features to reach your ideal candidates.
Craft Engaging Ad Copy and Visuals: Ensure your ads are visually appealing and your copy is compelling.
A/B Testing and Optimization: Test different versions of your ads to see which performs best and optimize based on the results.
Budgeting for Ads: Set a budget that aligns with your recruitment goals. Even a small investment can yield significant results if done correctly.
Building a Talent Community
Engaging Potential Candidates
A talent community is a group of individuals who have shown interest in your company but may not be ready to apply immediately. Engage them through:
Webinars and Live Q&A Sessions: Host informative sessions where candidates can learn more about your company and ask questions.
Valuable Content: Share industry insights, career advice, and company news to keep your audience engaged.
Encouraging Interactions: Prompt discussions and interactions through polls, comments, and group activities.
Tools for Managing Talent Communities
Use tools like TalentLyft, Beamery, or LinkedIn Talent Solutions to manage and nurture your talent community. These platforms help you keep track of potential candidates and engage with them regularly.
Utilizing Employee Advocacy - word of mouth!
Enhancing Recruitment Through Employee Advocacy - basically free advertising that often holds greater value than normal advertising because of the personal nature.
Your employees can be your best advocates. Encourage them to share job openings and company content on their personal social media profiles. Provide them with:
Tools and Resources: Equip employees with ready-made posts, images, and hashtags to share.
Incentives: Offer incentives for employees who successfully refer candidates or regularly promote the company online.
Measuring the Impact
Track the impact of employee advocacy through metrics such as referral rates, engagement on posts, and the number of applications received through employee shares.
Engaging with Passive Candidates
Attracting Passive Candidates
Passive candidates are those who aren’t actively looking for a job but may be open to new opportunities. To engage them:
Share Industry News and Trends: Position your company as a thought leader by sharing relevant industry content.
Highlight Professional Development Opportunities: Showcase how your company supports career growth and continuous learning.
Personalized Outreach: Reach out to passive candidates with personalized messages that highlight why they would be a great fit for your company.
Real-Life Success Story
At one start-up I worked with, we identified a top sales professional through LinkedIn who wasn’t actively seeking a new job. After engaging with his posts and sharing relevant industry insights, we reached out with a personalized message highlighting how our company’s innovative approach appeared to align with his personal approach. He was intrigued by our personalised and target approach and we caught his attention. He eventually joined the Customer Development team in a brand new, innovative role, and worked at the company for 5 years.
Monitoring and Analyzing Your Efforts
Importance of Tracking Metrics
Tracking your recruitment efforts allows you to understand what’s working and where you can improve. Key metrics to monitor include:
Engagement Rates: Likes, shares, comments, and click-through rates on your posts and ads.
Application Rates: The number of applications received from social media channels.
Conversion Rates: The percentage of candidates who move from application to hire.
Time-to-Hire: How long it takes to fill a position.
Tools for Social Media Analytics
Use tools like Google Analytics, Hootsuite, and LinkedIn Analytics to track and analyze your recruitment metrics. Regularly review the data to identify trends and make informed adjustments to your strategy.
Call-to-Action!
We hope these social media hacks help you find your next sales star. If you need further assistance or consultation on your recruitment strategies, feel free to contact us.
With these strategies in hand, your start-up is well on its way to building a stellar sales team that will drive your business to new heights. Happy recruiting!