Are your digital marketing team motivated and productive? As a leader, you have a duty to drive your department forward every step of the way. If you already have the right talent beneath you, your task is to help inspire them to achieve efficient results. Within this guide, we will look at an array of techniques you can employ to lead the way.
Make sure your goals are clear
First things first, let’s talk about setting proper goals for your digital marketing team. Staff members will not be motivated when their targets are vague. It’s crucial that you take the time to sit down with employees and review their current goals on a regular basis. One of the most important things to remember here is that your goals must be measurable.
Determine a way in which you and your employees can keep track of these targets and decide when they have been adequately met. In some instances—for example, when staff members are working in analytics—tracking their achievements will be straightforward. However, if the goals are more abstract than that, you might have to devise a new way to keep tabs on them. Using this tip as a diving off point will be hugely impactful.
Recognise your team’s achievements
Leading a busy digital marketing team means that there’s rarely a chance to stop and celebrate the small wins. However, giving hard-working members of the group the acknowledgement they deserve could help to motivate them moving forward. In fact, 72% of employees cited recognition as having the greatest impact on their engagement, according to a survey from Aptitude Research Partners.
There are many ways in which you can show your appreciation for your team. For instance, you may find that it’s helpful to run an ‘employee of the month’ scheme. Alternatively, you could have an incentives program that is ongoing at all times. When a staff member surpasses a goal, they could be entitled to a reward, such as a bonus or extra flexibility in their work style. Figure out a strategy that suits your business.
Minimise unnecessary communication
Communication is key when working with a team. However, in the world of digital marketing, some tasks take an employee’s full level of focus. Ongoing streams of conversation, via email or messaging systems, may distract them from their process. One study from Recruit Time found that more than 40% of the working day is taken up by multitasking using communication tools. While an ongoing dialogue with your team could be useful at times, you don’t want it to hinder their work flow.
Avoiding this issue is simple enough. Rather than continually communicating with your marketing team using apps and messaging systems, schedule regular meetings. These appointments should be short and sweet.
For example, you could set aside ten minutes each morning to have a rundown of your team’s tasks for the day. At the end of the day, you can spare another ten minutes to go over what has been achieved. Keeping communication to a minimum during the main working hours will help motivate people to become more productive. Moreover, as you’re holding them accountable, they will achieve.
| Note: Of course, there will be times when you need to send your employees a quick update email. Simply make sure that these are kept to a minimum.
Invest in branded staff clothing
Cultivating a team environment within your digital marketing department is a top priority. What employees wear can have a real impact on how they feel and how engaged they are with their roles. For example, research suggests that when people wear a doctor’s lab coat, their levels of attentiveness rise. The takeaway here is that wearing uniforms or branded clothing can help your team get into the correct mindset for work.
With that in mind, investing in branded clothing for your digital marketing team could be a savvy way to motivate them. The underlying psychology is that when they put on the clothing item, they are figuratively stepping into their professional persona.
Encourage your team to socialise
Teams who socialise work better together. It’s that simple. Research from the London School of Economics found that staff members are as happy at work as they are at home when they socialise and talk to coworkers. While you want your team to maintain a level of professionalism during work hours, having them get to know one another will help increase their motivation. As a leader, you should create an office culture in which people can make genuine connections and friendships.
Organising social events for your digital marketing team is one method you should employ. Focus on team-building activities, rather than ones that are centred on drinking. For instance, you could book an escape room experience or take your team to an archery course. It’s worth taking some time to consider which activities will bond your staff.
Go green as an office
In the modern world, employees expect more from their companies. Becoming more eco-friendly as a business will benefit you, your staff and—of course—the planet. Showing your digital marketing team that the business has an eco conscious is a step in the right direction and could help to motivate them. For example, you could invest in organic clothing for your uniforms or try going entirely paperless in your workplace. These small changes could make a major impact when it comes to staff loyalty and retention levels.
Offer your staff flexible working
Flexible working is a growing trend and one on which you can capitalise. Offering your staff some flexibility—by allowing them to choose their hours or work from home—could be a game-changer for your team. Research from the University of Manchester highlighted flexible working as a major motivator when it comes to employee engagement. Since a wealth of digital marketing can be done remotely,
Needless to say, establishing a flexible working program in your workplace might take time. You will have to coordinate with the HR team and device a system that works for your specific company. If you are able to give your digital marketing staff members the option of remote work and flexible hours, it could be remarkably beneficial. You should then speak to your team to determine how this scheme would work for each of them.
Offer your team members benefits
Do you offer your digital marketing team perks and benefits? If you’re neglecting this area of their work life, you may want to create a new strategy. 78% of workers say that they are more likely to stay with their current employer because of the benefits that they offer them, according to a recent survey from Willis Towers Watson. As a manager or leader, you should dedicate time to considering what benefits you currently offer.
There’s a broad variety of perks that you could offer your team. For example, you might want to give them access to complimentary fresh fruit and vegetables in the office environment. On the other hand, you could offer them corporate discounts to local services. Doing so means working with businesses in your area to strike a deal. Giving something back to your workforce is likely to drive them forward and motivate them.
The takeaway: Motivate your team to success
Motivating your digital marketing team is an ongoing challenge, but it’s one to which you can rise. Use the advice here to inform your activities. Tailoring your offering to your employees will help you to get more from each of them. Get started today.
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