Do NOT Use WordPress For Your Recruitment Website In 2022

Do NOT Use WordPress For Your Recruitment Website In 2022 (+ best alternative)

Rick Mare • March 9, 2022

Everyone will tell you WordPress is the best solution for your new recruitment website because everyone is using it.

While it might have been solid advice at some point this century, it is NOT the way to go in 2022.

I’m writing this from the perspective of a recruitment platform designer with 15 years of recruitment website development experience. I have spent so much time and energy to educate and help customers avoid the world of pain they often experience using ill-conceived plans and being oversold by design agencies who in reality haven't a clue what it takes to build a recruitment ecosystem with integrations that work....

This post is pretty extensive, and here is what you can expect:

Who am I to make this post?
If WordPress is the old school way of making a website - what's new?
The transition from working with old technology to the new age of “low-code” and “no-code”
The reasons why you people TELL YOU WordPress is the right fit for your business and why to NOT listen to them!
The reasons why you might THINK your business should be using WordPress after you have been told TO use Wordpress!
My main concerns with WordPress and the people that suggest it is the only way to go
The smarter, no and low-code way of building for the web changes everything
The reasons why Shazamme is the best no-code recruitment website platform in 2022
Ok, we will attempt to deal with The opposition: “Why WordPress Is The BEST Platform To Build Your Business or Startup Website On”
WordPress vs Shazamme
About the author
Conclusion - why never to consider Wordpress for recruitment websites!

This post is for you if you need a recruitment website or career-site for your business, and want another perspective on Wordpress.Also, if you have fairly basic e-commerce needs, though you may very well want to look at Shazamme.

This post is also written with frustrated marketers and project managers in mind, who could use some ammunition to convince their business owners that Wordpress might not be the best solution for their recruitment website right now as it won’t have the required technical features, security and integrations.

Anyway, no code platforms like Shazamme are super advanced and will be able to handle the most advanced websites possible.

...my love for efficiently creating the right thing has allowed me to focus on building the best recruitment website platform for the industry...

Who am I to talk?

Hey! My name is Rick Maré. I've been designing and developing recruitment web platforms since 2007 and have created over 2,000 recruitment websites with a variety of businesses. Some of our clients were the largest recruitment companies in the world like Adecco, Manpower, Kelly Services and RGF Staffing. Shazamme is the latest reinvention where we have been able to get rid of all the legacy problems and solve the biggest customer complaints over the past 15 years.

I have been knee-deep in frontend and backend development for so long and loving it, however, I am not a developer! That is the beauty of the no and low code revolution, business ideas can develop so much faster without the developer roadblocks. If you're curious, you can learn more about me at the end of the post.

Somewhere in the middle of this journey of 15 years, WordPress was a solid candidate for the typical small recruitment website.

If WordPress is the old school way of making a recruitment website - what's new?

Come on; it's 2022. You should not have to worry about servers, development environments, deployments, and outdated code anymore if you’re building a recruitment website. Seriously. There are way better services to build and host your recruitment website. Shazamme was developed to allow recruitment websites to be built and maintained without ever writing a single line of code. Shazamme should be the platform of choice for anyone recruiting globally, recruiter or corporate talent acquisition teams. Some other no-code website platforms to mention for comparison are Wix, Canva, Squarespace and Weebly. The platforms offer great functionality but aren’t quite ready to be used for recruiting.

Coming from a background in both development and design, I have been through everything from developing one of the first elaborate .net and PHP based CMS for recruitment in 2007, to being blessed with the amazing no and low code tools we as designers and developers have today. Somewhere in the middle of this journey, WordPress was a solid candidate for the typical recruitment website. But they should no longer be a consideration. The reason is that they are bloody hard to use and require coding. A bit further down, I will outline a few reasons why people still sell you the idea of a WordPress website in 2022 and I have no idea why!

The (incredibly fun!) transition to the "age of no and low-code" for web development

"WordPress, it's not you, you just happen to be a victim of a paradigm shift". First of all, this is not really about WordPress and also not really about the better alternatives that I'll cover. It's about a paradigm shift from having to relate to code, servers, plugins, security updates, development environments, and all that headache, to the “age of no and low-code”.

“No and low-code” web development refers to working with platforms that generate the code for a website automatically in the background, while the website builder offers visual tools to create the structure and content. So writing HTML, CSS, and JS is not required. But it’s often possible to add custom code in a no-code website builder to add functionality that is not included out-of-the-box.

Being a business leader that does not know how to code, I made an educated decision when redesigning our platform about one year ago to gradually steer away from the old school ways of making websites and follow my dream and vision I had from day 1. That vision was that I, like other people that can’t code should be able to build an elaborate recruitment website within days. Since then, content, design, and user experience has gotten the focus it deserves, while the code has been written automatically in the background. The age of no and low-code is absolutely amazing. There's just no turning back.

The best and really only visual no-code recruitment website builder out there is Shazamme. Since coming to market we have been delighting our customers and putting smiles on their faces.

How does the transition to no-code web development affect the business?

Imagine for a minute you manage a successful recruitment website. You have to rely on developers to make changes, only they can make the changes. One day, you come across Shazamme. You realize that you can make 99% of the website changes yourself in the same time as it takes to write the email to the developers. No need to wait and explain in detail what you want. No code, no bugs, no server management and optimization, none of that - it's all automated. Ok great! We save time. You become more agile and save money. Fun times! No wonder most WordPress developers are going to keep convincing themselves and clients that WordPress is the way. They have to double down. The alternative is unthinkable for most.

