Posting a job on Indeed can seem daunting, especially when it comes to costs. As a company looking to hire, you want to attract top talent, but you also need to keep recruitment budgets under control. Understanding Indeed’s pricing models and getting the most out of your investment is key.
In this article, we’ll break down how Indeed charges employers for job ads, look at the different pricing options, and offer tips on keeping costs down. We’ll also compare Indeed’s pricing to competitors like ZipRecruiter and LinkedIn.
Whether you’re posting your first role or are a seasoned recruiter, read on to find out if posting jobs on Indeed is expensive or cost-effective for your hiring needs.
How does Indeed charge employers?
Indeed makes money through sponsored job ads and employer packages. Here’s a quick overview of how Indeed’s pricing works:
– **Pay-per-click (PPC):** With this model, you only pay when a job seeker clicks on your ad. The cost per click depends on factors like job type, location, and competition.
– **Flat-rate posting:** Some options allow you to pay a flat rate to post a job for 30 or 60 days. Rates start at $199.
– **Sponsored job campaigns:** These tailored packages let you buy a set number of clicks upfront for a discounted rate. They provide more exposure than organic postings.
– **Employer packages:** Indeed’s subscription plans give bulk discounts on clicks and flat-rate postings. Higher-tier plans add perks like candidate search and screening tools.
So in summary, Indeed offers pay-as-you-go pricing for individual postings as well as packages for frequent recruiters. Actual costs depend on your recruitment needs and location.
What are Indeed’s pricing options?
Let’s take a closer look at the pricing options Indeed provides across both self-serve job ads and employer packages:
### Pay-Per-Click Job Ads
– **Standard ad:** Your basic posted job. Appears in searches and gets billed per click. No minimum commitments.
– **Sponsored ad:** Ads that appear at the top of search results for relevant keywords. Higher visibility but more expensive per click.
– **Urgent ad:** Same as sponsored but labelled “urgent”. Prioritized for job seekers browsing by recency.
### Flat-Rate Postings
– **30-day ad:** Flat fee of $199 to post a job for 30 days.
– **60-day ad:** Flat fee of $299 to post a job for 60 days.
### Sponsored Job Campaigns
– **Sponsored campaign:** Pay upfront for a set number of clicks from job seekers over 30 days. Discounted rate.
– **Urgent campaign:** Same as above but with higher visibility. Clicks get used up faster.
### Employer Packages
– **Indeed Prime:** Pay monthly for discounted clicks and flat-rate postings. Added tools like branded URLs.
– **Indeed Premier:** Higher-tier monthly plan with additional click allowances. More powerful tools like candidate search.
– **Indeed Recruit:** Pay-as-you-go recruitment platform built into Indeed. Charges per hire.
– **Custom advertising solutions:** Tailored campaigns and hiring solutions for larger employers.
As you can see, Indeed offers pricing tiers to suit different hiring needs. The most budget-friendly options are pay-per-click postings. But sponsored ads and employer packages offer more exposure at bulk discounts.
What does Indeed charge per click?
Indeed’s pay-per-click pricing model means your costs will vary depending on factors like:
– **Job type** – High-demand roles tend to cost more per click. For example, tech and healthcare openings often run higher.
– **Location** – Major metro areas cost more than rural regions due to applicant competition. Postings for New York City or San Francisco cost upwards of $5 per click.
– **Keywords** – Targeting keywords related to skills, certifications, education etc. can increase click costs. Niche or highly desirable skills tend to cost more.
– **Time of year** – Seasonal hiring spikes during the holidays or summer can inflate costs. January tends to be less competitive.
Indeed doesn’t publish an exact price list. In general, you can expect to pay **$1 – 5 per click** on average. Urgent ads and sponsored campaigns cost towards the higher end. Some employer packages include bulk click allowances.
To estimate costs for your specific posting, Indeed provides a click price estimator during the posting process. You can adjust your job details, keywords and location to view updated per-click rates. This can help gauge potential reach against your budget.
How can I lower my Indeed cost per click?
Here are some tips to help minimize your cost per click on Indeed:
– **Avoid overly niche keywords** – Targeting very specific or highly in-demand skills will inflate click costs. Cast a slightly wider net if budgets are a concern.
– **Post in January** – Early year job postings tend to see lower competition and click prices.
– **Specify “entry-level”** – For junior roles, add this to attract applicants more open to lower salaries. Can help reduce clicks from too-senior candidates.
– **Broaden location** – Leaving location more open (e.g. New England vs Boston) reduces targeting costs.
– **Compare ad types** – Standard ads tend to cost less per click than urgent or sponsored postings.
– **Use an employer package** – Subscriptions with bulk click allowances effectively lower cost per click.
– **Set a daily budget** – You can specify a max dollar amount per day to avoid overspending.
With some strategic decisions, you can keep your Indeed click costs within range for your recruiting budget. Monitor click pricing regularly to adjust as needed.
Indeed pricing compared to ZipRecruiter and LinkedIn
How does Indeed’s pricing stack up against competitors ZipRecruiter and LinkedIn? Here’s a quick comparison:
Platform | Pricing model | Average cost per click |
---|---|---|
Indeed | Pay-per-click, flat-rate, and packages | $1 – $5+ |
ZipRecruiter | Monthly subscription | Included clicks with subscription |
Pay-per-click and flat-rate | $1 – $5+ |
Key differences:
– **ZipRecruiter** offers an “all-you-can-eat” monthly subscription model with unlimited clicks and applications. No per-click charges.
– **LinkedIn** has a similar pay-per-click and flat-rate structure as Indeed. Average click costs are comparable.
– **Indeed** is the only one of the three with pay-as-you-go hourly budgets and customizable sponsored campaigns.
So Indeed provides more flexible options for budget control, while ZipRecruiter is simpler with unlimited use for a fixed monthly rate. LinkedIn operates similarly to Indeed.
What are other ways to lower costs on Indeed?
In addition to optimizing your clicks, here are some other tips for controlling recruitment costs on Indeed:
– **Leverage organic postings -** Regular free job posts still get reasonable visibility, especially if you engage with applicants.
– **Repurpose postings** – Modify and reuse quality job descriptions that performed well.
– **Search resumes** – Use Indeed’s large resume database to source and contact candidates directly.
– **Watch expiration dates** – Flat-rate postings auto-renew at full price. Manually expire if no longer needed.
– **Learn the platform** – Get training on Indeed’s employer resources and best practices. Know your options.
– **Work with a rep** – Indeed’s account managers can advise on ideal ad types and budget optimization.
– **Manage campaigns** – Actively monitor performance data and optimize for conversions, not just clicks.
– **Use other sources** – Diversify beyond Indeed to expand reach. Try niche boards, social media, employee referrals.
With smart management and maximizing free features, you can keep Indeed costs proportional to your hiring goals.
Conclusion
At the end of the day, what matters isn’t just what you pay per click, but the quality of talent you connect with. Indeed can provide an efficient, scalable way to access millions of candidates.
Pricing will depend on the type of roles you are trying to fill and locations you want to target. Entry-level positions in smaller towns will run lower, while specialized senior roles in big cities cost more.
By starting with organic postings, adding pay-per-click ads judiciously, actively managing campaigns, and diversifying sources, you can recruit successfully on Indeed without breaking the bank.
Indeed’s pay-as-you go model means you only pay for actual interest. And their employer packages offer bulk discounts for frequent recruiters. With some savvy optimization, your dollars can go further.
Just remember to focus on results, not just upfront costs. Landing better candidates faster ultimately saves money in the long run. Indeed can be an affordable driver of quality talent when used strategically.