# @dsmn8 on YouTube

- **Type:** Video
- **Original URL:** https://youtube.com/watch?v=L7zUxuYLL_Q
- **Gondola URL:** https://gondola.cc/posts/68614424-dsmn8-youtube
- **Thumbnail:** https://img.gondola.cc/tr:w-,h-,fo-auto/postThumbnails/0b8e377b70.jpg
- **Posted:** 2026-05-13T08:46:37.000+00:00
- **Account Owner:** DSMN8 - The Employee Advocacy Platform (@dsmn8) — https://gondola.cc/dsmn8

## Caption

Before going global, Aptean started small on purpose. Their pilot group became the testing ground for feedback, proof of value, and the momentum needed for a successful full-scale rollout.

Want to know how your employee advocacy strategy really stacks up?
Grab your FREE Employee Advocacy Health Check and see how you compare against your competitors: https://dsmn8.org/4ubm0dg

In this episode, Anna Laura McGranahan, Senior Social Media Manager at Aptean, reveals how she launched a global program to 680 employees in just a few months. You will learn the exact mental map used to research, build, and launch a program that generated over $357,000 in earned media value within its first two months.

Key Takeaways:

- Why an email from the Head of HR outperforms a marketing invite every time.

- Using Single Sign-On and Microsoft Teams integrations to ensure a one-click sharing experience.

- How Anna Laura uses custom AI agents to turn brand guidelines into personalized, human-sounding social posts.

- Transitioning from a team of one to a network of Advocacy Champions across different product lines and geographies.

- Moving beyond vanity metrics to prove financial value to the C-suite.

Resources

Book a call to discover how employee advocacy can benefit your team: https://dsmn8.org/3PD9KmH
​
Ready to elevate your employee advocacy? Get a free copy of Bradley Keenan’s essential book, ‘Employee Advocacy: 101 Cheat Codes’ for deeper insights and actionable strategies → https://dsmn8.org/3RB9wwU

​Download the 2026 Employee Advocacy Benchmark Report: https://dsmn8.org/4d68fq6

Mentions:
Anna Laura McGranahan - https://www.linkedin.com/in/anna-laura-mcgranahan/
Aptean - aptean.com
DSMN8 - https://dsmn8.com/

​Subscribe to The Employee Advocacy & Influence Podcast for more expert insights into social strategy and employee influence!

Timestamps:
00:00 - Guest Intro: Anna Laura McGranahan’s 10-year social media journey.
03:15 - Why manual tracking via SharePoint and UTMs wasn’t enough.
08:45 - The Research Phase: Podcasts, blogs, and internal feelers.
14:30 - Securing an Executive Sponsor (and why HR is the perfect fit).
22:10 - Launch Day: Managing 150+ sign-ups.
26:00 - Proving $357k in ROI: The data behind the success.
31:20 - Using Generative AI to overcome blank page syndrome.

## Stats

- **Views:** 16,849
- **Likes:** 34
- **Shares:** 0
- **Comments:** 0

## Credits

| Name | Username | Profile | Role |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Anna Laura McGranahan | @annalaurahhh | https://gondola.cc/annalaurahhh | Social Media Strategist |

---
Copyright (c) Gondola