Digital Recruiting

Yet more whitenoise - thanks for that

OK – so we all know that this particular blog isn’t a fan of the (in our personal opinion) too hyped, too mis-sold, too inadequate NORAS product. Well it seems on reading this industries press release machine (ONREC) that there’s a new addition to the “planning your online media spend can be easy – but don’t look at what we’re offering too closely” brigade. Welcome www.whatjobsite.co.uk “a website dedicated to helping small and medium-sized employers with online recruitment.”

Now I know there’s a (probably quite good) case against us specialist and passionate online media types over complicating our own lives by considering all feasible options to the detail that we do (clients tend to hold us accountable for our advice and consultancy don’t you know). But when I see something out there professing to be another great panacea then you’ll have to forgive me for approaching with just a little cynicism. And yep – what d’you know? It seems that making the right decision ain’t actually that easy.

Apart from a ridiculously oversimplified search (whether that’s the straight search or the “advanced search”) there’s no advice or assistance given (at least NORAS does that)  – it’s just a listing of publisher provided details (as far as I could be bothered to wade through). And do you really need that advice? I’d reckon so – search on “Advertising, Marketing & PR” and everyone and their brother seems to come up in the 5 pages of results. Everyone that is, other than a glaring MAD.co.uk omission (and probably many more – who knows). Perhaps MAD aren’t really that relevant to that type of role anyway - what do I know (jobswales and welshjobs.com was there though – so that’s nice, isn’t it).

So clearly we’ve yet another site / product launched that professes to be all things to all people but actually turns out to be no particular use to anyone. Certainly no where close to delivering on it’s own hype.

If you wanted a list of how many options you have then the afore mentioned press release channel has 4,255 listed job boards (not that that search is any better / worse – although a search on marketing did at least bring up Mad.co.uk). Seems like just another way of someone (Karl Schweppe in this instance) pouncing on a confused and crowded market and flogging a second rate product / service / website on the back of it. Difference is, this time all it will waste of a clients resource is their time – the focus for revenue generation here I guess is the media. Here’s hoping that those media colleagues who have paid for inclusion or advertising have it on a PPC basis.

Now that is one sick idea!

Another chapter in our continuing series of new ideas in social computing. Again like Twittervision it's courtesy of a Google Maps mash up.

This week's tip for the top is Who is sick. Users can post details of their afflictions and their location so you can see what you're going to catch in advance.

Is it a work of genius, a resource for employers to predict future attendance levels, a brilliant way to justify throwing a sickie or just this week's blogging fad. Quite frankly who knows but London looks like a very healthy city to be in at the moment....with the exception of the poor woman near Kingston who has a heavy cold

Google Stays Well on Track

The big news today is that Google has bought the ad serving firm Doubleclick for $3.1 billion. This follows a bidding war with Microsoft which resulted in a buying price well beyond the $1.1 billion that was spent on Doubleclick in 2005. This also towers over the $1.76 billion spent on Youtube in 2006, Google obviously mean business.

So what does this mean for the digital environment? well, it shows that Google aren't content with the search market and are moving into the online display advertising market in a big way, which is a bit of a bummer for Microsoft who if anything could count display as its real area of strength...oh well....

It also demonstrates that tracking and optimisation in online advertising is seen as and is supremely important and a fundamental part of any solution.

By the way, we can't have this blog and not mention the fact that the online advertising market was worth £2 billion in 2006 and even better, recruitment accounted for nearly 25% of this market!!! Amazing.

This shows us how far we have come and yet there is still so much to do. Exciting times.

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Recruiting for Power

So, I've always been interested in politics. Politicians (....or is that corporations...) have a huge influence and power over our lives. Being a world power, American elections are a huge affair with millions of pounds being pumped into campaigns to give candidates the edge and gain crucial votes. TV advertising spend I would imagine must be considerable.

Interestingly the following website is the central hub of Democrat candidate Barack Obama's campaign. Barack and his people understand the huge influence the Internet has today in how people communicate with each other. They have recognised that cleverly using the Internet is crucial to galvanising support and building a community of Obama supporters. They know the Internet facilitates dialogue with individuals and builds communities. There is a section named 'My.Barackobama.com - This Campaign is about You', where people can build their own profile, network with friends and create their own blog. Youtube video's are replicated on the site with buttons enabling people to share the Barack content with their myspace and facebook profiles. Registering to vote is made easy.....Will the Internet lead to more people taking part in the political/democratic process by making participation easier and more accessible?

Have a look at the site, it's a great example of 'Recruiting for Power' in practice and also demonstrates that recruiting people via the Internet for votes or anything else for that matter (note the fundraising options) is extremely effective.

http://www.barackobama.com/

Twitter Ye Not?

After reading about it for a few weeks, I was moved to try Twitter the other day and by so doing entered the fascinating world of micro blogging. I have absolutely no idea whether it will be the next big thing or gone by the summer but I do know that if you watch Twittervision for more than a few minutes it can get scarily addictive!

If it does catch on and some forward thinking company or individual tries to get an Onrec / Ri5 / etc industry first announcement by being the first in the UK to put a recruitment ad on there....tough luck because I've already done it!

Matt