All plugs are not the same, are they?

I've been a member of RBC for years now, entered as a recruiter (and still do some for select clients) and am now an executive director for a job board. I've found this community to be one of the best on the net for straightforward, no holds barred commentary with the belief that all is designed to assist each other and help grow our businesses.

So I have a question; if you have a business that can help someone who posted a blog about a problem, situation or concern or someone who posted a response, is it OK to point that member towards your potential solution or is that considered a shameless plug? I'm not talking about sending unsolicited emails to RBC members, but offering solutions to a specific issue noted in a blog.

Personally, I always want to hear from someone who thinks they can help grow my business. I'd rather have the option to use or disgard then never have that option at all.

I'd love your feedback.

Comment by Tim Spagnola on December 12, 2011 at 9:59am: Thank you for recognizing Chris that unsolicited emails are not the way to go. A big no no for the RBC. I do feel your bring up a good point because the RBC vendor community does represent an import voice to our on-going conversation here. It becomes a fine line I suppose when you are offering help and/or just pushing marketing propaganda. I too would be interested on the thoughts of other members on this topic. Thanks for posting it.

Comment by pam claughton on December 12, 2011 at 12:31pm: If someone posts saying something like "what are some other job board options?", then it seems appropriate to mention your offering. But to me, that's really the only scenario that is appropriate. If someone posts about another job board complaining about price increase, I don't think it's appropriate to hijack the thread and plug your offering as an alternative, as that is not what the poster was seeking.

Just my two cents. I don't think the majority of people here are eager to hear from vendors, they are looking to converse about recruiting not be sold to.

Comment by Christopher Poreda on December 12, 2011 at 12:55pm: Pam, with all due respect I think your scope is a bit narrow. Of course I know the post you're referring to and I think the term "hijack" is a bit dramatic. As I interpreted it, Jane was complaining about Monster increasing their rates and it seemed she may not be able to continue given those rates or at least looking for viable alternatives.

I do agree with you that the majority of the conversations are recruiters conversing with recruiters but in this case it was job board centric. As for informing the RBC of a relevant service offering, I'm hard pressed to believe that if something could be done for you better and cheaper that you don't want to hear about it. Perhaps I'm wrong but I'm sensitive and respectful enough about the RBC to pose the question.

Comment by pam claughton on December 12, 2011 at 1:54pm: Chris,

Keep in mind, you posted here looking for people's opinions. Don't ask if you don't want honest responses.

Comment by Christopher Poreda on December 12, 2011 at 1:56pm: Hey Pam...I got it...I love a good debate and the insights of the RBC. All good!

Comment by Valentino Martinez on December 12, 2011 at 2:01pm: I agree w/Christopher.

If the RBC is anything it is a place to gain strategic, functional and technical advantage from the knowledge, wisdom, faux pas, scar tissue and forward thinking shared by recruiters for recruiters and recruiters-in-training.

If advice can be given in this regard it should be considered an "assist" rather than a "shameless plug"...unless it is a shameless plug.

Comment by Amy Ala Miller on December 12, 2011 at 2:10pm: Christopher - here was your orginal response to the Monster question -

Hi Jane,

I don't know your needs or what they're charging you but for recruitingblog members we are offering a $249 per month, unlimited job post special offer. Post as many jobs as you like and edit as often as you like. No contracts (month to month).

BUT CHECK THIS OUT!

We are so confident of our results that we offer this with a Money Back Guarantee. Try us for 3 months and if you're not happy we'll give you all your money back...no questions asked.

PS...no one has ever asked for their money back!

email me at chris@ujbcorp.com

All the Best,

Chris

If I were on the recieving end of that I would have been turned off... a better approach could have been "I run a major job board taht might be a better fit depending on what you need. Here's my contact info let's talk offline if you're interested."

If anyone else sees it and wants to know more they can still get in touch. I felt like your original response read too much like a marketing slick or one of those postcards you get in the mail.

Comment by Christopher Poreda on December 12, 2011 at 2:14pm: I can see how you might see it that way Amy. Certainly not my intent, the slick, just trying to help a fellow RBC'er. In the end the most important aspect is that you don't disagree that responding to Jane with an alternative was wrong...Thanks for that.

Comment by Bill Schultz on December 12, 2011 at 2:27pm: If advice can be given in this regard it should be considered an "assist" rather than a "shameless plug"...unless it is a shameless plug.

I think V sums it up nicely.

Comment by Amy Ala Miller on December 12, 2011 at 2:43pm: Exactly - Agree with V and Bill - offering an alternative, or "assist" is perfectly fine and I think in good faith. :) I just ranted on Twitter recently about my ATS and another ATS vendor sent a very simple note about their alternative and can we talk? No pitch, just offer for conversation... I really liked that and we DID talk!

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