11 Statistics for Digital Marketers in 2025

Nicole • May 14, 2025

11 Recruitment Statistics for Digital Marketing

 

While the world of online marketing has expanded far beyond paid advertising, advertising still plays a very important role in generating revenue and business. Digital advertising is the top of the “new advertising stack,” and it’s what can create brand awareness, drive sales, and create visibility across a variety of channels that are oversaturated with businesses trying to stand out.

 

 

Although there are many new players in the online marketing landscape like email, social media, and reputation, digital advertising isn’t set to slow down yet—a statement that’s underlined by the fact that ad spend is set to grow from $83 billion in 2017 to over $129 billion by 2021.

 

We’ve compiled this list of top advertising stats so you can spend your advertising dollars where it really matters, and get the ROI you need to thrive in the digital world.


There is no doubt, the recruitment industry needs to start thinking outside the square and using different digital channels to their competitors.

 

Statistics about Digital Advertising

  1. Global digital ad spend will reach $389 billion in 2021.

2. The average cost per action (CPA) is $49 for paid search and $75 for display ads.

3. Only 61% of marketers believe their marketing strategy is effective

 4. 40% of marketers say proving the ROI of their marketing activities is a top marketing challenge

5. 58% of marketers are challenged with targeting or segmenting their audience.

6. 57% of marketers are challenged with optimizing next-best-action marketing decisions.

 

7. 34% of social media marketers list “tying social campaigns to business goals” as a top challenge.

 

 

8. 2017’s video advertising spend is $13.23 billion, and projected to reach $22.18 billion by 2021 - start using video

 

9. 80% of marketers report their lead generation efforts are only slightly or somewhat effective.

10. 22% of businesses are satisfied with their conversion rates

11. 42% of B2B marketing professionals state that a lack of quality data is their biggest barrier to lead generation.

 

Contact us to get started with digital advertising for your business today!

 

