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Welcome to issue 379 of the ukrecruiter newsletter.
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CONTENTS
Visit http://www.ukrecruiterjobs.co.uk for the latest recruitment industry jobs. |
My Favourites This week three favourites to consider if you are researching a client company for a business development meeting, or prior to a sales pitch. http://www.free-research.com - As the name suggests, free market research reports and competitor data. A little hit and miss as to whether you will find what you want. However, all free. http://www.linkedin.com - Before you go to any meeting check out your contact on LinkedIn. Also, see who else you know who works, or has worked, there. http://www.ft.com/ - searchable database of articles and many financial reports. Can be difficult to navigate but a wealth of information. Why not submit your 3 favourite web sites. See the guidelines at http://www.ukrecruiter.co.uk/articles.htm |
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Article One: Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) – why it works best with quality writing by Merlin Ward Not so many years ago, there was a time when marketing relied on good copy in printed documents. It was when the written word had to have a long shelf life. Today, websites can be updated at any time from anywhere in the world and, consequently, sloppy writing has become the norm. Attracting the attention of Google and other search engines is crucial for bringing visitors to your website. To achieve this effectively, Search Engine Optimised copy should run parallel with good website construction. A competent website designer will know how to build a site so that it scores well in search engine rankings. Often, designers will set up “stalking” websites and pages that contain SEO-rich copy that is not meant to be read by the human eye but links through to the principal website’s Home Page. Key Words Probably the most crucial aspect of effective SEO copywriting is the density of your key words. These are the key words that you would expect people to type into Google when looking for the particular product or service you offer. A paragraph should be written to incorporate these key words as early in the text as possible as search engines are more inclined to identify key words that are placed near the top of a page. Ideally, about 7% of your website copy should consist of your key words. Never have more than 10% or search engines will punish your site for “spamming”; i.e. simply stuffing your copy with key words. Key phrases Search engine optimised copy is more likely to achieve good search engine ratings by creating key phrases than by single key words. Key phrases are strings of words that people typically type into search engines. A person searching for a steel bin or steel bins is more likely to type steel bin i.e. two single key words than type “steel bin” with quotation marks to create a phrase; but you should cater for those who are savvy enough to specify the phrase. Enter steel bin or steel bins into Google and it produces about 370,000 results. However, “steel bins” in quotation marks only returns 38,000 results, so by incorporating steel bins into a proper sentence (without quotation marks) it is recognised by search engines as a genuine phrase. Misspelling Allowing for people spelling words incorrectly is another way of attracting customers to your website. Enter steal bin (two key words) into Google and it produces a whopping 4,180,000 results but enter “steal bins” in quotation marks and Google returns a mere 75 results. In other words, incorporating steal bins as a phrase within your body copy, without it looking like a misspelling, can be very effective. For example: ‘Steel bins supplied by Merlin Ward at these prices are a steal. Bins come in a combination of brushed steel bins, matt steel bins & etc’. Misspelled key words that are commonly searched can add considerable value to your SEO copy. The trick is to use them without filling your web page with poor spelling! Overall, good SEO copy has: · a minimum of 300 words per page, especially the Home page; If your website copy incorporates good SEO practice and is managed by a competent website designer, it will attract more visitors to your site and turn “hits” into real business. Ultimately, the golden rule for all website copy is that it must read well and that search engine optimisation should not detract from the overall marketing message. Merlin Ward is a copywriter and you can find out more about him by calling 020 8637 0955, emailing merlin@creativewizard.com or visiting www.merlinward.com |
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Article Two: Putting yourself in the candidate’s shoes by Sandra Beale Here are the top 10 tips for recruiting and retaining talented employees consider these tips from an HR professional. Recruiters can use these to advise their clients, sell a job to a candidate or even persuade a passive candidate it is time to more on. 1. Before recruiting look at the pay and benefits package you are going to offer. Is it competitive? Is it creative? Is there something you could add to the benefits package that your competitors can not? It doesn’t necessarily have to be financial as money does not always motivate. 2. Before recruiting take a look at the job description. Is it fulfilling? Will it create job satisfaction for the job holder or will the job holder quickly get bored after having sold a role that does not fulfil their expectations? 3. Ensure the management of your talented employees is strategic. Get the senior management on board. Ensure succession planning is firmly embedded in the culture so that really talented employees are groomed for key positions with an organisation and saves buying in yet more talent. 4. Ensure the company has an employee reward strategy that is aligned to the business strategy to ensure that business goals and performance targets are met. If reward is misaligned to the business, companies can end up paying out huge salaries whilst supposed good performers fail to make the grade. 5. When designing employee reward initiatives for talented employees survey their needs first. This will ensure that employee reward is aligned both to the business needs and to those of the employee making employee reward cost effective. This should include financial as well as non-financial aspects. 6. Look at your pay structure. Is it fair, equitable, transparent and competitive. Do your talented employees know how they can get from A to B using high performance to improve their employee reward package. 7. Use the benefits package to incorporate different benefit solutions that can make a world of difference to increase motivation and commitment. Suggestions can include paid sabbaticals with holiday vouchers or the opportunity to drive a high performance car. Meeting company targets can be a huge motivator for certain individuals fostering high performance. This could be different to the standard package of salary, bonus, shares, car allowance, PHI (spell out). 8. Implement a mentoring programme to spread company knowledge throughout the organisation and develop skills and experience at the same time. 9. Offering stretching training and development opportunities can enhance job satisfaction. These usually highly educated top performers want to continue growing their skills through a range of options such as further academic qualifications, secondments and action learning opportunities. Likewise the company benefits from having top employees who are in the know with new ideas which help to stay ahead of competitors and avoid products and services becoming stale. 10. Try and ensure stability within your company. Constant re-location of offices and individuals can affect the perception of job security. Consider using different methods of working such as hot desking and home-based working.
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Online Recruitment Update (This section is sponsored by http://www.1Job.co.uk; "the leading UK job search engine") UKRecruiterJobs:
Traditional, On-line and Corporate HR Recruitment Job Board Hitwise top 10 Recruitment
Sites, week ending 8th November 2008 Louise's UK Recruiter blog Discussion Board Summary Press Release: Students rate and review their
employer Press Release: Global Radio expands into online recruitment with Job Board This section is sponsored by http://www.1Job.co.uk; "the leading UK job search engine" |
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Regards
Louise Triance
UK Recruiter http://www.ukrecruiter.co.uk
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