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Ridgy ‘Didge’ Blogging

The media is not my area of speciality, but I’m here writing because I know some stuff about online recruitment that I like to share with others. Having said that up front (an intimation about the topic for today), I reckon it’s time we had a little chat about the process of blogging.

Some things don’t require too much expertise to work out. For instance, blogging is like any other form of media in that it offers information and opinion. I don’t always get my facts right, but I endeavor to, and when a reader tells me I’m wrong, I accept the criticism with grace (and gratitude, because it’s not my intention to mislead folks).

Likewise, when I offer an opinion, I do so in an arena where I have stated clearly what my interests are. Readers can then use that information as a bouncing point for the validity of my opinion. In other words, I’ve nothing to hide. You all know who I am and I say what I think and am prepared to back my case if need be. I don’t write anonymously and never would. It takes away from the strength of my claims.

Some bloggers write anonymously and I often wonder what is the point of such an exercise. It doesn’t liberate their opinions. It waters them down because it makes readers suspicious of their intentions.

Astute blog-readers in the industry may have noticed that today I called into question the identity of the writer of “The Didge” blog. I asked the author of the blog if they worked for JobsJobsJobs (JJJ). In response, they asked why I had asked such a question. This was my reply:

# Geoff Says: Your comment is awaiting moderation.
November 23rd, 2008 at 2:55 pm

I was nudging you to declare your interests, Peter (ahem, sorry, I mean “Didge”).

Your comments are skewed against Seek and towards JobsJobsJobs.

You write in the plural “we”, but all your postings have a similar tone (indicating the same writer).

Audience disclosure is important. Everything that’s written in this space is contextual and the readers need a bouncing point from which to view your editorial.

If we are asked to take what you say seriously, it’s about time you told us what your interests are.

After I had replied, these things happened:
1) All previous comments pertaining to this question of identity were taken off the site
2) I received no response from The Didge
3) My reply was not posted

I wanna know if The Didge is ridgydidge…or is this blog a sad attempt by JJJ to disguise advertising as editorial?

JJJ’s New TV Ad

What’s their name again…

JJJ - News Or Propaganda?

Jobadder recently made the claim in their blog that JobsJobsJobs are currently #2 in terms of job applications per advertisement. (see article here) It is a claim that has not been supported by data. To begin this blog, I would like to challenge Jobadder to present the data supporting their claims. Without valid data, the claims are nothing more than the opinion of Jobadder.

Opinions are acceptable and necessary in their proper place, but should not be represented as fact sans supporting evidence.

Okay. That’s off my chest. Let’s move on to the next point.

You may have noticed that the tone of this blog is a tad more serious than usual. That’s because I get cranky when folks send me marketing emails that are nothing more than hype. It interferes with my sense of intelligence. Take for instance the newsletter I received yesterday from JobsJobsJobs - the one that’s piggybacking the unsubstantiated claims by Jobadder that we discussed at the outset.

First up, JobsJobsJobs make the claim that recruiters want competition within the job boards. They then make an appeal that recruiters should “drop the other contenders and let them run their print businesses” so that maybe, just maybe you will have the competition that you have asked for.” I hate tautologies. If recruiters drop the other contenders, JobsJobsJobs will have a monopoly, and there WILL BE NO COMPETITION.

JobsJobsJobs goes on to ask us to forget about traffic volumes, and assess the success of a job board according to applications per ad. They acknowledge this formula does not account for the quality of applications, but write the problem off by contending that quality is difficult to quantify because of the varying demands of different companies. To dismiss this vital flaw in the traffic vs job application per job debate does not satisfy me, nor should it satisfy other folks who are interested in participating in the debate.

The newsletter from JobJobsJobs goes on use of traffic volumes to demonstrate their growth. Please - don’t patronise your clients by dismissing the use of traffic volumes on one hand and use it to demonstrate your strength in the next breath…

The use of spurious claims by Jobadder, together with a bit of chucked around logic, make the recent newsletter by JobsJobsJobs nothing more than meaningless propaganda.

It is the application rate that matters!
Our focus at jobsjobsjobs is to increase the value that our advertisers get for their investment – we’re here to help you make money – and that means increasing the volume of ad response that you get.

Earlier this month Jobadder, a leading multi job posting solution provider, ranked jobsjobsjobs.com.au as the #2 in terms of job applications per advertisement – well ahead of two very well established competitors. (see article)

The head of one of these competitors recently stated that half of their traffic comes from overseas – which re-enforces the point that volume of traffic to a site can create false perceptions of value.

The critical measure is volume of ad response per advertisement.

We recognise that there are other factors that are important to advertisers such as quality of applications but this is difficult to assess given that what suits one company may not suit another.

The Recruitment industry has wanted competition for many years. The recruitment industry recognises that two well known major players have more interest in protecting their print revenues (why wouldn’t they?) and have not provided the competition that you want.

At jobsjobsjobs we believe we have shown that we can deliver more than them – though it is still early days. We have enjoyed strong support from hundreds of recruiters – but now is the time for all recruiters to put their support behind jobsjobsjobs, drop the other contenders and let them run their print businesses and maybe, just maybe you will have the competition that you have asked for.

From Strength to Strength…
It has been a massive three months for traffic for jobsjobsjobs.com.au. Since the last quarter of 2007 we have grown over 69%.

.Asia Update

I managed to get hold of my .asia domains and some…

Looks like Careerone.asia has gone to someone else besides News Ltd, Oops! On the whois look up it is registered to a logistics company in Australia. (Be careful Mr Whoever you are, news have big pockets and good lawyers if you infringe their trademark).

Linkme.asia has been registered to someone in San Pablo City.

It’s auction time for mycareer.asia. It will be interesting to see what amount they are willing to pay. Check here for auction updates.

Safe are seek.asia, Jobx.asia, nowhiring.asia and jobsjobsjobs.asia ,well done.