Finding new employees via Hyves, Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn or Xing. It is now possible. SocialReferral is the name of a new online employee referral program, which connects companies’ vacancies with the social networks of their own employees. Its the first pro-active job referral platform in the world.
The idea is simple. A company is searching for an employee. They post the vacancy on SocialReferral and connect the social networks of their employees to it. The program connects the vacancy with the profiles and shows the ones that match with the job description. Employees filter the matches that SocialReferral found and invite the best candidates for the job. In fact, employees become recruiters for their own company.
Doubts
The biggest advantage is definitely the saving of money, spent on expensive recruitment companies. However, is doubtful if companies will find employees only within the social networks of their own employees. Because of the fact that not every employee is active on social networks and also because its questionable if people publish information about their working skill on their profiles.
Obviously there will be companies that find a capable candidate. Though, in my opinion most of the companies still need a recruitment company to find the employee they are looking for.
The program
Also the SocialReferral program might have some disadvantages. Based on what information in people’s profiles does it select potential employees? Does it filter out the people who already have a job for example?
Potentially it is a good idea, but is doubtful if it works in practice…
What do you think?
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
Thursday, March 25, 2010
Social media increases sales
Companies’ participation on social media networks is absolutely valuable. That is the conclusion of a study by market research firm Chad Martin Baily and iModerate Research Technologies.
1500 consumers were asked about their shopping habits, related to the brands they are following on Twitter and Facebook. It turned out that 60% of Facebook fans and 79% of Twitter followers are more likely to recommend those brands since the became a fan or follower. 51% of Facebook fans and 67% of Twitter followers are more likely to buy the brands they follow.
Participants were also asked about their motivations to follow brands on Twitter or Facebook. They mostly like discounts and new information about products.
Some very interesting facts about Social Media:
It is clear that social media offers a great opportunity for marketers. The costs are relatively low and the profits can be high. Not only in terms of sales but also in terms of customer relations. Consumers are evaluating, criticizing or recommending al kinds of products on social networks. It would be very mindless not doing anything with that information.
A good example is the Dutch bank and insurance group Aegon, which offers its financial knowledge for free during so called Tweetbankets on Twitter. They have two employees with a full time job participating on social networks, just to increase and improve their customer relations. It is very likely that they attract new customers (and sales!) with this policy.
Do you think participating on ‘social media’ is necessary for companies?
1500 consumers were asked about their shopping habits, related to the brands they are following on Twitter and Facebook. It turned out that 60% of Facebook fans and 79% of Twitter followers are more likely to recommend those brands since the became a fan or follower. 51% of Facebook fans and 67% of Twitter followers are more likely to buy the brands they follow.
Participants were also asked about their motivations to follow brands on Twitter or Facebook. They mostly like discounts and new information about products.
Some very interesting facts about Social Media:
It is clear that social media offers a great opportunity for marketers. The costs are relatively low and the profits can be high. Not only in terms of sales but also in terms of customer relations. Consumers are evaluating, criticizing or recommending al kinds of products on social networks. It would be very mindless not doing anything with that information.
A good example is the Dutch bank and insurance group Aegon, which offers its financial knowledge for free during so called Tweetbankets on Twitter. They have two employees with a full time job participating on social networks, just to increase and improve their customer relations. It is very likely that they attract new customers (and sales!) with this policy.
Do you think participating on ‘social media’ is necessary for companies?
Tuesday, March 16, 2010
Forget the iPad, get the Microsoft Courier!
The world of ICT has been overwhelmed with information about Apple’s new masterpiece, the iPad. Yet, there might be a better multimedia device: the Microsoft Courier. A multiple touch screen with some interesting opportunities. Probably more interesting than the iPad.
Apple’s iPad, a portable touch screen computer, looks like the big brother of the iPod and iPhone. It has the usual functionalities. In fact, it is a small computer and a big iPhone, without the opportunity to call.
The iPad:
The Microsoft Courier is more like a digital multimedia agenda. It consists of two separated screens, which you can close like a paper agenda. A big difference compared with the iPad is the pen dominated interface, in addition to the usual finger touch based interface. With that pencil you can write down notes and copy-paste them in your notebook for example. You can even write down the URL of a website to go visit it.
The Microsoft Courier:
It is said that the Microsoft Courier is in the late prototype state of development. If it works like we have seen in the movie above, it’s a very interesting device. So there might arise an interesting battle between the two masterpieces of Apple and Microsoft. Which one do you prefer…?
Apple’s iPad, a portable touch screen computer, looks like the big brother of the iPod and iPhone. It has the usual functionalities. In fact, it is a small computer and a big iPhone, without the opportunity to call.
The iPad:
The Microsoft Courier is more like a digital multimedia agenda. It consists of two separated screens, which you can close like a paper agenda. A big difference compared with the iPad is the pen dominated interface, in addition to the usual finger touch based interface. With that pencil you can write down notes and copy-paste them in your notebook for example. You can even write down the URL of a website to go visit it.
The Microsoft Courier:
It is said that the Microsoft Courier is in the late prototype state of development. If it works like we have seen in the movie above, it’s a very interesting device. So there might arise an interesting battle between the two masterpieces of Apple and Microsoft. Which one do you prefer…?
