Guest blog by Adam Seabrook, Co-Founder, Betterteam, Inc.

it's not an easy time to be hiring, is it?

Right now, the number of days it takes to fill a position is at an all time high, and 68 percent of HR managers say they're having trouble filling jobs - up from 50 percent in 2013. The talent crunch has got anyone who's got to hire looking at how they can improve their process and considering options like improving their employer brand.

And as it turns out, social media has made employer branding more crucial than ever. Before social media became so dominant, you could pretty much to decide whether or not to have an employer brand. But now, with 76 percent of potential applicants researching employers on LinkedIn before applying, and another 62 percent using other social media for the same purpose, you've got an employer brand whether you like it or not. The only question is, how much of a say do you want in it?

Probably as much as you can, because employer branding really matters. 50 percent of potential applicants say they wouldn't take a job at a company with a bad reputation as an employer, even if they were offered more money. At the same time, companies with good brand appeal get twice as many applicants to their open positions. On top of all that, there's the direct impact of a bad employer brand on the bottom line - companies with bad reputations pay 10 percent more per employee, which really adds up over time.

This new infographic from Betterteam has additional stats about employer branding, as well as tips from top experts on how you can get the most out of employer branding.

We hope this infographic helps drive home the importance of employer branding, and gives you a good starting point for maintaining your brand and attracting more talent during these tough times for hiring.

importance of social media in employer brand
importance of social media in employer brand