By Nicole Clarke June 27, 2025
The Ultimate Recruitment Marketing Strategy
A graph showing the core web vitals technology report
By Shazamme System User June 22, 2025
We Just Broke Our Industry-Leading Core Web Vitals Record – 82%! A Deep Dive Into Our Latest Performance Enhancements We’re proud to share an exciting performance milestone: 82% of all websites built on our platform now pass Google’s Core Web Vitals assessment—a record-breaking achievement that reflects our continued investment in performance optimization and modern web standards. What Are Core Web Vitals? Core Web Vitals are a set of performance metrics defined by Google that measure real-world user experience across three key areas: Loading performance (Largest Contentful Paint – LCP) Interactivity (First Input Delay – FID) Visual stability (Cumulative Layout Shift – CLS) Passing Core Web Vitals means a website loads quickly, responds fast to user input, and doesn’t shift or jitter as it loads—making for a smooth and frustration-free user experience. What’s Behind the 82% Pass Rate? This milestone didn’t happen by chance. Our engineering and platform teams have rolled out several advanced technical improvements that directly contribute to this success. Here’s what’s new: ? Smarter Caching We’ve implemented an enhanced caching strategy that significantly reduces load times. Pages are now cached more intelligently—balancing freshness with speed—ensuring visitors experience faster page loads without sacrificing content accuracy. ? Back-Forward Cache (bfcache) Support We now support bfcache, a browser-level optimization that allows users to navigate back and forward between pages almost instantly. This improvement enhances the browsing experience by reducing perceived wait time and increasing session fluidity . ⚡ Performance-First Build Enhancements The platform’s build system has been optimized with a strong focus on real-user performance metrics. Updates include: Smaller JavaScript bundles for faster execution Image optimization through next-gen formats like WebP Prioritized loading for critical above-the-fold content Lazy loading for non-essential assets These changes ensure faster loading experiences across desktop and mobile environments. What This Means for You As a client using our platform, here’s what you can expect: Improved SEO potential due to better Core Web Vitals scores Higher user engagement from faster, smoother interactions Reduced bounce rates thanks to quicker load and response times Future-proof performance as browsers and algorithms evolve We take care of these technical optimizations behind the scenes so you can focus on delivering great content and user experiences. What’s Next? Our work doesn’t stop here. We are continuously testing, refining, and deploying backend improvements to ensure your websites stay ahead of performance standards. Expect more updates focused on accessibility, responsiveness, and technical SEO in the coming months. Thank you for building with us—and here’s to even faster, more optimized sites ahead!
A screenshot of a website with a mouse pointer pointing to the citations section.
June 22, 2025
AEO for Recruitment Websites: What Is Answer Engine Optimization? As job seekers increasingly turn to AI-powered tools like ChatGPT and Google’s AI Overviews to find opportunities, traditional SEO is no longer enough. Welcome to the era of Answer Engine Optimization (AEO) —a strategic approach that ensures your recruitment website gets found and featured in AI-generated responses. In this guide, we’ll explain what AEO is, why it’s crucial for recruitment sites, and how to optimize your job listings and content for visibility in the age of AI. What Is Answer Engine Optimization (AEO)? Answer Engine Optimization is the process of structuring and writing your content in a way that helps AI-based answer engines understand, extract, and display it as direct answers to user queries. Unlike traditional search engines that rank and list multiple results, answer engines aim to give users an immediate answer —often from a single source. This includes showing job postings, company info, or application tips directly in search summaries or AI chat responses. Why AEO Matters for Recruitment Websites Here’s why recruitment website owners should care: Job seekers now use AI tools to search for roles, companies, and hiring advice —not just search engines. Answer engines pull from websites that provide clean, clear, and structured information. Your visibility depends on how well AI tools can understand your job listings and content. In short, optimizing your site for answer engines helps your job postings reach more candidates, faster —without relying on paid job boards. How AI-Powered Answer Engines Work These engines extract answers from well-structured, high-quality content. They analyze your: Job descriptions Hiring guides and FAQs Company profiles Schema markup and page structure The better your content is organized and formatted, the more likely AI tools are to present it as a trusted source in response to job-related queries. AEO Tips for Recruitment Website Owners Here’s how to optimize your site for answer engines: 1. Use Clear Job Titles and Descriptions Avoid vague titles. Use commonly searched roles like “Marketing Coordinator” or “Warehouse Assistant,” and include required skills, location, salary (if possible), and benefits clearly. 2. Structure Your Pages with Schema Markup Use JobPosting schema on every job listing. This helps AI tools and search engines understand that your page contains a job opportunity, its details, and how to apply. 