On RecruitingBlogs.com Growth

Rating: 5 after 3 votes

RecruitingBlogs.com has long been an epicenter of recruiting activity. If you’re in recruiting and you’re on the web, chances are you are a member of Jason Davis’ social networking site for Recruiters, HR Professionals and those who market to them. Built on the wildly versatile Ning platform, RecruitingBlogs has gone through several physical incarnations: first, as a standard Ning network with hardly any customization; then, we began our branding journey with an amazing logo contest which Ms. Jessica Meher from Akken won; then with the minimalist white space layout now copied by so many webmasters to finally this site. And while things may look different, it’s more than a cosmetic change, RecruitingBlogs.com is growing up.

You’ll notice that the Community of RecruitingBlogs.com is now called (aptly) “Community” while this page is the “Main” or “Home” page. Community is the heartbeat of the Ning site RecruitingBlogs.com and as we’ve watched recruiters congregate, work with one another, debate industry issues and become great friends, we noticed something else. The content. Simply put, when over 16,000 recruiters gather on a regular basis to discuss their craft, some very heady, very informative, very GOOD writing and philosophical discussion begins to emerge. Beyond the existential WHYs of the industry, we’ve also noticed some fantastic HOW posts emerging. Worthy of note? Many of the “news stories” broken by various recruiting sites we being kicked around in discussion forums, on the chats and in the endless array of blog posts available to RBC members. (Notice, I’m not even touching on the tutorials, videos, live chats….)

So what good is all this intellectual capital if not shared? How do we let the recruiters, HR Professionals and marketers of our community know about this wealth of new ideas?

We create a site just like this. This is where you’ll find the best media that RecruitingBlogs.com has to offer, as well as the contributions of other voices in the industry. Learning the new format might take some getting used to for veteran RecruitingBlogs members, but the community site will look the same as it always has. This site simply serves to highlight and include some of the best recruiting/HR content on the web. Of course, you can still join the RecruitingBlogs.com community (we hope you do!) if you appreciate the content and discussion highlights you see here.

For now, we hope you try out the new site, explore and tell your friends. If you’re already an RBC member, we can’t wait to see what posts you’ll write and whether the streamlined home page works for you. In the first few weeks, as we continue to perfect the vision of what we want this to be, expect minor changes here and there. In the meanwhile, look around at the Hot Discussions, Featured Blog Posts and make sure to always check back at the Lab to see what’s cookin!

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Permalink Reply by Dan Nuroo on March 23, 2009 at 5:31am: Hey Maren, et al.

Loving your work. A bit of freshness goes a long way.

This type of collaboration is why I always return to this Recruiting watering hole! So many different people, different opinions, all with one thing in common (mostly :))

Cheers

Dan; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Maren Hogan on March 23, 2009 at 12:16pm: Thanks Dan. Glad you like it!; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by JobsforKarma on March 29, 2009 at 2:24am: I like the new look and feel as well!; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Recruiting Animal on April 5, 2009 at 7:50am: Maren Hogan said: "RecruitingBlogs.com has long been an epicenter of recruiting activity."

How long is long been, exactly?

That sounds like advertising lingo as in "More doctors say..." I always want to know "How many doctors exactly?"

And how does it compare to FistfulofTalent of which you are also a member?; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Steve Levy on April 5, 2009 at 9:44am: Maren,

To be clear, I'm not responding to your post because Michael just did nor am I doing this as a member of any renegade group.

I've been blogging for 5 years and before that was essentially doing the same thing albeit in a different format on ERE - since its inception. Have presented at Kennedy. Have been reading Old Man Sumser since he started ruminating about recruiting online back in 1996. I've also been on recruiting.com and others that I simply cannot remember. They have all been at the epicenter of recruiting - a point that is constantly moving.

The problem is when those who are trying to inform and possibly change attitudes, beliefs and values begin to sound pollyannish about the reality. The reality is that the new format - especially the change in the chat which we have had no control over - has made it more difficult to navigate. The beauty of the chat is that when it was front and center, it really did promote community. Now that it has a new location it doesn't "seem" as if the activity is what it was before the Ning changes. JD - perhaps it's the best we can do now but I'm curious about the numbers - are posts up or down since the changes? Is the site as sticky as it was before?

If you want to write about everything being puppy dogs and meadow flowers that is certainly your prerogative but in doing so you sound more marketing than recruiting. With perhaps one-third of recruiters leaving the profession because they have to find work with a paycheck, I think reality should come first.

But what do I know...; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Jerry Albright on April 5, 2009 at 10:03am: Come on guys! This is the internet - a series of tubes bringing us together.

If Maren feels the new format is helping RBC grow - then so be it. It is her perspective.

I must say this chat malfunction has been one of the worst moves I've seen on the interwebs lately. Realizing JD had no input I can certainly empathize with him. Chat was sort of the "coffee pot - break room" for many of us who work on our own. A place to bump into our friends while taking a short break from commerce.

Sadly - in its current format - it is far less "water cooler" item than it had been before. I trust our fearless leader is all over it and will have it solved soon.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Recruiting Animal on April 5, 2009 at 10:13am: Jerry Jerry Said: Come on guys!.... If Maren feels the new format is helping RBC grow - then so be it. It is her perspective.

Yeah, Jerry, I'm sorry, you're right. The comment section is for cheerleading only. Real opinions should be saved for backchannel conversations.

If Maren thinks the recruitosphere started a year ago when she got involved we should be more tactful and not say anything about it.

Thank you, friend for your wise counsel. (Next time I want to say something like this, I'll call you).

PS: Don't criticize the chat. That's mean. Just call me (or Julia). You don't have to let everybody hear your complaints.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Jerry Albright on April 5, 2009 at 10:21am: My dear Canadian buddy - what do you expect from me? I can't have my personal brand be all about challenging people and their opinions. You've cornered that market. People love your for it! I've got to stake out some new territory.

I'm going to be the guy who tries to agree with everything. Reality. Fantasy. Black. White. It's all good. It's all true. We are all winners! Epicenter? Yep. Long time? Absolutely.

It's all good brother.

Recruiting Animal said:
Jerry Jerry Said: Come on guys!.... If Maren feels the new format is helping RBC grow - then so be it. It is her perspective.

Yeah, Jerry, I'm sorry, you're right. The comment section is for cheerleading only. Real opinions should be saved for backchannel conversations.

If Maren thinks the recruitosphere started a year ago when she got involved we should be more tactful and not say anything about it.

Thank you, friend for your wise counsel. (Next time I want to say something like this, I'll call you).; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Steve Levy on April 5, 2009 at 10:28am: Jerry, have you been eating vegetarian sausage again?; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Jerry Albright on April 5, 2009 at 10:32am: It doesn't take much to start a brush fire. Just yesterday I needed to burn off several years of growth from the field. It was pretty simple - a few matches and up it went! Ever burned off 30 acres? It can get pretty tense!

The conditions need to be just right though. If the wind would have switched directions even slightly it would have gotten out of control. The last thing I want to do is burn my neighbors house down.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Recruiting Animal on April 5, 2009 at 10:53am: Jerry Jerry said:
> I'm going to be the guy who tries to agree with everything. Reality. Fantasy.
> Black. White. It's all good. It's all true. We are all winners! Epicenter?
> Yep. Long time? Absolutely.

Jerry, if your name wasn't Allbright, we'd have to invent it for you.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Recruiting Animal on April 5, 2009 at 3:57pm: Vin Dieslevey said: I'm not responding to your post because Michael just did nor am I doing this as a member of any renegade group.

Steve, good idea. I will order the group to comment.; ▶ Reply to This