Online Recruiting Tools

Even with high unemployment, finding the right talent for a company takes effort. The first step in filling an identified vacancy or new position is to get the word out to a population of potential candidates. Fortunately, the Internet creates opportunities to reach out to potential candidates

LinkedIn Groups

LinkedIn has groups designed to bring like-minded people together. Hiring managers recruiting for talent have a good chance of being accepted into groups that are related to their industry. Once accepted, they can post jobs.

Social Media

Although social media sites like Facebook and Twitter are not optimized for it, they can work for recruiting. Facebook groups can help hiring managers connect with like-minded people, and wall posts and tweets to a social network propagate far and wide. Social networks are inefficient for finding recruits, but they are free and reach a large enough audience to work.

Job Sites

Professional job sites, such as Monster, the Ladders, and Career Builder, exist for the primary purpose of recruiting. Recruits flock to the sites seeking jobs, and the sites work, but hiring managers must pay to post jobs and connect with candidates.

Corporate Sites

Hiring managers can't actively reach out to recruits with their company's own site, but most candidates who become interested in working for a company will check out its website prior to initiating contact to apply for a job.

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Online Webinar Tools

Online webinars are useful for business communication, training and sales purposes. Desktop sharing and video-conferencing technology make it easy to hold meetings or training sessions with satellite offices or employees who telecommute. Some companies report expanding their client bases and increasing sales by using webinars to present product information and demonstrations. Webinars save time and money by being an efficient alternative to travel, which can include gas, airfare, car rental, hotels and meals. Business owners can use some online webinar tools for a monthly fee

GoToMeeting and GoToWebinar

Same company, two services. With GoToMeeting you can host a meeting for up to 15 people, instantly or prescheduled. Meetings also can be scheduled on a recurring basis. GoToMeeting features include full desktop sharing, recording, chat, audio conferencing via computer or phone, attendance reports and Outlook Calendar integration.



GoToWebinar includes everything GoToMeeting does, but allows for larger audiences, including three pricing tiers for up to 100, 500 and 1,000 participants. GoToWebinar also has more robust features, including the option for branded webinars and email templates, a post-webinar survey, automatic follow-up email to participants and a full registration service.



Both GoToMeeting and GoToWebinar offer a free, 14-day trial.

Cisco's WebEx

Cisco's WebEx is a popular webinar service which includes desktop sharing with phone and VoIP conferencing. Webinars also can be streamed with webcams.



There is no commitment when signing up for WebEx, but it will renew month to month. There is a flat rate per host, per month. The monthly fee includes training resources and support. Advanced features are available for an extra fee, including capacity for more participants. There is no software to install, and accounts can be be used on any computer anywhere. WebEx is also mobile compatible.

GatherPlace

GatherPlace is newer than established services such as GoToMeeting and WebEx, but is gaining ground in the small-business market. GatherPlace allows for hosting webinars on Mac or Windows. Integration is free, and users are not required to download any software to participate. One of the most useful features is the ability to record sessions, allowing for viewing later. The service offers a 14-day free trial.

Freebinar

Most won't argue with Freebinar's price tag; it's free for up to 150 attendees per meeting. Like many free online services, it is ad-supported. Freebinar allows users to host live, online meetings, sharing presentations and documents with participants. You can brand webinars and registration forms with a logo, and collect post-webinar survey data to measure its success. This service offers free support.

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Computer Sytems for Marketing Careers

The explosion of the Internet and other technological communication tools have changed the business of marketing. Professionals who are building a career in the field must have a firm grasp on the tools of technology that allow companies to reach out to customers through their computers as well as phones and other hand-held devices. Marketers still need to have a grasp on traditional tools of the trade as well

Graphic Design Tools

Marketing professionals still need to produce printed products and pages that can be sent electronically, so page layout programs like Adobe InDesign and other graphic design programs like Photoshop, Acrobat and Illustrator are still required computer systems for the job. Marketing professionals should be able to work in both PC and Macintosh format to enhance their employability.