3. Create FAQ Sections Answer common questions like “What is the application process?”, “Is remote work available?”, or “How long does hiring take?” These are the types of queries AI tools prioritize. 4. Include Company Profiles and Culture Pages Highlight workplace culture, diversity, values, and benefits in structured formats. AI engines prefer detailed, people-focused content when summarizing employers. 5. Optimize for Natural Language Write content as if you're answering someone’s question. For example: “What does a warehouse assistant do?” “How do I apply for a marketing job in Manchester?” This helps your site appear in AI-generated results for those queries. Benefits of AEO for Recruitment Sites Implementing AEO can: Increase organic visibility in AI summaries and answer boxes Drive more qualified traffic to job listings and hiring pages Reduce dependency on third-party job boards Position your brand as a trusted employer Final Thoughts  The job search journey is changing. Candidates now ask AI tools for recommendations, company insights, and application guidance. If your recruitment website isn’t optimized for these answer engines, you’re missing out on a powerful source of organic traffic. With AEO, you ensure your site doesn’t just show up—it shows up with the right information, in the right place, at the right time. Now is the moment to future-proof your recruitment strategy.
A purple sign that says https://shop on it
By Chloe Wedgewood May 13, 2025
The internet is full of hidden layers, and subdomains are one of them. You’ve probably visited subdomains countless times without even realizing it. Whether it's blog.example.com, or support.example.com, subdomains are everywhere, yet they remain one of the most misunderstood elements of website structure. So, what exactly is a subdomain? Is it just another part of a website, or does it serve a bigger purpose? And more importantly, how do subdomains impact SEO, branding, and user experience? In this guide, we’ll uncover the unknown world of subdomains, explaining: What a subdomain is and how it works The benefits of using a subdomain Common use cases for subdomains The difference between a subdomain and a subdirectory How subdomains impact SEO (with insights from Google’s John Mueller) Step-by-step instructions to add a subdomain to your website Let’s get started. What is a subdomain? A subdomain is a part of your website URL that comes before your main domain and helps organize content into separate sections. For example: Main domain: example.com Subdomain: blog.example.com Even though the subdomain is linked to the main domain, search engines and web browsers treat it as a distinct site with its own content and structure. How do subdomains work? Subdomains function as separate websites within a single domain. You can assign unique content, layouts, and functionalities to them while keeping them connected to the primary domain. They are particularly useful when a website needs to host specialized content or services that don’t fit neatly into the main site’s structure. Benefits of using a subdomain Adding a subdomain to your website comes with several advantages, depending on your business needs. Here are some key benefits: 1. Better content organization A subdomain allows you to separate different parts of your website, making it easier for users to navigate and find relevant content. For example: support.example.com for customer support academy.example.com for educational courses 2. Customization & branding flexibility Subdomains can have different designs, content structures, and even CMS platforms from your main site. This is useful for businesses with multiple brands or services under one umbrella. For example: A SaaS company might use app.example.com for its product dashboard. A restaurant chain might use order.example.com for its online ordering system. 3. Improved website performance Keeping resource-intensive sections (like learning platforms or large media libraries) on a subdomain can reduce the load on your main website, improving speed and reliability. 4. Enhanced user experience Subdomains make it easier to provide a tailored experience for different user segments. For example: us.example.com and uk.example.com can serve country-specific content. members.example.com can provide exclusive access to subscribers. 5. Separate SEO & marketing strategies A subdomain lets you target specific keywords, audiences, or regions without affecting your main website’s SEO strategy. You can also run different paid ad campaigns for the subdomain. For example: blog.example.com can focus on content marketing and SEO. events.example.com can highlight upcoming company events and webinars. 6. Easier testing & development Developers use subdomains to create staging environments where they can test new features before launching them on the main site. For example: beta.example.com for testing new product versions. dev.example.com for internal development. Subdomain vs. Subdirectory: What’s the difference? Many wonder whether they should use a subdomain or a subdirectory for different sections of the site. While both options organize content, they serve distinct purposes. A subdomain is essentially a separate branch of your main website, functioning as an independent entity. For example, blog.example.com is a subdomain that can operate on different platforms or have a unique design while still being part of the main brand. On the other hand, a subdirectory (or subfolder) is a section within your main domain, following the structure of example.com/blog or example.com/store. Unlike subdomains, subdirectories inherit