Been there done that

I'm speaking from experience. Tough, tough, really tough experience. I have taken my recruitment websites platform from a large business based on code, servers, lots of staff and all that, through a rough transition to the age of no-code.

The ability to now create new recruitment website in 1/10 of the time or less has made a fundamental difference to the industry. We can now charge less, meaning that smaller recruitment businesses can get better technology and drop the old expensive platforms that are hard to maintain and that are costly and also very risky!

Time to evolve

About one year ago, I had the vision to change the world of recruitment websites. There had to be a better way to provide a solution to the industry and remove the cost, frustrations and lengthy painful process. I spoke with around 100 different companies around the world about the future of niche industry tech platforms. There was a clear pattern that the smart money was following no and low code platforms. It is faster to develop and significantly less to operate and maintain. Our experience has seen it to be 5-10% of the cost of running a traditional dev team.

No and Low code is here to stay and it's not always going to be pretty for old technology to change but it's time for many WordPress developers and agencies to pivot before they become obsolete. Anyone building a business on Wordpress is not being rational.

WordPress is currently hosting about 32% of the entire web.

4 reasons why people TELL YOU WordPress is the right fit for your business

The reasons may be many. Below are the top 4 reasons why I think people feed you WordPress BS. The first one is delicate and scary.

Reason 01

You're being sold WordPress because that is what they sell, not because that is what you need

A bold claim, sure. But in many cases, that is simply the truth. The business, agency or freelance developer is still using WordPress, simply because that is the best short term strategy for their business. Evolving is both painful and costly, so they choose not to. More details on that in this section:

Reason 02

The person guiding you lacks knowledge of the new alternatives to WordPress

One of the reasons WordPress is currently hosting about 32% of the entire web, is due to a "ripple effect" of recommendations, from people with limited knowledge of the now available alternatives or people who use it to build something quickly.

Having been a top alternative for many years, WordPress as a one-size-fits-all CMS has become an established truth. So, even if it might not be the right option in 2022, endless developers and users have never been introduced to a better alternative. And they keep telling their friends, and they tell their friends.

Thus, I believe "everyone is doing it" is going to have some truth to it for a long time still. Whether or not WordPress is the right solution for your business website.

Reason 03

WordPress is free, and you can more or less Google yourself through it or hire affordable help

Setting up WordPress without the right skillset could be a dangerous path. A lot of people will sell you WordPress because they have limited development knowledge, but they can Google and hack their way through WordPress. Or you might even find yourself doing this.

But trust me, it can get really nasty if you skip right past important development principles. Like separating a development (local on your computer), staging (test server before pushing anything live) and production (live website) environment, code versioning (history), backups, server configuration, security patches, WordPress and plugin updates.

Your recruitment website might be running on a minefield just waiting to blow up. And even if you hire help, a setup like this will require attention, time, and money to keep running smoothly. And, given the excellent alternatives we have in 2022, it's just no point most of the time.

Reason 04

There is actually no reason 4 for recruitment websites - Wordpress is not the right fit - ever!

The more time and money we invest in something, the higher we value it.

5 reasons why you might THINK your business should be using WordPress

Sometimes you don't need anyone to sell you WordPress, as you already know that is what you need. A lot of recruiters have been exposed to WordPress websites and that is really all they know. Some recruitment clients even require WordPress in their project brief. This post might allow me to have a nap instead of explaining to yet another client that no, they really don't :) Here are the typical reasons why, and why not.

Reason 01

Our current site is on WordPress, and we're already comfortable with the platform

Having had to learn how to use all aspects of WordPress, I appreciate your concern! On the other hand, I can teach you everything you need to learn to be a master Shazamme content editor, in about 2 minutes. No joke. I make a quick tutorial video for our clients and never hear from them again regarding content editing.

It's perfectly natural to feel safe sticking to the old. Learning something new can be scary. But trust me, it's no big deal when you're moving from an old school CMS to a new school no and low-code visual web platform.

Reason 02

The web platform has to be open-source and free

Those who have experience with expensive paid web platforms will typically look to an open-source and free platform as their saviour. Or those who are on a very tight budget. But the thing is; WordPress cost accumulates and the opportunity cost by moving slow is HUGE.

Reason 03

We have invested way too much time and money in our WordPress site to start over on a new platform

It might also be that you have invested a LOT of money into your existing website on WordPress. And psychologically, the more time and money we invest in something, the higher we value it. This way we can live with all the choices we have made along a, possibly long and rough, road. The longer you have struggled and the more you have paid, the more it feels you have to stick with it.

If you need to freshen up your site significantly, I am willing to bet that we can do it faster from a blank canvas in Shazamme, than a WordPress agency or developer can do it based on the old. Try us!

Reason 04

Replacement developers must be easy to find, in case you can no longer assist us

You'll find WordPress developers around every corner. So this concern was very legitimate in the early days. With Shazamme though, this concern is almost eliminated, because you don't need a developer. You need anyone with experience in Shazamme, or you can give a designer or developer or even your next-door neighbor a crash course and you're good to go! Also, make sure your site is built with a good SEO foundation to make Google happy.

Reason 05

What if the platform we go with dies off?

If you can be sure of one thing, it is that WordPress will be around for a long time still. So no worries there.

Shazamme is also already profitable and will be kicking it for a long time and won't go anywhere in the foreseeable future.

