At MyJobGroup.co.uk Timing was everything, we realised that there was a gap in regional markets which tended to be serviced by local newspapers. When we launched our first regional jobsite in 2005 in Sheffield (www.mysheffieldjobs.co.uk) we quickly realised that there was a demand for our business offering.

Our regionally targeted job boards made great strides in 2007. We started the year with eight jobsites and finished the year by having thirty nine fully live recruitment portals all receiving high levels of traffic. Our established sites now generate more local traffic for key search terms than national job boards.

Our business has benefited from first mover advantage in many regions. The increased number of competitors over the year certainly backs up the strong foothold that regional job boards now occupy in the industry.

One of the key successes in which regional recruitment jobsites have benefited and prospered from is the look and local identity of the sites. Jobseekers feel that they have finally found something which is just for them and are less daunted by a jobsite offering simple searches and relevant results in areas which they relate to. Clients also see the benefit by being able to target a truly targeted audience and are re-assured that their vacancies will not become lost on a site with hundreds of thousands of job opportunities.

The fact that niche job boards are typically smaller and more on a ground level than national alternatives means that they are often more flexible to change and can integrate new ideas and technologies quicker and more frequently.

While this is an advantage, it is also a challenge for regional job boards in order to maintain their competitive advantage. With so many new regional entrants a key factor will be differentiation and brand building. At MyJobGroup.co.uk we have committed large funds to building our brand throughout major cities in the U.K. These methods include tram sponsorship in Birmingham and the East Midlands and Bus Sponsorship in Yorkshire and Manchester along with other campaigns in different regions. With so many alternatives, it is crucial that regional job boards reinforce their website in the minds of both candidates and clients.

With regards to sustained growth in what is one of the most competitive marketplaces, regional jobsites will have to implement new features faster, continue to be flexible to market forces and user demand, as well as build on their personal and user-friendly nature.