the authority and SEO benefits of the main domain since all content remains under one roof. While subdomains are useful for separating different types of content or services, subdirectories are often preferred for maintaining strong SEO continuity across a site. To sum it up: Use a subdomain if you want a completely separate section with its own branding, structure, and content. Use a subdirectory if you want your content to benefit from your main site’s SEO strength. Now that we’ve explored the difference between subdomains and subdirectories, it’s time for the million-dollar question: How do subdomains impact SEO? So, how do subdomains affect SEO anyway? The impact of subdomains on SEO has been a long-standing debate in the digital marketing world, and even Google’s own experts have weighed in on the discussion. Rather than taking a definitive stance, Google has provided insights that suggest subdomains are neither inherently good nor bad for SEO—but they do require careful implementation. This suggests that while Google does recognize subdomains as part of a larger site, they don’t automatically inherit authority from the main domain. Instead, each subdomain must build its own SEO strength over time. Additionally, Google has repeatedly stated that using a subdomain vs. a subdirectory won’t make or break your rankings - it all depends on how the content is structured and whether it provides value to users. However, some SEO professionals argue that consolidating content under one domain (via subdirectories) helps maintain authority, while others successfully use subdomains to separate different types of content, such as blogs, eCommerce stores, or support portals. Ultimately, Google’s view comes down to this: subdomains can rank just as well as subdirectories if optimized properly. However, they require separate SEO efforts, including link-building, keyword optimization, and tracking in Google Search Console. If you use a subdomain, follow these best practices: Verify your subdomain in Google Search Console. Submit a sitemap for the subdomain. Build backlinks to the subdomain for better authority. Ensure internal linking between the main domain and subdomain. Monitor performance separately in Google Analytics. So, while subdomains aren’t inherently bad for SEO, they come with additional considerations. The key is to use them strategically and ensure they serve a clear purpose for your client’s site. How to add a subdomain to your website? Adding a subdomain in the platform is simple. Follow these steps: Step 1: Log into your web editor Go to your web editor dashboard and navigate to SEO Settings . Step 2: Change your URL Find Site Domains in the bottom-left menu. Click Add alternative domain and enter the desired subdomain (e.g., blog.yourwebsite.com). Step 3: Update your DNS settings Go to the DNS provider . Add a CNAME record pointing the subdomain to the site. Unlike a main domain, a subdomain only requires a CNAME record . Step 4: Save and verify Once the DNS settings update (which can take a few hours), the subdomain will be live! Final note  Subdomains can be a powerful tool for organizing a website, creating separate content experiences, and expanding the business. However, they require separate SEO efforts since Google treats them as independent websites. Before deciding between a subdomain or subdirectory, consider your client’s goals: If you want content to benefit from the main site’s SEO, use a subdirectory. If you need a distinct website section, use a subdomain. If you’re using the platform editor, setting up a subdomain is quick and easy. Just make sure to configure your DNS correctly, and you’ll be ready to go!
A group of people are working on a website.
By Chloe Wedgewood May 11, 2025
Slow, Expensive, and Hard to Manage Recruitment Websites driving you crazy? Let’s face it - traditional recruitment websites often feel like they were built during the dial-up era. Slow load times, eye-watering development costs, and content updates that require an advanced degree in HTML (or a very patient IT team). But we’re here to tell you it doesn’t have to be this way. Recruitment websites can be fast, affordable, and delightfully easy to manage - especially with Shazamme. The Problem with Traditional Recruitment Website Platforms Many traditional website platforms weren’t built with recruiters in mind. They’re generalist tools designed for “everyone,” which means they rarely serve the unique needs of staffing agencies and talent acquisition teams. Want to update a job board layout? That’ll be two tickets to your dev team and a three-day wait. Want to personalise a landing page for a niche campaign? Get ready to wrestle with code. And let’s not forget the cost. Custom development, third-party integrations, and ongoing maintenance can make your website budget look like it’s training for a marathon. The Impact: Candidates and Clients Are Clicking Away Here’s a stat to stress over: 53% of mobile users abandon a site that takes longer than 3 seconds to load (Google, 2023). In recruitment, speed isn’t just nice to have - it’s a competitive edge. A sluggish site can cost you qualified candidates and curious clients faster than you can say “refresh.” Add to that a lack of agility, and you’ve got a digital presence that’s more of a liability than an asset. With evolving job markets and talent demands, agencies need websites that keep up - not ones that hold them back. The Shazamme Fix: Click, Drag, Hire  Enter Shazamme. We designed our platform to tackle these exact challenges. Our click-and-drag website builder is tailored specifically for the