Never underestimate the value of your brand

It’s a simple philosophy but those in the recruitment industry who live by it are invariably well ahead of their competition.

For a recruiter in today’s historically tight talent market, a personal brand carries a lot of weight. When a candidate googles you or a prospective client is comparing recruiters, the information they discover about you is what makes up your personal brand.

There is your reputation on a plate for everyone to see.

If your brand is solid, you’re a winner.

If your brand is weak, it can break you.

If a potential client or candidate finds bad reviews of your business, discovers your website is out-of-date or checks you out on LinkedIn, only to find an incomplete profile, you can pretty much wave goodbye to their business.

Why should they trust you to find them suitable employees or manage their careers when it’s obvious you can’t manage you own?

On the other hand, if they find positive rating and reviews from clients and candidates who have used your services, their perception of you will be positive and they are more likely to trust you and use your services.

There are plenty of recruiters competing for work, so first impressions are lasting ones.

That’s why personal brand and online reputation matter more than ever.

A recruiter’s social media profile paints a clear picture of who they are and what they can offer clients and candidates. It can also paint a picture of the type of recruiter you are by highlighting the groups with which you associate, and who your connections are.

Clients and candidates will look at whatever comes up when they google you, including LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook and Twitter pages as well as your website.

If those profiles are not appealing to them, they will quickly lose interest.

What your previous clients and candidates have to say about you is also crucial, as it provides what the experts call “social proof” of your standing in the industry.

We use social proof every day, even if we don’t realise it.

When you’re choosing a restaurant, do you go to the one with bad online reviews and empty tables?

Of course not. You make your decision based on the opinions of previous diners or the number of people eating there when you walk past.

There’s the social proof of the restaurant’s reputation – it’s brand.

Similarly, if you’re hiring a tradesman. If their online reviews are glowing and they’re booked out a month in advance, it’s pretty clear social proof of their reputation.

The tradie with poor reviews might be able to come tomorrow, but do you really want to use him?

The first things many clients and candidates will look for when considering you are your ratings and reviews on Glassdoor, Google, Indeed, Facebook, LinkedIn, and any other sites where people can leave feedback about you.

At Sourcr, we are focused helping recruiters maximise their revenue through the power of reviews.

Our platform helps you collect reviews, build your online brand and promote your experience directly to candidates and clients in an online digital profile.

This means you can win business above your competitors by showcasing your experience and positive client experience to stand out as a market leading recruiter.

Sourcr has now partnered with the RCSA to help its members improve their online brand and reputation.

RCSA members will have access to a free profile on Sourcr, including an exclusive RCSA member badge to highlight their professional accreditation and show they adhere to a code of conduct.

For more details on how Sourcr can help your business thrive, go to www.sourcr.com