Comments for Internet Job Search Entrepreneur http://jonathanduarte.com Founder of one of the first online job boards Wed, 02 May 2012 23:50:44 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 Comment on SimplyHired Layoffs – What does it mean to the job board industry? by Jonathan http://jonathanduarte.com/jonathan-duarte/simplyhired-layoffs-what-does-it-mean-to-the-job-board-industry#comment-114 Jonathan Wed, 02 May 2012 23:50:44 +0000 http://jonathanduarte.com/?p=379#comment-114 Kyle, Great comment. I actually heard similar comments from other former SimplyHired staff. It seems Indeed continued to put money into building the search engine and algorithms, while SimplyHired did not, or not to the same level. Maybe that is part of the issue. Heck, Monster bought their search engine instead of developing it inside. Kyle, Great comment. I actually heard similar comments from other former SimplyHired staff. It seems Indeed continued to put money into building the search engine and algorithms, while SimplyHired did not, or not to the same level. Maybe that is part of the issue. Heck, Monster bought their search engine instead of developing it inside.

]]> Comment on SimplyHired Layoffs – What does it mean to the job board industry? by Jonathan http://jonathanduarte.com/jonathan-duarte/simplyhired-layoffs-what-does-it-mean-to-the-job-board-industry#comment-106 Jonathan Mon, 26 Mar 2012 18:45:11 +0000 http://jonathanduarte.com/?p=379#comment-106 Dennis, This is certainly possible. The only problem is if you fire your COO and VP of Sales, and most of your sales team, this probably means you are taking a major change in direction. I don't know what SimplyHired's revenues are but I don't think they can make much of a profit with 92 people on staff. * Their website traffic is only 25% of Indeed's (per compete.com which is unanimously incorrect for all sites). * As an aggregator, their primary business model relies on website visitor arbitrage... bring in job seekers for X and Sell the clicks for Y. Then, they need to take live off the margin. * While their Search Engine Optimization (SEO) strategy is one of the best in the industry, it's no way near as good as it needs to be to compete with Indeed. Indeed's cost of job seeker acquisition is much cheaper than SimplyHired's. * One of the biggest challenges for any aggregator is generating clicks, and ultimately applicants for employers. When an employer posts a job on Monster (or any other major job board), the job board automatically sends out alerts to hundreds of thousands of job seekers about the position, (ie. job alerts). This is one of the cheapest methods of maintaining job seeker visits. Unfortunately, between the LinkedIn and SimplyHired partnership, and their SEO campaign, that wasn't effectively implemented until much later than Indeed's, they've never been able to drive the number of candidates that Indeed has, on an aggregate job posting basis. As a result, they've had a tougher go at getting employer traction. Dennis, This is certainly possible.
The only problem is if you fire your COO and VP of Sales, and most of your sales team, this probably means you are taking a major change in direction.
I don’t know what SimplyHired’s revenues are but I don’t think they can make much of a profit with 92 people on staff.
* Their website traffic is only 25% of Indeed’s (per compete.com which is unanimously incorrect for all sites).
* As an aggregator, their primary business model relies on website visitor arbitrage… bring in job seekers for X and Sell the clicks for Y. Then, they need to take live off the margin.
* While their Search Engine Optimization (SEO) strategy is one of the best in the industry, it’s no way near as good as it needs to be to compete with Indeed. Indeed’s cost of job seeker acquisition is much cheaper than SimplyHired’s.
* One of the biggest challenges for any aggregator is generating clicks, and ultimately applicants for employers. When an employer posts a job on Monster (or any other major job board), the job board automatically sends out alerts to hundreds of thousands of job seekers about the position, (ie. job alerts). This is one of the cheapest methods of maintaining job seeker visits. Unfortunately, between the LinkedIn and SimplyHired partnership, and their SEO campaign, that wasn’t effectively implemented until much later than Indeed’s, they’ve never been able to drive the number of candidates that Indeed has, on an aggregate job posting basis. As a result, they’ve had a tougher go at getting employer traction.

]]> Comment on SimplyHired Layoffs – What does it mean to the job board industry? by Kyle http://jonathanduarte.com/jonathan-duarte/simplyhired-layoffs-what-does-it-mean-to-the-job-board-industry#comment-105 Kyle Mon, 26 Mar 2012 13:00:56 +0000 http://jonathanduarte.com/?p=379#comment-105 LinkedIn is making small holes in sites like Simply Hired massive holes. They could never get the algorithm right at SH yet they would blame the sales team for not being able to sell what is a measurable yet not particularly effective recruiting resource. When results can be measured by companies willing to try a site like SH and the results are not strong how in the world would management expect the sales team to increase revenue from a new customer? Smoke and mirrors only get you so far guys. LinkedIn is making small holes in sites like Simply Hired massive holes. They could never get the algorithm right at SH yet they would blame the sales team for not being able to sell what is a measurable yet not particularly effective recruiting resource. When results can be measured by companies willing to try a site like SH and the results are not strong how in the world would management expect the sales team to increase revenue from a new customer? Smoke and mirrors only get you so far guys.

