Food Recruit

Background

I launched Food Recruit in September 2020, in the middle of a pandemic, and I thought the only way was up. Obviously, recruitment is evergreen; it was only ever going to get busier. And like with any other business owner, as you say, I was spinning multiple plates, from the website to HMRC, and the most important part of that was marketing. The landscape in my industry is very competitive.

You have to be unique. You have to have your message and personality behind it, but my job is to fill roles, and marketing is a major part of my role.

The first year was about trying to keep my head above water and marketing was very important to my strategy. Finding the time to do it was very stressful.

What specific marketing problem were you looking to solve?

Year one was all about establishing the name, getting Food Recruit out there and making a noise in the market.

Then, as you progress into year two, you have to start putting stronger foundations in place, which is branding and marketing, but along with marketing, it’s also about your message.

I was trying to establish my message; what makes me different, the personal service I provide and I didn’t find it easy. To do it, you need to move the cloud, so to speak, to have clarity, and I wasn’t getting that.

How did you find Superfast Recruitment?

From my point of view, I think it’s important to find a specialist in marketing. There are thousands of marketing agencies out there, but the idea of me speaking with  Superfast was to get a specialist in recruitment marketing.

If I were to go with a generalist, then I’d spend all my time reconfirming what I want to do and re-explaining who my client base is, what my marketing tactic is, and the industry as a whole. I set about finding a specific recruitment marketing agency, which is when I stumbled across yourself and Denise.

What made you decide to join Superfast Circle?

Just like anyone in the world today, you’ve got to do your background checks, your due diligence, and obviously, I went through the reviews on the websites. I read through the testimonials. I watched the videos. I knew about your business before you even called me. That’s my job; I’m a recruiter.

When you called me, I felt like I already knew your business; I already knew a bit about yourself and what you do, but it wasn’t until our call that you sold it to me. I think it’s important, just like in recruitment, you’ve got to connect with the person you’re working with, because, at the end of the day, you’re my business partner now. You’re part of my business.

It’s important that you understand where I’m coming from, where I want to get to, and how I’m going to get there, and then you enable me to do that, which is why we clicked straight away, and I invested in Superfast.

While you have only been a member for a short time, what have you been able to achieve so far? What were your most significant benefits/results? 

Superfast has basically had a ripple effect throughout my business.

Before, I was spinning dozens of plates, not getting anywhere with marketing, and not having the time to do it.

Being part of Superfast Circle has allowed me to put more time into my day, knowing that the recruitment and marketing part of my business is being looked after and ‘cuddled’ by you and Denise. Basically, you both keep me on the straight and narrow.

That, in turn, has enabled me to have more time in my day, which means more focus on job searching and fulfilling more business. It’s all cause and effect. Without Superfast Circle, I certainly wouldn’t have progressed to where I am now within the last few months.

Update: I now have over 27 jobs on the board and will smash my target this year after only 7 months in.

What have you been able to put in place so far?

With Superfast, you’ve got the portal, which is my access to the data I need, but you’ve also got the wider community.

I think that the most important part so far was within the first week we had a call, obviously, to establish myself, where I want to go, what I want to do, and on that call, I sat with you and Denise, and we went through my website. You gave me some advice on it. I think I had 20 points off you guys as to how I could improve the site.

For me, it looked fine before, but then when you gave me the reasonings and suggestions, it all just clicked into place. Of course, that’s another plate I’m spinning. It really helped me to have an outside professional view that’s been there and done that to assist me. I’ve changed my website because of you guys.

I’ve also managed to add some blogs that I have access to. Before I wrote my own, in my voice. I knew what I wanted to say but didn’t quite say it right. It wasn’t quite hitting the tone.

Now, I’ve got quality content that communicates what I want and in my voice on my site. Also, I have managed to add downloadable content, which I wouldn’t have dreamed of doing in year two, even though I know how important it is to have this type of resource available to my clients and candidates.

What has been your experience of the resources available to you as a member of SFC?

It’s had such an impact on my day-to-day. I’m not having to sit in the evening pulling ideas together for a blog or think about how I am going to write it.

Most of the time, when you do it yourself, you look at it and go, “Is that right, or–?” You doubt it, and then you park it, and then it’s never to be seen again.

With SFC, there is consistency. Obviously, it’s every month. We know what we’re going to say, we know how we’re going to say it, and the most important part is that it’s on point.

It goes back to my original point, which is that if you speak to a generalist marketer, they’ll be asking me, “What do you think we should talk about, and what issues your industry is facing at the moment?” If I were doing that, that’s again taking more time out of my day, but with yourself and Denise, you’re enabling me to do what I want to do and fill roles.

Where I am now with Food Recruit Search and Selection is that I’ve got consistency and a strategy in place, and you’ve enabled me to do that. Down the line, as we continue, that will start being tweaked as my business model changes, and you’ll be there to change with me.

What is it like to work with Denise and Sharon? 

Lovely, of course. You guys are absolute lifesavers.

No matter how big or small, whether I think it’s a problem and you don’t think it is, you’re always there to give me advice. I now have people to lean on, someone who understands not only the market but also my business and where I want to go. You’re actually lifesavers, and I consider you an extension of my business.

From the extra level of marketing you’ve been doing, what have you noticed so far?

I have been able to add so much content to my website with access to the bonus campaigns, and content booster pack. This, in turn, has driven website visits.

I’m now being ranked on Google.

I’m being ranked for keyword matches on food manufacturing and this is due to being able to get up and running so quickly, and driving out content.

I haven’t got a dedicated marketing team behind me, and I haven’t got a finance team and an IT team, yet you’ve taken away the pressure of marketing from me, hence why I see yourself and Denise as part of my business.

What would you tell someone who is considering joining Superfast Circle?

Do it, absolutely do it.

You’ve got nothing to lose and everything to gain. The moment you press the button with Superfast, you’ll start seeing the content come through; you’ll start seeing how much that changes your day-to-day mindset.

I’m a lot more relaxed. I’m not worried about marketing; about how I’m going to do it and when I’m going to do it. It’s such an important investment for my business. You’re now going to be part of me growing my business. Absolutely, if anyone’s on the fence, definitely jump. 

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