How Building an Employer Brand Attracts Top Marketing Talent

Attracting top-tier marketing talent is challenging. The best candidates often have multiple options, allowing them to pick out a company they would feel proud to work for. This is where the power of employer branding comes in. 

Marketing professionals understand the worth of reputation and image better than anyone. Building an employer brand helps you to stand out to in-demand marketers by putting your culture front and centre. 69% of candidates would reject an offer from a company with a bad reputation even if they were unemployed. This shows just how crucial building a positive employer image is. 

An employer branding strategy is an often-overlooked but hugely important hiring tool. Here, we’ll explore what employer branding is, and how you can build a brand that speaks to top marketing talent. 

What is Employer Branding?

Employer branding is how your company is perceived by candidates. From values to culture, it’s about how you’re viewed as a workplace. 75% of job seekers consider the employer brand before applying, and if yours isn’t up to scratch, chances are top talent will look elsewhere. 

For marketing professionals, employer branding is particularly important. As the competition for skilled marketing talent heats up, branding is a strategic recruitment tool. A compelling employer brand can help you connect with motivated candidates and help you stand out from the crowd as a workplace. 

Why is Employer Branding Important When Hiring Marketing Talent

The demand for marketing talent in the UK isn’t slowing down any time soon, and competition is fierce. Marketers have a keen eye for branding and pay close attention to how an employer sells themselves. To stand out to the top candidates, a strong employer brand makes it clear that your company is the right place to build a career. 

Here’s why employer branding matters.

Attracts the Right Candidates

A strong employer brand highlights your culture and values, making it crystal clear what life is like at the company. This helps to attract marketing professionals who are a good fit both from a skills perspective and a cultural point of view. Candidates are more likely to apply to companies whose mission and work environment align with their own preferences. 

Marketers Want Values-Driven Cultures

Great marketers thrive in environments that foster creativity, innovation, and purpose. If your employer brand highlights creative freedom and innovative campaigns, it’s sure to stand out. A bland or unclear employer brand won’t inspire creative talent to come onboard. 

Increased Chances of Securing Top Talent

In a competitive market, employer branding can be the difference-maker. Earning a positive name for yourself makes the job offer much more attractive. 72% of recruiting leaders worldwide agree that employer brand can be the deciding factor for where top marketing talent chooses to go.

How to Build an Employer Brand That Attracts Top Marketing Talent

Building a strong employer brand isn’t a quick fix, but hiring managers can take concrete steps to get started. With these actionable employer branding tips, you can draw in high-calibre marketing professionals more readily. 

• Define your Employer Value Proposition (EVP): What makes your company a special place to work? Whether it’s professional development, exciting projects, or work-life balance, getting to grips with your EVP will be the foundation of all employer branding efforts.

• Shout about your culture: Show marketing talent the successful and ambitious team they’ll be joining. Use your career site and other channels to highlight behind-the-scenes stories of your marketing team at work. Visual content can be powerful here, with photos and videos of team events or testimonials from your marketing staff. 

• Encourage employee advocacy: Your workforce are your best brand ambassadors. Marketers will put their trust in fellow marketers far more than corporate jargon. An employee's voice can be up to three times more credible than a CEO's when talking about working conditions. Encourage your marketing team to share their experiences. 

• Leverage different channels: Meet your marketing candidates where they already are. 70% of prospects use social media to research a company before applying, and there’s value in regularly posting content that gives insight into the employee experience. 

Attract the Best Marketing Talent with EMR

At EMR, we know that building a strong employer brand requires time and effort. With over 30 years of industry experience, we’ve seen firsthand how impactful reputation can be. From clearly defining what you stand for to showcasing your culture, employer branding builds a reputation that gets you results. 

As a hiring manager, you don’t need to navigate a branding journey alone. We work with you to help you find the best solutions. With our extensive marketing expertise, we’re here to help. If you’re hiring now, our consultants can also provide guidance on strengthening your employer brand. 

If you’re ready to get in front of top marketers, we’d love to hear from you. Submit a brief today and we’ll be in touch. See our case studies for further insight into what we offer.