In 2005, I boldly (and wrongly) predicted a pending cage match between then-rising star 
Recruiting.com (an immense embarrassment in its current iteration, but that’s a separate post altogether) and industry stalwart ERE.net.
Too bad I didn’t predict a Jason Davis (former Recruiting.com emcee and current Recruiting Blogs Pied Piper) – David Manaster (fighter in ERE’s corner) throwdown, ’cause that’s how it’s shakin’ out. Even with ERE being a “network” for many years, “RBC” is currently upstaging the industry old-timer on the buzz meter. Oh, and its growth has gotten a lot of attention too.
But Manaster and Co. aren’t taking the upstart punk lying down. Meet the ERE-owned Fordyce Letter Network.
While not a direct product under the flagship brand, the ever-savvy Manaster is likely culling the waters for what elements might work on ERE and what might not for a true counter-offensive.
Both are powered by Ning so the technology is an even playing field. That means the people will decide each one’s future. While RBC is growing at a healthy pace – currently at over 10,000 members strong – the firepower still belongs to Manaster.
Who knows? Davis’s last venture landed in the hands of a well-funded robber baron named Goldberg. Maybe a similar fate awaits RBC. Or maybe Davis learned a valuable lesson and will keep buyers at bay for the foreseeable future.
I’ve got my popcorn, fellow industry junkies. How ’bout you? Who ya’ got?
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July 9th, 2008 at 11:54 pm
Joel –
We’ve been running a social network for recruiters on ERE.net for over three years. When we built our homegrown system, the technology landscape was very different then it is today.
The simple truth today is that Ning has created what is the best, most flexible social network platform in existence right now. I know, because the ERE team has been kicking the tires on a lot of others.
Working with Ning is not a reaction to the undeniable success of RBC – it’s a move driven by technology, much like our move from our homegrown content management system to one based on Wordpress a few weeks ago.
July 10th, 2008 at 1:28 am
The idea that there will be a winner and a loser is absurd to me. How many thousands and thousands of recruiters in the U.S. alone?
Surely there is enough room for the two sites to exist.
As a long time lurker/reader of ERE and as a frequent contributor of content on RecruitingBlogs.com I enjoy and value both sites.
I am a Co-Founder of Minnesota Recruiters, the third recruiter related group in Minneapolis/St. Paul.
The three groups actually promote each others events. We have crossover members. Two groups are free and one has paid membership. We are working together on a fantastic event of national speakers.
If we can do that here surely RecruitingBlogs.com and ERE can share the Internet.
P.
July 10th, 2008 at 8:56 am
Oh, you’re no fun, Paul.
July 10th, 2008 at 10:34 am
Sorry Joel, it is not like me to be a wet blanket. I am a big fan of controversy, winners and losers, who is doing what right/wrong (a big reason why I love sports and politics) but I think it is too early for a cage match or a “Rumble in the Jungle” when it comes to these sites.
There may very well come a time when we hit the bell to start the first round.
If you want to write a post about the rotting of Recruiting.com I have a few choice comments to make about the joke that has become the site. I was happy to see a timely link to a BBQ recipe before the 4th of July but I will save that rant for another day.
I do not think the technology is as important as David does. Surely I agree Ning has built something very cool (I use it for Minnesota Recruiters) but with any site the key is content. Ning is littered with sites that have not taken off because the starters of the group are not able to build a community, add content, and find a reason to bring people back.
I think that is why RecruitingBlogs.com has attracted many users, myself included. I asked Jason if I could start a LinkedIn group and he said sure, run with it. That is how the site has grown. Rather than all things run through Jason he trusts the community to go in directions. He welcomes the involvement of others.
Hurry up with a Recruting.com post, I promise you I will be more controversial.
July 10th, 2008 at 11:01 am
I thought J Davis was involved in the fordyce letter. Is he no longer?
July 10th, 2008 at 11:16 am
You know, I still get sick about that whole Recruiting.com thing sometimes. I look at it a little differently though I think. Goldberg wanted the domain name and that’s it and there is nothing anyone can say to convince me otherwise. I see many comments about how the site has gone to shit and how there is no respect for the community there but really, all he ever wanted was that industry defining domain name and he got it and I got something as well for it so watcha gonna do except try to buy it back when Jobster has to sell it.
With respect to RecruitingBlogs.com, you are right Joel, it’s not for sale and I have gotten no offers for it.
There are many recruiting Ning groups now and in fact I am the one who suggested that Fordyce start one when I was working with David and he liked the idea so it is not exactly the way you put it. Again, starting a Ning group is easy, making it work is a little different and if ERE wants to have a functioning Ning network for the fordyce letter, I am sure they can do it.
I consider Dave Manaster to be a friend. Sometimes, I guess for both of us things get a little strained given the fact that we each run something some people may consider to be competing. Sometimes people write about it and comment about it and sometimes that stuff is not easy to stomach. Dave and I talk every day and it was Dave who suggested that Jamaica may be a good place to send the winner of the video contest I am running. Thanks Dave. http://tinyurl.com/5rw4bj. I really do believe that Dave wants to see RecruitingBlogs.com succeed and ERE has helped me as well.
I will say that this year I am going to do what needs to be done in order to build RecruitingBlogs.com and take it to the next level – David will do the same.
Better make that a large popcorn Joel.
July 10th, 2008 at 1:02 pm
I want to insert the phrase “lover not a fighter” in here somewhere but it doesn’t really seem appropriate. . .
I enjoy ERE’s content quite a lot but I love the “grassroots” vibe of RBC and the member support. I think the two can peacefully coexist but would be willing to pay to watch a Davis-Manaster Jello fight.
July 10th, 2008 at 4:03 pm
David, I appreciate reading your comments about Ning as we are looking at switching over some of our drupal stuff to Ning and I did not do the research. I just like what I see at RBC and jobboarders.com.
Both RBC & ERE’s community will prosper, but RBC has a gifted maniac entrepreneur at the wheel. It will be hard for anyone with a wider focus to keep up!
July 28th, 2008 at 7:19 pm
Jason has done a great job building his network and I think he has proven that design/technology is not what wins so far. But, where is the value in such a network?
ERE – I did get the invite, Lou Adler has ‘relaunched’ his Ning network as well(!). As Jason states, building the platform is the easy bit, making the network sing is the real skill which I am yet to perfect with my own network (corporate recruiters in the UK). Is Ning great technology? It’s pretty good as long as you don’t change it too much otherwise they break it often with their updates so beware.