]]> Comment on SimplyHired Layoffs – What does it mean to the job board industry? by Dennis Gorelik http://jonathanduarte.com/jonathan-duarte/simplyhired-layoffs-what-does-it-mean-to-the-job-board-industry#comment-104 Dennis Gorelik Sun, 25 Mar 2012 01:52:32 +0000 http://jonathanduarte.com/?p=379#comment-104 Could it be that SimplyHired decided to spend more resources elsewhere (ads, tech features, SEO) and less resources on sales personnel? Could it be that SimplyHired decided to spend more resources elsewhere (ads, tech features, SEO) and less resources on sales personnel?

]]> Comment on SimplyHired Layoffs – What does it mean to the job board industry? by Steven Rothberg CollegeRecruiter.com http://jonathanduarte.com/jonathan-duarte/simplyhired-layoffs-what-does-it-mean-to-the-job-board-industry#comment-103 Steven Rothberg CollegeRecruiter.com Sat, 24 Mar 2012 18:23:02 +0000 http://jonathanduarte.com/?p=379#comment-103 We're regularly called and meet with the other PPC aggregators. They ask for our business. They work to convince us that they can deliver quality traffic at a competitive price. They do their best to prove to us that they'll provide to us a positive return on our investment. In contrast, we've asked SimplyHired over and over again to sell PPC postings to us. We're either told no with no real explanation or our questions are met with deafening silence. Maybe our experience isn't as unusual as I thought. If there are a lot of other potential customers they're refusing to work with, that would explain a lot. We’re regularly called and meet with the other PPC aggregators. They ask for our business. They work to convince us that they can deliver quality traffic at a competitive price. They do their best to prove to us that they’ll provide to us a positive return on our investment.

In contrast, we’ve asked SimplyHired over and over again to sell PPC postings to us. We’re either told no with no real explanation or our questions are met with deafening silence. Maybe our experience isn’t as unusual as I thought. If there are a lot of other potential customers they’re refusing to work with, that would explain a lot.

]]> Comment on SimplyHired Layoffs – What does it mean to the job board industry? by Robert Elbar http://jonathanduarte.com/jonathan-duarte/simplyhired-layoffs-what-does-it-mean-to-the-job-board-industry#comment-102 Robert Elbar Sat, 24 Mar 2012 15:32:11 +0000 http://jonathanduarte.com/?p=379#comment-102 Curious what your source is regarding LinkedIn being an investor in Simplyhired? I've never seen that before? Hi Robert, I'm not sure where I heard that. It was several years ago, within the first couple years of the company. I believe it was from a former employee who hasn't worked there in a long time. I could be wrong, because I don't have access to the funding information. Curious what your source is regarding LinkedIn being an investor in Simplyhired? I’ve never seen that before?

Hi Robert,
I’m not sure where I heard that.
It was several years ago, within the first couple years of the company. I believe it was from a former employee who hasn’t worked there in a long time. I could be wrong, because I don’t have access to the funding information.

]]> Comment on LinkedIn Twitter App Review… Maybe or Maybe Not! by Jonathan http://jonathanduarte.com/linkedin/linkedin-twitter-app-review-maybe-or-maybe-not#comment-99 Jonathan Tue, 17 Jan 2012 21:41:45 +0000 http://www.jonathanduarte.com/?p=162#comment-99 Hi Tony, Sorry for the delayed response. I've never found a solution. Hi Tony,
Sorry for the delayed response.
I’ve never found a solution.

]]> Comment on LinkedIn Profile Optimization with Reid Hoffman, LinkedIn Founder by Glenn http://jonathanduarte.com/linkedin/linkedin-profile-optimization-with-reid-hoffman-linkedin-founder#comment-96 Glenn Sun, 18 Dec 2011 07:25:30 +0000 http://jonathanduarte.com/?p=347#comment-96 Interesting insights. Have tried optimising my profile and I can see the results. Interesting insights. Have tried optimising my profile and I can see the results.

]]> Comment on LinkedIn Twitter App Review… Maybe or Maybe Not! by Tony http://jonathanduarte.com/linkedin/linkedin-twitter-app-review-maybe-or-maybe-not#comment-94 Tony Fri, 04 Nov 2011 00:48:55 +0000 http://www.jonathanduarte.com/?p=162#comment-94 I am seeing this same error. Did you ever find a solution? I am seeing this same error. Did you ever find a solution?

]]> Comment on 10 Reasons LinkedIn is the New Monster by MonsterBeef http://jonathanduarte.com/linkedin/10-reasons-linkedin-is-the-new-monster#comment-88 MonsterBeef Fri, 02 Sep 2011 16:15:30 +0000 http://www.jonathanduarte.com/?p=138#comment-88 Great Post... could you re-post it on HR.com site in the MonsterBeef Community Group. Our members would appreciate your insight. Thanks for sharing Great Post… could you re-post it on HR.com site in the MonsterBeef Community Group. Our members would appreciate your insight.

Thanks for sharing

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