recruitment industry. No code. No stress. Just beautifully designed, lightning-fast websites that can be updated in minutes - not weeks. Here’s how we flip the script: Speedy Load Times : Shazamme sites are optimised for performance across devices. Because no one has time for buffering. Drag-and-Drop Simplicity : Want to move a widget? Add a video? Update a blog? It’s easier than making a cup of coffee. Budget-Friendly : Say goodbye to bloated dev fees and surprise invoices. Our flexible pricing models work for firms of all sizes. Built-In Recruitment Features : From AI-powered chatbots to ATS integrations, our platform was made for hiring pros. Let’s Talk Results Clients who switch to Shazamme don’t just get better websites - they get better outcomes. Agencies report: Up to 40% faster page load times 25% increase in time spent on site And, most importantly, more applications and inbound inquiries Oh, and did we mention our customer support team is actually... helpful? With live chat and hands-on onboarding, we’re your recruitment tech sidekick (minus the cape). Final Thoughts Recruitment websites don’t have to be a headache. With the right platform, they can be your strongest digital asset - one that attracts top talent, supports your brand, and scales as you grow. Still stuck with a site that loads slower than a Monday morning? Let’s fix that. Book a free website analysis with Shazamme and see just how simple recruitment websites can be. Because in 2025, “easy to manage” shouldn’t be a dream - it should be your new normal. Think your website isn’t performing at its best potential? Let us tell you what the issue might be. Register for Shazamme’s FREE 30 minute website audit now! http://www.shazamme.com/free-30-min-website-audit
A woman is pointing at something on a pink background.
By Chloe Wedgewood May 4, 2025
The past few weeks have been jam-packed with conversations - on stages, in boardrooms, over breakfast and even in Ubers - with some seriously smart recruitment leaders. Everyone had bold goals, ambitious plans, and one thing in common: they want their websites, brands, and tech to actually drive results. And while the businesses varied, the questions I kept hearing were almost identical: “How can we make our recruitment website and marketing actually work for us?” “How do we track ROI and know what’s really working?” “What should we be doing today to stand out and grow our brand online?” These aren’t fluffy questions - they’re the signs of a recruitment agency that’s ready to evolve, not just exist. So, here’s what I’ve been sharing with those wanting to stay ahead of the game: 1. Your Website Can’t Be a Static Brochure If your recruitment website still functions like a set-and-forget digital flyer, it’s time to change that—fast. In 2025, it should be your agency’s hardest-working asset. A tool that attracts, converts, and engages 24/7. That means content that speaks to both employers and candidates, job listings that drive SEO, are easy to find and apply to, and a design that reflects who you really are. Plus, if you’re not updating your site frequently, search engines will start pushing you down in rankings—fresh, relevant content is key. With a no-code platform like Shazamme, you're in full control—no dev team needed. 2. You Can’t Improve What You’re Not Tracking It amazes me how many agencies have no clear picture of what’s working on their website. If you’re not tracking engagement, conversions, or even where your traffic is coming from, you're flying blind. Shazamme clients get real-time data and analytics that make it simple to spot what’s working - and what’s not. Because "gut feel" is not a strategy. 3. Your Brand is Your Superpower Let’s stop treating branding like a design exercise. Your brand is your first impression, your value proposition, and your employer story all rolled into one. It’s what makes a client click “book a call” and a candidate hit “apply.” If your brand message is unclear, inconsistent, or uninspiring - fixing it is the fastest way to improve trust and traction online. 4. If You Don’t Know AEO - You are Already Behind Google is changing, and traditional SEO is no longer enough. Answer Engine Optimisation (AEO) is the future of search. If your website content isn’t structured to provide clear, concise answers to the questions your audience is asking – especially in AI-driven search – you’re invisible where it counts. The smartest agencies are already adapting. Are you? Do you know how? Shazamme can help. The top agencies I see winning aren’t the ones with the fanciest budgets - they’re the ones taking action . They're reviewing their websites monthly. They’re testing new landing pages. They’re measuring campaign results. They're showing up boldly and consistently . So, if you’re asking yourself those same questions and want the tools and strategy to answer them confidently - you're not alone, and you’re in the right place. Subscribe to GRIT – My bi-weekly round-up of recruitment marketing insights, tough truths, and the real-world advice you actually need to grow. Because staying competitive isn’t about having all the answers - it's about asking the right questions, learning fast, and taking action. Want to chat more? Let’s talk! I’m giving away 10 x FREE 30 minute Website Audits. Get live performance insights, competitor comparisons, honest feedback, and a tailored checklist of quick wins — all personalised to your goals. Only 10 spots available – first in, best dressed! Book Now! https://www.shazamme.com/free-30-min-website-audit  You've got this. Nicole
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