...100% of recruitment web projects where WordPress is used, has significantly greater risks than no-low code recruitment website platforms.

You don't need to be responsible for the server, code, SSL certificate, and all that heavy lifting.

8 of my main concerns with WordPress

Here are a few of the concerns I have with WordPress

Reason 01

WordPress is not very user-friendly from an editors perspective. To show you an example, I searched for “WordPress content editing” and actually laughed out loud watching this person making a very hard to build a wordpress site sound super easy and fun.

Now compare that to our videos. On-site editing is far easier than navigating the WordPress admin dashboard, which is totally detached from the website and the content in its natural context.

There are some plugins that add similar in-line content editing for WordPress, but most editors will relate to the detached front and back of the platform.

Reason 02

Issues related to plugins, updates, and compatibility. If WordPress is updated, a plugin can stop working. And if a plugin is updated to a version that does not support the current version of WordPress you have installed, the site can also break down. It's not uncommon for a WordPress site to break down every few months.

Reason 03

WordPress has a LOT of unnecessary code for your specific website. It is a bloated all-in-one monster that will likely leave you with a site that is heavy and slow to load, unless it's set up by a "WordPress speed expert". And a slow website will leave your users frustrated and hurt your Google ranking.

Reason 04

WordPress puts heavy constraints on creativity. To work creatively, you basically have two options. You can either design, prototype and then write your own HTML/CSS/JS and WP-template. Or you can find the closest WP-template to what you want to build, and then push it around until you reach your goals or lose your hair. Also, it may end up costing you more time and money then building it from scratch.

Reason 05

There are significant challenges with security, and WordPress requires continuous upgrades and patching. Since it is the most common CMS, it is also the one most hackers give their attention to. So many WordPress websites are left outdated and easy to breach.

Reason 06

Unstructured and messy code can cause a lot of unexpected bugs. It is so hard to maintain and keep clean. Open-source can be great, but when a host of developers are involved, it can also lead to a mess of disparate code styles.

Reason 07

WordPress has no dedicated support. So if something is not working, you need a developer to look into it. Comparing the constant issues we have with self-coded and hosted websites, to the smoothness of Shazamme - it's just two different worlds.

Shazamme is able to solve 95% of support issues within 5 min on a 24/7 chat facility.

Reason 08

WordPress has too much freedom and possibilities, and too little structure. As a rule of thumb, a platform that solves "everything" is not solving anything optimally.

Last but not least, more often than not, it’s just no point hosting a website yourself in 2022. You don't need to be responsible for the server, code, SSL certificate, and all that heavy lifting.

Through all my years managing web teams, technical infrastructure and maintenance have been what kept me up at night.

No joke, we often have clients working with real content in the CMS only a few hours after our initial setup with no prior knowledge.

The smarter, no-code way of building for the web changes everything

Again, this post is not really about specifics. It's about the paradigm shift from code to no and low-code recruitment web development. But anyway, I'm going to tell you about my recruitment no and low-code platform. Shazamme is the best tool to transform the way we build recruitment websites right now, in my opinion. The platform is 100% hosted, meaning you never touch any code. The code for the website is produced automagically in the background, while we keep our focus on what matters; amazing recruitment widgets, integrations, content and user experience!

Bye-bye code, servers, development environments, deployment scripts, security updates, ...HELP!

Through all my years managing web teams, technical infrastructure and maintenance have been what kept me up at night. Wordpress has the same issues, the hassle that comes with building and hosting with platforms like WordPress.

Shazamme has proven that the right technology produces happy clients, our clients couldn't be happier! Developers have turned into web producers and they love working with it.

"Content first" web development is a total game-changer

With Shazamme, we can build websites' content first. No joke, we often have clients working with real content in the CMS only a few hours after our initial setup. The client adds CMS driven content while we are shaping the structure around it. Then when it is time to apply the visual layer, most of the content is already in there, as opposed to building a site on hypothetical Lorem Ipsum content. Typically the client can already login and work with the copy. We can set up a client in less than 5 minutes and if they wanted to, they could purchase it online with none of our involvement.

Build from scratch at lightning speed, or start with a template

We have only done about 30% of Shazamme sites based on a template, as it is so easy to build with sections and widgets. So, we can have your amazing business website ready in about an hour based on a template, and tune it from there. Or like we most often do, develop a solid strategy for communication and content, then develop the ideal solution in a matter of days.

It's worth mentioning that a Shazamme template is not like a WordPress template. It does not have a fixed set of options, and if you want something different, you have to fiddle with code or plugins. It's more like we get a starting point, and we can still build and edit as quickly as when building from scratch without touching code.

Building in Shazamme from scratch requires no basic understanding of HTML/CSS principals

If you are building your own recruitment business with no cash to spend on a website, Shazamme is for you. Whether you want Shazamme to build it or you want a simple do-it-yourself recruitment website.

We usually tell the client we can deliver 90% of their dreams for 30% of the cost.

You log in, and then navigate your site and click on any text or image you want to edit!

12 reasons why Shazamme is the best no-code recruitment website builder in 2022.

Shazamme is #1 no and low-code recruitment website builder as of now. It’s worth mentioning that Shazamme is a “drag-and-drop” website builder like Squarespace, Wix, and Weebly that lets you build your website with readymade blocks without any prior knowledge of how to structure websites with HTML and CSS. The huge difference is that you don't have to write code, rather create the elements and styles from a graphical user interface, like Canva.