Content Management Systems

Marketers need to have a firm grasp on the preparation of content for the Internet. The tools to do this are typically customized content management solutions that allow users to select from pre-programmed options to display content online using templates that are designed into the system. Some of these content management solutions are basic off-the-shelf software, but many are designed as marketing executives meet with programmers to build solutions that meet a specific need. IBM's Lotus Web Content Management is one Java application that manages web content, and Sharepoint Server is an example of a proprietary solution that accomplishes the same goals.

Database Management Software

The goal of marketing to find and target individual customers with a message suited specifically to them is achieved through the use of increasingly sophisticated database tools. Marketers can store customer data in the system with as much or as little information as they choose. The more detailed the information, the more targeted the message. Systems that allow for complex demographic or regional sorting prior to standard mail or e-mail are critical to success in the marketing industry. Some companies customize software like Microsoft Access for this purpose, while Oracle has a number of higher end database solutions.

Search Engine Tools

The key to being found online is found in creating messages that are optimized for the search engines that are in wide use on the Internet. Google, Yahoo and the other tools that potential customers use to find information about companies are programmed to find things in a certain order. Tools that provide search engine optimization as marketers design websites are a major part of the business of finding the right customers with a marketing message. Marketing professionals need to learn how to use SEO technology as part of their daily duties. Google's AdWords and Microsoft's adCenter are two SEO tools with which marketers must be familiar.

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Professional Marketing Tools

Companies use many marketing tools to help them build sales and profits. Some marketing tools are used for promotional purposes, such as display ads and Internet search engines. Other marketing tools are used for customer feedback, including phone and mail surveys. Companies must decide which marketing tools are necessary for their businesses. For example, online companies are more likely to use Internet ads and search engines. Retail stores use point-of-purchases materials such as display cards.

Questionnaires

Marketing research professionals use questionnaires to procure important information from customers. For example, a marketing research manager might create a questionnaire to measure customers' satisfaction with their products and services. Questionnaires can vary in length. Questionnaires that are used for personal interviews can be several pages long. However, Internet questionnaires are usually short as online customers would not likely fill out lengthy questionnaires. Companies usually use both "fill-in-the-blank" and multiple choice questions on questionnaires. Multiple choice questions can be answered with a "yes" or "no," for example. "Fill-in-the-blank" questions allow customers to provide their own responses without being prompted.

Loyalty Programs

Loyalty programs are designed to increase customer traffic and sales. For example, a movie rental store might use frequency cards to reward customers for their purchases. Customers may first fill out an application form, then receive a plastic card with a magnetic stripe or bar. The magnetic stripe records the customers' purchases through the cash register, which is computer-programmed to keep track of how much customers' buy. The movie rental company will then reward customers with coupons, popcorn or free movies after customers spend a certain dollar amount.

Direct Mail

Direct mail is both targeted and measurable, according to the United States Postal Service. For example, a real estate company can target people who live in apartments as potential home buyers. The real estate company will first need to purchase a mailing list of apartment dwellers. The Direct Marketing Association is one such purveyor of mailing lists. A direct mailing often includes a sales letter, brochure and an order form. The sales letter typically discusses the benefits of using a company's products or services. Products are then illustrated and described in the brochure, along with the prices. Order forms provide a convenient way for customers to place orders.

Databases

Companies use databases to store names, addresses and emails of their customers. Often, companies include additional details of their customers, such as their gender, ages, incomes, professions and the size of families, for example. The demographic data can help a company better discern its key customers. For example, a company's heaviest users might be customers in the 35- to 54-year-old age group. Companies can then target key customers with special promotions via email or direct mail.

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Enterprise Planning: Linking Strategies, Plans, and Resources for Competitive Advantage

Source: Oracle | Hyperion
Learn more about Oracle | Hyperion

White Paper Description:

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HR Product Certification Report: Microsoft Dynamics GP 10.0

Microsoft Dynamics GP 10.0 is now TEC Certified for online evaluation of human resources (HR) solutions in the Human Resource Management (HRM) Evaluation Center. The certification seal is a valuable indicator for organizations relying on the integrity of TEC research for assistance with their software selection projects. Download this report for product highlights, competitive analysis, product analysis, and in-depth analyst commentary.

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