[quote=“headhonchoII”]I tried exactly that with a job board focused on taiwan and Asian component also, focused on professionals. It is hard to get people to reach into their pocket and pay for another job board when they already use their primary job boards. It is also hard to convince people to upload their resumes when they already have it one, two or three sites. They also prefer uploading in their own language so you need to have that up too. You have to market your site, costs money. It’s not like you just put it up and they will come.
There just isn’t a broad market for an international job board in English yet in Asia and there are too many established competitors. Taiwan has very few foreign professionals, China would be a better idea but there already lots of people doing this in China (and losing money, or at least their investors money!). You might be able to get a few bucks here and there but it’s hardly worth the effort and investment. If you know some recruiters then maybe they will pay to use your board but you need to build up a lot of candidates, it is 100X more lucrative to be the recruiter, that is where the money is.
Many companies continue to enter this field every year and throw tonnes of money at it, only the original two companies in Taiwan actually make money, AFAIK, 104.com.tw and 1111.com.tw.
Otherwise if you had a different spin on things…but really the market changes very quickly. These days a lot of people are using linkedin to promote themselves. It’s impossible to keep up with the big boys and their databases and resources. You are better off to focus on one area, like creating an app that could be used on a mobile phone, quick sending of new job openings from multiple jobsites to a candidate that could give them an edge, that sort of thing. Give them the edge in getting a job and that will be a winner!
Then you’ve got to understand the culture of the people you are marketing too…Taiwanese and each country has a different job seeking culture…it’s not one size fits all.[/quote]
Some good thoughts here ! I think some further thought one what is the unique “selling” point will have to continue for a while !
I have previously made a few apps on facebook and iphone, with the facebook one making a substantial income. I dont think facebook is as popular as i would like in taiwan yet, but i think i will also include facebook connect etc for using my job board. Not too sure how the social media network is within taiwan at the moment, english speaking wise that is.
I’m using a translation template for english and chinese using my friends to translate the latter for me.
I have quite a few good ways to market via the social networking streams, but like i said before i will have to look in to how this channel is used by people from within tw.