So I guess you could say that Shazamme has building blocks that you can piece together.

Ok, let’s get into why Shazamme is awesome. Our clients just freaking love it :) As do all the designers and developers I have working on the platform.

Reason 01

Automated programming = Focus on content, design and user experience

The most obvious upside with a no-code web builder like Shazamme is that the platform is building the code for you automagically in the background. You don't ever have to see it, but you can if you want to.

The no-code approach cuts down the development time of any custom designs, animations, interactions, and CMS setup significantly. And most of the time, we still have all the tools available that we do in traditional development.

Reason 02

Create AMAZING designs and user experiences without template restrictions

It’s ridiculous how awesome you can make your site look and feel using Shazamme’s advanced tools for interactions and animations.

Reason 03

Ease of use for content editors

Last but not least by a longshot! It is so incredibly easy to edit content in Shazamme. You log in, and then navigate your site and click on any text or image you want to edit! Content and presentation are not decoupled like it is in WordPress and other CMS's.

Also, several editors can work on the site at the same time, and you'll see who is doing what and where.

Reason 04

Preview your website before republishing

Shazamme comes with a way to preview the website where you can experiment and showcase your work before pushing any changes in content or design to your live site. If you're running a WordPress website, chances are you don't even have a staging server and site setup. Any mistakes made go live on your website. Pray for a backup!

Reason 05

Backups

Speaking of backups - every time you make a change in Shazamme, a new backup is created. So if anything unexpected happens, you can get right back to safety within seconds. Preview and easily revert to a previous version of the site from the Shazamme control panel.

You can also easily duplicate a Shazmame website. It is free until you connect it to a custom domain. A duplicate site can be useful if you want to create a new website based on one of your existing ones. Or if you want your current website available on a different URL while you build and launch a new version. In any case, you can duplicate an existing Shazamme website in seconds.

Reason 06

Affordable hosting, maintenance, and upgrades

Licensing and hosting with Shazamme starts at $99USD / month for a CMS driven site. The platform is automatically and continuously upgraded without more than notifications about new features for you. And if you need to change or upgrade anything regarding design or structure, it is super fast. What we used to spend hours on developing, testing, and deploying, is usually done in minutes in Shazamme.

Reason 07

Superior performance and speed!

I cannot overstate the importance of performance and speed. If your site is slow, both users and Google will be very unhappy. The speed you get with Shazamme is INSANE! When your site is on Shazamme, you are enjoying their world-class global server infrastructure and CDN (Content Delivery Network).

Reason 08

Custom e-commerce

Shazamme recently released its own built-in e-commerce. So now you can build out totally customized webshops all the way through the checkout, with the same ease and speed as other recruitment website pages.

Reason 09

Shazamme sites come with free SSL certificates (https://). Nothing to set up, it just works. Better for user experience and Google rankings.

Reason 10

CMS API and custom code

We have an API (Application Programming Interface) for the Shazamme CMS, that allows us to get content out of and push content into the CMS. This can be used to pull content into other applications or to push content into Shazamme every time something happens in a different platform.

We are also able to include custom code blocks onto pages or websites as a whole. We have used this to populate a container with customer names and logos, pulled from a client's API, to give you one example.

Reason 11

A safe bet

Shazamme is a safe bet. The team have been around since 2007 and understand recruitment marketing and recruitment websites better than anyone in the industry.

Reason 12

Simple SEO

Using the Shazamme Editor, you have access to the basic SEO tools you need. From page titles and meta descriptions to Open Graph (Facebook and such) settings to easily optimize your pages for site search and social sharing.

Reason 13

Shazamme Recruitment focus

The most important part of Shazamme is that it is totally recruitment centric. It has countless integrations with ATS, MPS, HRIS and CRM’s. It has over 50 dedicated recruitment widgets and over 40 dedicated recruitment sections. Noting that each widget can’t be configured many ways! This means that together with the 100+ widgets your recruitment website becomes a powerhouse of functionality.

Reason 14

Shazamme limitations

Hey, wait! You said 13! Yes, but I can't be that one-sided so here are the current Shazamme limitations too, as the “lucky number 14” on our list.

You can’t change the backend. This is governed by the Shazamme team. So we typically do an initial evaluation to determine future needs. If any backend integrations are required, we usually have to go with another platform.
There is no concept of free plug ins, we have designed the widgets for recruitment and any requests need to be lodged with Shazamme.

If you search “should I use WordPress for my business website”, you will get a sweet mix of YES and NO articles. Please note that there are no recruitment specific articles on this.

The opposition: “Why WordPress Is The BEST Platform To Build Your Recruitment Website On”

If you search “should I use WordPress for my recruitment website”, you will get NO results so we have opted for a general search on “should I use WordPress for my business website”, you will get a sweet mix of YES and NO articles. Here is the most in-depth YES article I could find in the top 10 results: https://medium.com/swlh/why-wordpress-is-the-best-platform-to-build-your-business-or-startup-website-on-df3fe932fad7

I gave it a read, and can’t find any arguments that outweigh what I have discussed in this post. At a high level, the following are the author's main points. I’ll add my comments.

WordPress is open, and you can do anything you want with it

Yes, and if you need these infinite possibilities so much that it outweighs all the issues in this post, go for it.

It’s cheap.

Sure, WordPress is cheap, even free. In theory. But, people who have done projects on WordPress, find that WordPress often gets pricey after all. The accumulating cost includes everything from the cost of plugins to maintenance cost to developers.

