Rebranding toolkit available and how to prepare your network for the Viva Engage Rebrand

[Guest ValeriaFurlong]

We recently announced the rebranding of Yammer to Viva Engage and based on many conversations with our customers we want to give you the tools and resources to help prepare for the upcoming changes. In the rebranding kit, we have collected ideas, templates, logos and more for you to repurpose for your own needs and employees.

 

 

 

<Download the rebrand kit here>

 

Prepare with your stakeholders

 

 

 

 

Keep the stakeholders up to date on the changes by sharing the most recent announcements and blog posts. Use this as an opportunity to:

 

 

 

• review governance and update your usage policy.
  
• identify areas in Yammer where you may need to adjust and edit the info boxes, community cover photos or icons (example: a Yammer 101 Community may need to be renamed to a Viva Engage 101 Community).
  

 

 

 

Note: You can leverage sample resources including logos and other brand assets included in this rebrand kit. This includes a cover photo template that you can use to create new cover photos.

 

 

 

Outline a communication plan with your stakeholders to determine key messages and channels. The rebrand kit includes a sample plan with prompts for you to determine the channels, key messages, and timeline. The kit also includes an email template and Viva Engage announcement copy you can leverage. Be sure to update internal resources such as intranet pages that currently include the Yammer name.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Assess your current network

 

 

 

Before you get too far into the rebranding changes and communication to employees, take a step back and see if there is an opportunity to assess your current network. How could your organization use this moment as an opportunity to re-energize your network? Are there any upcoming internal moments/initiatives that would align with this change?

 

 

Many customers have capitalized on the rebrand to further support their community adoption efforts. For example, have you determined how to use All Company as a corporate communication channel? Or have you created a process or program around Official Communities today? Melanie Hohertz has written some great advice and best practices for making the most out of the existing product to maximize reach and engagement before any changes take place.

 

 

Additionally, you can choose to share your favorite success stories to reinforce how Viva Engage is benefiting the organization. Ask your champions for their success stories and see what could be included.

 

 

 

Involve your champions

 

 

 

Start a conversation with your champions about the rebranding of Yammer and what channels and resources they might want to consider renaming. Involve them by brainstorming a campaign to kick off broader conversation with employees. At Microsoft, we used #YammerisEngaged as an internal campaign for employees to share and highlight how Viva Engage has helped them feel connected over the years. Employee responses have taken us down memory lane while reminding us of the power of connection beyond geography and departmental silos.

 

 

 

 

 

 

When key messaging is posted, encourage your champions and admins to help amplify and share to their communities. Have people share their favorite Viva Engage tips and tricks, using real examples and scenarios when possible.

 

If you need help starting a champion community, watch this video about Activating your Champion Program.

 

 

 

Inform your leaders

 

 

 

If you have leaders using Yammer today, encourage them to update or re-install their mobile apps to see the changes reflected. If leaders aren’t currently active, this may be an opportunity to start a conversation about engaging their employees in two-way dialog. By connecting leaders and employees to openly share, problem solve, and contribute across boundaries, Viva Engage empowers people and teams to be their best, have a voice, and feel included in the workplace.

 

 

Additionally, if they haven’t already set up delegates, use it as an opportunity to determine delegate access for posting.

 

 

 

Let your employees know

 

 

 

Communicate the upcoming changes with your employees and share key messages.

 

 

 

Here’s a sample message...

 

 

Yammer has been powering community experiences in Microsoft for over a decade. In that time, we’ve seen our use of Yammer influence company culture, bring employees together during times of trial, and accelerate knowledge sharing across departments. In short, Yammer is part of our strategy to help empower employees and impact change within our organization.

 

Last year, Microsoft took the first step to rebrand the Yammer Communities app for Teams into Viva Engage to align more closely with the Microsoft Viva suite that focuses on employee experience. Throughout 2023, Yammer will be rebranded to Viva Engage. This change will deliver an integrated experience and a single Viva Engage platform—wherever you choose to engage. The Yammer Communities App in Teams, Communities app for Outlook and Yammer mobile apps for iOS and Android will be rebranded to Viva Engage. Over the next year, all of Yammer will become Viva Engage. All the capabilities you enjoy today will continue to be available to you, just under a new name, Viva Engage. Like all rebrands, this shift will take time and occur over the coming months.

 

 

Throughout this change, you can expect a familiar experience. All the existing functionality you love, along with the latest features will remain the same. Small actions will be needed to update and communicate this change to everyone.

 

 

 

We’ll share updates along the way to keep you informed.

 

<Business leaders/owners of Yammer>

 

 

 

We hope that this blog post and rebranding kit starts the conversation with your organization and empowers you to inform your employees of the upcoming changes to Yammer.

 

Resources:

 

• Download Rebranding kit (Includes logos, email template, editable cover photo templates, communication plans).
  
• Join us for upcoming Office Hours to ask questions and get advice from other customers (Register here EMEA or APAC).
  
• Track upcoming progress on Viva Engage existing and new capabilities M365 Roadmap
  
• Follow the Microsoft Viva Blog for more updates and announcements
  
• Check out more Viva Engage Adoption Resources
  

 

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