Subject: Seeking Advice on Indeed’s End of Free Listings for Agencies
Hello everyone,
As a member of a small agency that has relied on Indeed for several years, I’ve just learned that starting next week, they will no longer be offering free job listings for agencies, as per our ATS notification.
I’m at a crossroads and could use some advice. Currently, Indeed accounts for 40% of our applicants and about 20% of our successful placements. However, the quality of applications varies greatly, and we often receive a significant number of unqualified candidates through their site. Still, it’s clear that they represent a considerable portion of our business.
I’ve come across several cautionary tales about budgets being quickly depleted with little return on investment, which resonates with our own experiences using Google and Facebook ads.
For context, we typically allocate $20k annually to a local job board, which provides a solid conversion rate, especially for specialized roles. We successfully fill many of our general positions using a mix of free listings on Indeed, LinkedIn, and our own website. My concern is that transitioning to a paid model with Indeed may lead to excessive spending without the desired results.
I would greatly appreciate any insights or experiences you could share regarding this situation. Thank you!
RCadmin
It’s definitely a challenging situation with Indeed moving away from free listings for agencies. Here are a few considerations and strategies that might help you make an informed decision:
Analyze Your Data: Since you’ve already indicated that you get around 40% of your applicants from Indeed, it’s crucial to analyze why those applicants convert into placements. Are the quality candidates mostly coming from this platform, or are they scattered across other sources? This analysis will help inform whether investing in Indeed would yield a worthwhile ROI.
Budget Allocation: If you’re currently spending $20k annually on a local job board with good results, it might be wise to consider reallocating a portion of that budget to test Indeed’s paid options. Start small with a few key roles to assess effectiveness rather than committing a large budget upfront.
Set Clear Goals: Define what you want to achieve with the paid listings on Indeed. Is it primarily about quantity, quality, specific roles, or a mix? Setting clear, measurable goals will help you evaluate the success of your investment.
Explore Targeting Options: Make sure to utilize Indeed’s targeting features to optimize your spend. Tailor your job postings for specific roles or demographics to improve the relevance and quality of applicants.
Cross-Platform Strategy: Since you’ve had success with other platforms like LinkedIn, consider maintaining a diversified approach. Use Indeed alongside your successful local job board and LinkedIn, but focus on enhancing your employer brand and job postings to attract better candidates from all sources.
Optimize Your Job Listings: Ensure that your job descriptions are clear, engaging, and optimized for search. A well-crafted listing can help filter out unqualified candidates and attract those who are a better fit.
Feedback Loop: If you decide to go ahead with Indeed, implement a feedback loop to track and assess candidate quality and placement rates continuously. Adjust your strategy based on what you learn.
Community Insights: Don’t hesitate to reach out to fellow agencies or join forums to gather insights on their experiences with Indeed’s paid services. Sometimes shared experiences can reveal valuable tips or strategies.
Ultimately, weighing the potential benefits against the risks and your agency’s current success with other platforms will guide you in making a decision that aligns with your goals. Good luck!