WordPress crushes other well known CMS platforms like Joomla and Drupal

Well yes, I wouldn’t touch Joomla or Drupal with a ten-foot pole. Being better than those two does not mean WordPress is the right tool for our job.

Endless plugins and integrations

Yes for sure! But that also comes with all the challenges outlined. In my experience with Shazamme so far, I have very rarely come across a challenge that I cannot solve fairly easily, without the equivalent of a Wordpress plugin.

...those with in-depth experience with all the platforms, generally leave WordPress on the losing side.

WordPress vs Shazamme

I have personal experience with both platforms.

The basic differences are:

Shazamme is created as a recruitment website platform, Wordpress is not.
Shazamme is integrated with a lot of recruitment systems, Wordpress is not.
Shazamme is highly secure and managed on Enterprise infrastructure, Wordpress will ALWAYS be plagued by security issues, no matter what people tell you! It also depends on whoever created the website to rely on their expertise on security and hosting.
Shazamme has over 50 recruitment specific widgets, Wordpress has very few that compare, and the ones you find as plugins are too generic or old and broken.
Shazamme has a super easy website editor that people love and requires no-code, Wordpress is complicated and requires coding to make it work.
Shazamme can be used by anyone, with no prior knowledge within hours. Wordpress requires extensive training and understanding of how to use it, and then even it can be complicated.

To conclude, for recruitment websites, Shazamme generally leave WordPress on the losing side.

About me.

Hey again! If you didn't catch it in the intro, my name is Rick.

Born in 1968.
Always interested in solving complex problems and challenging the status quo
Was General Manager at a chocolate and biscuit factory
Was COO at major housing company building 11,000 homes a year
Created my first online business in 2002
Can’t code anything if my life depended on it
Started a job board in 2006
Used the job board technology created in 2006 to create one of the first SaaS recruitment website platforms in 2008
Never looked back and I have been building businesses, brands, identities, and recruitment websites and recruitment technology ever since

I work on creating other recruitment technology with my amazing business partner Nicole Clarke. These days, we are applying all our skills and experience with business, branding, design, and development acquired from working with clients in the recruitment industry for over 15 years.

In short: WordPress will NOT be the right fit for recruitment websites of any size in 2022.

Conclusion - should I use WordPress for my recruitment website?

In short: most of the time, WordPress will NOT be the right fit for a recruitment website in 2022. The reason is that the modern “no-code” web builders as outlined in this post, eliminate the need to relate to code, servers, updates, and all the headache that follows. With platforms like Shazamme, you can build world-class websites with amazing performance, without the pain.

A few last words:

I wrote this post because I have seen too many recruitment owners left in a world of pain that often comes with WordPress. I hope this has provided a foundation to make an educated decision to use a better alternative. It’s a jungle out there.
You should get with the times and use a no-code platform like Shazamme
Please use the arguments you have read here to convince decision-makers in your company to steer away from WordPress, unless they have counter-arguments that outweigh everything I have addressed in this post.
If you have any questions or want help to get started with Shazamme, please head on over to https://www.shazamme.com and get in touch :)

This is mostly my personal perspective meant to trigger healthy discussion. I am open to discussion, and will even admit when I'm wrong :) If you're one to keep it constructive, let's chat!

That's it for now. See you around!

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Therefore, it is particularly useful for agencies seeking to improve their content marketing strategies using AI. Each month, quite a bit blog posts are published, which is pretty fitting for a blog belonging to an AI content generation company like Jasper AI. Here, too, you can filter by “Marketing Strategy” for a more specific, marketing-like point of view. HubSpot Blog HubSpot’s blog needs no introduction, but I’ll introduce it anyway. Widely recognized as one of the leading B2B content hubs in the marketing industry, HubSpot’s blog serves as a comprehensive resource for marketers, sales professionals, and customer service representatives, presenting both introductory content for beginners and advanced strategies for experienced professionals. In short, this is one of the biggest resources for everything B2B. Its Marketing sub-blog is the perfect place to stay updated with marketing insights, ideas and inspirations, and the lobby page features some great AI marketing articles under the AI category. HubSpot excels at breaking down complex topics into easy-to-understand pieces, making them a great resource for agencies at any stage of their AI journey. Shane Barker’s blog Shane Barker's Blog is a prominent resource for marketers seeking insights and strategies on digital marketing, influencer marketing, SEO, social media, and AI applications in marketing. Known for its practical advice and actionable tips, the blog is recommended for marketing professionals. Shane Barker frequently shares case studies and data-driven insights, making his blog a great resource for agencies seeking to implement tangible AI marketing strategies. Jounce Jounce is a company dedicated to providing AI-driven solutions to enhance marketing strategies. Their blog provides useful insights into AI-driven marketing strategies, focusing on how AI can optimize various aspects of marketing, including content creation, customer engagement, and marketing automation. AdWeek AdWeek's AI category is a key resource for staying informed about how AI is impacting the advertising industry. The publication features articles on the latest AI innovations, trends, and case studies, highlighting how top brands are using AI to enhance their marketing efforts. Their focus on industry news and case studies makes it a valuable resource for staying on top of the latest advancements in AI advertising. AdExchanger AdExchanger is a leading publication that covers data-driven marketing, advertising, and technology. The site AI category features deep dives into AI and its implications for digital marketing and advertising. It provides valuable insights into how AI technologies are being used to optimize ad spend, improve targeting, and enhance customer experiences. MarketingProfs MarketingProfs is a well-established resource that offers a wealth of information on marketing strategies, tools, and best practices. The site includes a dedicated section on AI in marketing , providing insights into how AI can be leveraged to improve various marketing functions. With a mix of articles, webinars, and training programs, MarketingProfs helps marketers stay informed about the latest AI trends. Spiceworks Spiceworks is a network that connects technology professionals with the resources they need to make informed decisions. Their dedicated section on AI in marketing offers insights into how AI technologies are transforming marketing strategies. The blog covers topics such as AI-driven analytics, personalized marketing, and the integration of AI in various marketing platforms. Influencer Marketing Hub The Influencer Marketing Hub’s AI Marketing section is an excellent resource for understanding how AI is shaping influencer marketing. It features articles on AI tools for influencer identification, campaign optimization, and performance tracking. This blog is particularly useful for agencies focusing on influencer marketing and looking to integrate AI into their strategies.

