Employee Generated Content: What It Is & Why You Need It

Recruitment Marketing

7 minutes

August 3, 2025

Written by Hirex

Here's something that might surprise you - 92% of consumers trust recommendations from people they know more than any fancy marketing message. Think about it: when was the last time you trusted a polished corporate ad over advice from a friend? 🤔

The numbers tell an interesting story here. Content shared by real employees gets 8x more engagement than standard company posts. And it gets even better - on social media, employee content can drive up to 10x more engagement! That's the kind of results every marketing team dreams about.

Let's face it - traditional corporate content just doesn't cut it anymore. People want real stories from real people. That's exactly why employee-generated content works like magic.

Ready to unlock the power of your employees' authentic voices? Let's walk through everything you need to know about employee-generated content - what it is, why it matters, and how to make it work for your company. Whether you're just getting started or looking to level up your content game, this guide has got you covered! 💪

What's The Deal With Employee Generated Content?

Picture this: Your employees sharing their daily work life, celebrating team wins, and telling their authentic stories. That's employee-generated content (EGC) in action! Let's break down why it's becoming the secret sauce of modern marketing.

The Real Story Behind EGC

Think about who knows your company best—your employees! They live and breathe your company culture every day. When they share their experiences, it creates a genuine connection that no corporate message can match. Here's something wild: Employee networks reach 10 times more people than typical brand accounts!

The numbers don't lie 📊 - 81% of consumers say trust matters most when making buying decisions. And guess what? People trust company experts 66% of the time when they talk about their organization. That's some serious credibility right there!

Why It's Not Just Another Marketing Trick

Regular marketing? It often feels like talking to a wall. But when employees share their stories, magic happens! Their posts get way more engagement than standard company content. Why? Because it's real people sharing real experiences!

Your employees give everyone a backstage pass to what's really happening in your company. There are no fancy filters, no corporate speak, just authentic stories from the people who make your company tick.

What Does EGC Actually Look Like?

Ready for some examples? Here's what your employees can create:

• Social Media Magic: Team celebrations, office fun, and those "I love my job" moments

• Smart Stuff: Blog posts where your experts share their know-how

• Behind-the-Scenes Peeks: Photos and videos showing what really goes down at work

• Growth Stories: Videos about career journeys and learning experiences

Want to hear something interesting? 98% of employees already use social media, and half of them post about their company. For the younger crowd, it's second nature—88% of 18—to 29-year-olds are social media pros!

All this authentic content? It's gold for recruitment! 58% of job hunters check out companies on social media before applying.

Why Employee Content is Pure Gold for Your Business 🌟

Let's talk real benefits - not just fancy marketing speak, but actual results that make EGC worth every minute you spend on it. Ready to see why your employees might be your best content creators?

Your Employees = Your Most Trusted Voice

Here's something that'll make you think twice about your marketing budget: employee-created content gets 8x more engagement than brand-created content. Why? Because people trust real humans way more than corporate speak!

Check this out - 70% of people trust what they hear from peers on social media, but only 15% believe direct brand messages. That's a huge trust gap! 😮

Happy Employees = Better Business

But wait, there's more! When your team creates content together, they build stronger bonds with each other. The result? Happier employees who stick around longer! 👥

Smart Savings = Bigger Impact

Let's talk money (because who doesn't love saving it?) 💰

Picture this: You could spend months and thousands of dollars getting 10-15 content pieces from an agency. Or... you could tap into the goldmine of content creators already on your payroll!

The best part? Your employees already know your brand inside out. No need for lengthy briefings or endless revisions. Plus, their combined social networks? Massive!

Ready to Launch Your EGC Program? Here's Your Game Plan! 🚀

A quick exercise for you: Think about the last time you tried to get your whole team excited about something new. Not so easy, right? Let's make your EGC program launch different!

First Things First - Ground Rules That Work

Here's a surprising fact - 85% of companies have content guidelines, but only 30% actually stick to them. No piece of cake, right? 🍰

The secret sauce? Keep it fun and optional! Nobody likes being forced to create content. Give your team some ready-to-use content packs that match your brand voice but let their personality shine through. Think of it as giving them the ingredients to cook up their own special content dish!

Getting Your Team Ready for Action 💪

Start small, dream big! Pick your most enthusiastic employees to kick things off. These content champions will help spread the excitement across your company.

Want to know what works best? Run these fun workshops every month or quarter:

• Cool content creation tricks

• Finding your brand voice sweet spot

• Social media dos and don'ts

• Easy ways to submit your content

Tools That Make Life Easier 🛠️

The right tools can turn content creation from a headache into a breeze. Here's what you need in your toolbox:

• Content Central: Think of it as your content cookbook. All the templates and approved assets are in one place, so your team can grab what they need and add their own special flavor!

• Smooth Workflows: Make sharing and approving content as easy as sending a text. Plus, smart tracking links show you exactly how your content performs.

• Numbers That Matter: Pick tools that show you what's working and what's not. Because who doesn't love seeing their content succeed? 📊

Remember - building a great EGC program is like growing a garden. Plant the seeds (guidelines), nurture your team (training), give them the right tools, and watch your content bloom! 🌱

Show Me The Numbers: Measuring Your EGC Success

Want to know if your EGC program actually works? Let's talk numbers and results that matter!

What Should You Track?

First up, engagement is your best friend here. Likes, comments, and shares tell an interesting story about your content's impact. Here's something exciting: employees who join formal advocacy programs see an 86% boost in their career growth. Talk about a win-win!

But wait, there's more to track than just social media buzz. Keep your eyes on:

• How many people visit your website through EGC

• When employee content turns viewers into customers

• What people say about your brand in comments

• How often people search for your brand name

Show Me The Money - ROI Talk 💰

Let's get down to business - calculating your return on investment. Here's a simple formula to keep handy: Brand ROI = (Brand Benefits - Brand Costs) / Brand Costs x 100.

Smart companies use first-touch and last-touch tracking to see exactly how EGC helps turn prospects into customers.

The numbers look pretty good, too! Recent stats show:

• 46% conversion rate from influencer campaigns

• 44% of sales can be traced back to EGC

Keep Your Finger on the Pulse

A quick exercise for you: Set up these four things to stay on top of your game:

• Auto-updating dashboards (because who has time for manual updates?)

• Regular check-ins on your numbers

• Success story sharing with your team

• Strategy tweaks based on what the data tells you

Here's a word of warning, though: Companies that skip tracking their metrics are basically throwing content into the void. Don't let that be you!

The Final Word: Why EGC Matters More Than Ever

Let's be honest - building authentic connections through traditional marketing feels like pushing a boulder uphill. But here's the thing: employee content naturally creates those genuine relationships we're all after. The numbers back this up, too - 8x more engagement than standard corporate messages!

Think about what happens when your employees become your storytellers:

• Marketing costs drop naturally

• Team spirit goes through the roof

• Trust in your audience grows organically

• Real connections lead to better results

Building a great EGC program takes time and patience. Start small, learn as you go, and keep adjusting your approach. Remember - forcing employees to create content never works. The magic happens when they genuinely want to share their stories!

At the end of the day, EGC isn't just another box to check in your marketing playbook. It's about letting your employees' authentic voices shine through. The future belongs to companies that dare to be genuine. Are you ready to let your employees tell your story? 🎤