Tuesday, March 2, 2010
Smart advertising during online video’s
Advertisements before or during video’s on the internet are generally experienced as very irritating. People have to wait until the commercial is over before then can see the video they want to watch. It is questionable if this is efficient. People tend to do other things during the commercial and as a result of that, they don’t absorb the message.
There is a more effective and less irritating method to let people absorb your commercial while they are watching a video. In fact you turn the ‘pause button’ into a commercial. When the video is not playing the commercial appears on the screen. If people want to watch (again), they have to click on the advertisement, before the video continues playing.
An example:
Click 'close to play' under the advertisement, and then the pause button at the left bottom corner..
Trough this method the visitor is not forced to watch the commercial before he can see something else. And because the visitor must click on the advertisement, you have the certainty that he has seen it.
Obviously, it is questionable in what intensity the advertisement will be absorbed. But most important: the watchers’ frustration will be reduced, while your commercial will still be absorbed.
There is a more effective and less irritating method to let people absorb your commercial while they are watching a video. In fact you turn the ‘pause button’ into a commercial. When the video is not playing the commercial appears on the screen. If people want to watch (again), they have to click on the advertisement, before the video continues playing.
An example:
Click 'close to play' under the advertisement, and then the pause button at the left bottom corner..
Trough this method the visitor is not forced to watch the commercial before he can see something else. And because the visitor must click on the advertisement, you have the certainty that he has seen it.
Obviously, it is questionable in what intensity the advertisement will be absorbed. But most important: the watchers’ frustration will be reduced, while your commercial will still be absorbed.
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
News reporting with CoveritLive
When there was a bomb alarm at the train station of Den Bosch this week, broadcasting companies had to deal with a big amount of content. It is difficult to keep all the information clarifying for the visitor of a website. And the visitors have lots of questions, which mostly remain unanswered.
When a big news event like the bomb alarm occurs, you need the CoveritLive tool. Omroep Brabant made use of this tool excellently on the day of the alarm. The record amount of people that visited the website of Omroep Brabant underline the power of this tool.
How it works
The main idea of CoveritLive is simple. You can put all kinds of content (text, photo, audio, video and more, for example tweets) in one clarifying box, which you can embed on your webpage. Every time there is new information available, the editor can send a message that appears on the top of the box. Visitors are able to send questions or any other comments to the editor.
See how it works in 5 minutes:
Interaction
Communicating via this tool creates great interaction with your target group. Visitors of your CoveritLive blog are able to send messages with their opinion or questions. The editor (journalist) is able to respond immediately. In general, this causes a great feeling of satisfaction for both parties: The questions of consumers will be answered and the journalist is able to create a complete information service.
Own experience
I have worked with CoveritLive when I was working for Omroep Brabant during the Dakar-rally of this year, and I am rather positive about it. In less than one hour I knew all the basic aspects of the tool. What I like most about it, is the interactive part. Visitors are able to ask questions or give comments about the event you are writing about. This direct communication with your public brings on an extra interactive dimension when you are reporting about an event. People are really satisfied when they get a direct answer on their question, within seconds or minutes!
Great FREE solution
I think the CoveritLive tool is one of the best (free) online tools that is developed the last years. It gives the news consumer exactly what he or she wants: an up-to-date overview of the latest information about an (big) event, and the possibility to participate.
It is a great and very cheap solution for broadcasting companies, which are now able to improve their news reporting on their websites, and attract more and more visitors.
When a big news event like the bomb alarm occurs, you need the CoveritLive tool. Omroep Brabant made use of this tool excellently on the day of the alarm. The record amount of people that visited the website of Omroep Brabant underline the power of this tool.How it works
The main idea of CoveritLive is simple. You can put all kinds of content (text, photo, audio, video and more, for example tweets) in one clarifying box, which you can embed on your webpage. Every time there is new information available, the editor can send a message that appears on the top of the box. Visitors are able to send questions or any other comments to the editor.
See how it works in 5 minutes:
Interaction
Communicating via this tool creates great interaction with your target group. Visitors of your CoveritLive blog are able to send messages with their opinion or questions. The editor (journalist) is able to respond immediately. In general, this causes a great feeling of satisfaction for both parties: The questions of consumers will be answered and the journalist is able to create a complete information service.
Own experience
I have worked with CoveritLive when I was working for Omroep Brabant during the Dakar-rally of this year, and I am rather positive about it. In less than one hour I knew all the basic aspects of the tool. What I like most about it, is the interactive part. Visitors are able to ask questions or give comments about the event you are writing about. This direct communication with your public brings on an extra interactive dimension when you are reporting about an event. People are really satisfied when they get a direct answer on their question, within seconds or minutes!
Great FREE solution
I think the CoveritLive tool is one of the best (free) online tools that is developed the last years. It gives the news consumer exactly what he or she wants: an up-to-date overview of the latest information about an (big) event, and the possibility to participate.
It is a great and very cheap solution for broadcasting companies, which are now able to improve their news reporting on their websites, and attract more and more visitors.
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