Top 10 Agency Directories to List Your Agency and Win Clients

September 29, 2025

If you haven’t already, it’s time to expand your horizons and take a look at agency directories. I know you’re so used to referrals that you’re pretty skeptical about any other lead-generation channel. But hear me out: while referrals are undoubtedly valuable (90% of agencies cite them as their top source for new leads, according to HubSpot’s Agency Pricing and Financials Report ), diversifying your client acquisition strategy is crucial for growth. That’s where agency directories come into play, offering your agency access to a vast pool of potential clients, actively searching for services like yours. However, with so many directories to choose from, there are many factors to consider. For instance, you’ll need to think about audience relevance, search rankings, and the specific features each directory offers to help your agency stand out. In this article, we’ll provide you with a rundown of the top agency directories, reviewing their unique features, audience reach, and how they can help you differentiate yourself from the competition. We’ll explore directories that cater to a range of industries and services, from digital marketing and SEO to creative design and web development, ensuring you find the best platforms to showcase your agency and win clients. 1. Digital Agency Network (DAN) DAN was created with the goal of connecting digital marketing professionals, agencies, and clients by providing a platform where agencies can showcase their work and expertise. With impressive numbers such as 146,000+ monthly visits, it’s fair to say that DAN has a lot to offer to its 3,300+ member agencies, operating in 122 cities worldwide. One of the standout features of DAN is its curated list of member agencies, ensuring that only high-quality, reputable agencies are showcased. This selective approach boosts the credibility of the platform and helps clients find trusted partners for their digital needs. The directory also includes an extensive blog section (which we enjoy reading) where agencies can contribute thought leadership content, share case studies, and promote their services. As for the agencies' profiles, they are quite detailed, allowing agencies to showcase their services, portfolios, client testimonials, and team bios to demonstrate their capabilities. This translates into the advanced search mechanism. Businesses can easily search and filter agencies by location, industry expertise, agency size, and more to find the perfect fit. The “Get Quotes” system simplifies this process even further, allowing brands to submit project details, needs, and budgets, making it easier to connect with the most suitable agency. DAN offers both free and paid listings . While the free listing provides basic exposure, agencies looking to maximize their visibility can opt for paid membership plans, which offer enhanced features such as priority listing, access to exclusive leads, and opportunities for content promotion on DAN’s blog and social media channels. 2. Spona (formaly Top Digital Agency) Spona , formerly known as Top Digital Agency (TDA), primarily functions as a directory aimed at connecting businesses with digital agencies. However, it offers more than just a standard directory service. Spona functions as an all-in-one digital project collaboration platform. The platform combines management, financing, and project collaboration in one place and provides tools and features that enhance the matchmaking process between businesses and agencies. One of the key features is their matching algorithm, which helps pair businesses with agencies that align with their specific needs, making it easier for businesses to find the right partner. Additionally, Spona has a project posting feature, where businesses can describe their project requirements and allow agencies to bid on them. This feature adds a layer of interaction beyond a simple directory listing, turning Spona into a more dynamic platform. The agency listings are relatively detailed compared to other directories. Agencies can showcase their services, case studies, and expertise, along with information about their team, client testimonials, and contact details. The platform also allows agencies to categorize their services, making it easier for businesses to find agencies specializing in particular areas. Spona offers both free and paid options for listing agencies on their platform. Paid options often include benefits such as priority placement in search results, enhanced profile customization, and the ability to bid on projects with more visibility, which can help agencies attract more clients. 3. AdForum AdForum’s strong focus on advertising, branding, and design makes it a great platform for agencies looking to connect with clients interested in creative services. It has built a reputation as a premier directory, particularly for those in the creative industry. One of the coolest things about AdForum is its Creative Library , showcasing an extensive collection (235,000+) of global advertising campaigns and case studies, a major attraction for clients and industry professionals. Additionally, AdForum provides industry news, insights, and a dedicated awards section, which helps keep both agencies and clients informed about the latest trends and developments in the advertising world. The inclusion of a job board also makes it a versatile platform for agencies looking to expand their teams. Agencies can create detailed profiles, highlighting their services, case studies, and portfolios, with options for both free and premium listings . The premium option enhances visibility with priority placement, a more comprehensive showcasing of creative work, access to leads and RFPs (Request for Proposals), and analytics tools to track profile performance. 4. Winmo (formally REDBOOKS) Unlike traditional agency directories, Winmo , formerly known as REDBOOKS, positions itself as a sales enablement tool, offering a unique blend of agency listings, brand information, and decision-maker contacts, making it particularly valuable for agencies looking to proactively generate leads and identify new business opportunities. Another thing to know about Winmo is its integration capabilities with CRM systems, allowing agencies to seamlessly incorporate Winmo's data into their existing sales and marketing workflows. One of Winmo's unique features is its predictive intelligence capability which focuses on analyzing historical data and industry trends to forecast potential business opportunities, allowing agencies to identify and pursue new clients before they even start an official agency search. The platform offers an impressive database covering over 36,000 brands and 150,000 decision-makers, mainly focusing on the North American and UK markets. This wealth of information allows agencies to not only find potential clients but also to understand their marketing spend, agency relationships, and key decision-makers. As for pricing , Winmo’s services are premium, reflecting the value of the intelligence and tools they offer. It is an investment that works for agencies with a strategic focus on large-scale client acquisition. 5. Agency Spotter Unlike some directories that allow anyone to leave a review, Agency Spotter is known for its client-verified reviews. The review mechanism includes a review authentication process to ensure the validity of reviews. This may include verifying the reviewer's relationship with the agency, which adds another layer of trust to the system. In addition, it’s quite comprehensive, allowing clients to rate agencies across multiple categories such as quality, cost, schedule, and willingness to refer. These reviews directly impact an agency's ranking and visibility on the platform. Agencies with higher review scores and more recent reviews tend to appear higher in search results. Another thing to note about Agency Spotter is its advanced filtering capabilities. Clients can search for agencies based on specific criteria such as location, agency size, industry expertise, service offerings, audience specialty, martech, or other technologies used, and more. As for pricing , and much like most agency directories, Agency Spotter offers both free and paid options. 6. Clutch Clutch is a highly regarded directory for B2B service providers, with a strong reputation among businesses specifically looking for agencies. What sets Clutch apart is its strict vetting process: a dedicated team of analysts conducts in-depth client interviews or evaluates posted reviews to ensure quality and reliability. This provides detailed insights into an agency's performance, making it a preferred choice for businesses seeking in-depth, verified feedback. This focus on authenticity is a significant driver of Clutch’s popularity. Compared to platforms like Agency Spotter, which offers shorter, more concise reviews that are easier to scan across multiple options, Clutch goes deeper, making it better suited for businesses looking to make more informed, research-backed decisions. Beyond its comprehensive reviews, Clutch features its Leader Matrices , a unique tool that visually ranks agencies based on two axes: their ability to deliver results and their specialization in specific services. This matrix simplifies the search process, enabling businesses to quickly identify top-performing agencies within their desired niche. Just note that Clutch’s paid sponsorship model can influence how agencies are ranked or highlighted. While rankings are based on a combination of client feedback, market presence, and expertise, paying for premium placement can give agencies more visibility, which may affect how clients perceive their options. 7. Credo With Credo , it’s quality over quantity. While its pool of agencies is smaller, it has built a reputation for itself as meeting one of the highest quality standards in the industry, mainly due to its personalized agency matchmaking service in various categories, including SEO (which gets quite a bit of focus at Credo), PPC, content marketing, social media marketing, web design and development, and more. When a business submits a project request, Credo doesn't just provide a list of agencies. Instead, they take the time to understand the business's specific needs and then personally match them with the most suitable agencies from their network. For agencies considering Credo, it's important to note that the platform is selective. Not all agencies will make the cut. However, for those who do make it through the vetting process, Credo can provide access to high-quality leads from businesses serious about investing in digital marketing. As for costs, here’s what Credo has to say on their website: “Leads in the Network, if not on the Agency Growth subscription, cost from $50-$150 per lead depending on amount of contact information and if Credo has spoken with them and verified the project. You can reduce your cost per lead by approximately 75% with an Agency Growth Network subscription ($249/mo paid quarterly or $329/mo paid monthly).” 8. TopSEOs Despite its name suggesting a focus solely on SEO services, TopSEOs , founded in 2002, has evolved to cover a wide range of digital marketing categories as the digital marketing industry expanded. Today, the platform evaluates and ranks 280,000 digital marketing companies in its directory across more than 100 categories, including PPC management, social media marketing, content marketing, web design, and many more. Rumor has it that TopSEOs’ rankings are refreshed monthly, ensuring that the information remains current and relevant. TopSEOs has a free membership option that provides a basic profile and inclusion in the directory. The paid membership option, however, provides an enhanced profile with branding options and the ability to get leads and contact information of those trying to contact your agency. 9. Puddding Pudding’s forte is case studies. It simplifies the process of finding an agency by matching companies with agencies based on real case studies and proven results rather than relying on reviews or referrals. Each case study is analyzed, indexed and used to identify matches and agency recommendations. Another thing to note about Puddding is it allows businesses to quickly get a shortlist of agencies tailored to their project, with the option to request proposals or schedule meetings in as little as 24 hours. Puddding’s plans and pricing allow for a free and paid listing. The paid options offer additional benefits such as access to public RFPs, private invitations to submit proposals, and more extensive promotion across Puddding's platform 10. DesignRush What truly sets DesignRush apart is its dedication to staying ahead of industry trends and building an active marketplace. The platform consistently publishes industry insights, trend reports, and educational content, positioning itself as more than just a directory—it's an important resource for both agencies and clients. Additionally, a Google search for "digital marketing agencies" will place DesignRush on the first page, alongside DAN and Clutch, highlighting its broad reach and visibility.

How Recruitment Agencies Can Create Memorable Client Engagements

September 29, 2025

How Recruitment Agencies Can Create Memorable Client Engagements Practical Strategies to Stand Out, Build Trust, and Drive Results In today’s highly competitive recruitment space, agencies aren’t just judged on the roles they fill—they’re remembered by the experience they create for clients. A seamless, personalized, and professional digital presence can be the difference between a one-off client and a long-term partner. So how can you, as a recruitment agency website owner, create memorable client engagements that build trust and loyalty from the very first interaction? Here are proven strategies tailored to your industry: 1. Start with a Seamless Digital Experience Your website is your digital handshake. Before a single call or email, clients judge your agency by your online presence. Make sure your website: Loads fast on mobile and desktop Clearly communicates your niche, expertise, and value proposition Offers easy ways to get in touch, book a consultation, or post a job Reflects professionalism through strong branding, updated imagery, and testimonials ✅ Pro tip: Include a short "Why Choose Us" video or animated explainer to humanize your brand. 2. Offer Personalized, Consultative Interactions Memorable engagements start with relevant conversations . Move beyond templated emails and generic contact forms. How? Set up automated intake forms that ask smart questions about the client’s hiring goals Use that data to tailor your follow-up—reference their industry, location, or job type Provide custom hiring strategy outlines in your proposals (AI tools can help here) Clients don’t just want talent—they want guidance. Be the strategic advisor, not just the service provider. 3. Use Data and Reporting to Build Confidence Clients want to know their investment is paying off. Providing real-time, easy-to-read data is a huge trust builder. Offer: Candidate pipeline snapshots Weekly email digests of application stats Interview scheduling insights Success stories from similar roles or industries Consider embedding a client dashboard that shows open roles, submissions, and next steps—transparency drives loyalty. 4. Automate the Routine, Humanize the Touchpoints Automate repetitive tasks like: Status updates (“Your job ad is live!”) Meeting confirmations Interview reminders But personalize the moments that matter: Send a handwritten-style thank-you email after a placement Celebrate a successful hire with a client spotlight on your site or social Remember: automation should support relationships, not replace them. 5. Follow Up Strategically Post-Placement Most agencies forget this step—and it’s where loyalty is earned. After a successful placement: Check in at 30 and 90 days Offer onboarding tips or retention insights Ask for feedback—and act on it Provide insights on upcoming talent trends in their space This positions your agency as a long-term partner , not just a transactional vendor. 6. Make the Engagement Shareable Turn great experiences into marketing gold. When a client is thrilled, make it easy for them to: Leave a review Share a testimonial or success story Be featured in a “Client Wins” post Engaged clients are your best advocates. Give them the spotlight and amplify their success. Final Thoughts Creating a memorable client engagement isn’t about doing more—it’s about doing the right things at the right time. With the right website experience, thoughtful automation, personalized insights, and follow-up, your recruitment agency will stand out in a crowded market. In an industry built on relationships, the experience you deliver becomes your brand.

Why Recruitment Website Owners Should Know About ARIA

September 29, 2025

Why Recruitment Website Owners Should Know About ARIA Accessibility, SEO, and Trust — All in One As a recruitment agency, your website isn’t just a digital brochure—it’s a vital hiring tool. But if your site isn’t accessible to all users, including those using screen readers or other assistive technologies, you could be losing out on top talent and opening yourself up to legal and reputational risk. That’s where ARIA (Accessible Rich Internet Applications) comes in. Let’s break down what it is, why it matters, and how it can impact your recruitment brand. What Is ARIA? ARIA is a set of HTML attributes that make web content and applications more accessible —especially for people with disabilities using screen readers, keyboard navigation, or voice input tools . It bridges the gap between dynamic, interactive elements (like drop-down menus, modal dialogs, or custom buttons) and users who rely on assistive technologies to navigate your site. Why It Matters for Recruitment Websites Candidate Experience = Employer Brand Job seekers may have different abilities, devices, or browsing methods. If they can’t navigate your site properly, they may leave with a poor impression—or be unable to apply at all. Legal Compliance Accessibility lawsuits and regulations (such as WCAG and ADA) are on the rise. ARIA helps you meet compliance standards , reducing legal risk. SEO Boost Accessible sites are often better structured, faster, and more semantic—all factors that benefit search engine indexing. Inclusive Hiring Starts with an Inclusive Website Recruitment is about opportunity. Your site should reflect your commitment to inclusion—not only in job descriptions, but in how candidates experience your brand. Where ARIA Comes Into Play On your recruitment website, ARIA roles and labels should be applied to: Navigation menus Search inputs Job listings filters and accordions Modal dialogs (e.g., job application forms) Buttons and toggles not using standard HTML tags These attributes allow screen readers to announce elements properly—so visually impaired users know what they’re interacting with. What You Can Do Right Now You don’t need to be a developer to take action: Ask your platform provider if ARIA roles are built into your site framework (our platform includes this by default) Audit your job application process to ensure it can be completed with keyboard navigation Keep menus and pop-ups accessible with proper labels and escape key functionality Avoid accessibility blockers like flashing animations, low contrast text, or unclear links Final Thoughts Accessibility is no longer a “nice to have”—it’s a must-have for modern recruitment websites. ARIA helps you build digital experiences that are inclusive, compliant, and user-friendly for all candidates. A more accessible site means: A better candidate pool Stronger SEO Fewer legal worries And a more inclusive brand reputation Making your site accessible isn’t just a technical upgrade—it’s a statement of your values.