Hiring in today’s market is noisy. You know your role is a great opportunity, but if the right candidate scrolls past it, that opportunity doesn't exist.
At Big Shoes Network, we recently crunched the numbers on over 1,100 job listings on our platform to see exactly what drives engagement. The results were stark. Small tweaks to your job description can lead to massive differences in how many people see and apply to your role.
Here is the data-backed guide to maximizing your job listing.
1. The Salary Spike: Transparency Wins
The single most effective change you can make is arguably the easiest: List the salary.
Our data shows a dramatic difference in engagement between postings that include compensation and those that don't:
- Views: Listings with a salary range get ~2x more views than those without.
- Clicks: Listings with a salary range also get ~20% more clicks to apply
The Takeaway: Candidates value their time. When you hide the salary, you signal that you might be hiding other things (or that the pay isn't competitive). Even a broad range is significantly better than nothing. It acts as a trust signal that stops the "doom scroll" and gets candidates to click.
Best practice
- Use a range, not a single number (candidates expect it).
- If pay depends on experience, you can still post a range and note “based on experience” in one line.
Pro tip: Put the salary range in two places:
- the compensation fields (for filters + structured display)
- the first 5–8 lines of the description (for skim-readers)
Example:
Job: Communications & Marketing Specialist
Employer: Madison Metropolitan Sewer District
Why It’s Winning: This posting is crushing it. Why? It helps that they posted a very specific pay range ($79.14k - $91.92k / year).
2. Job titles that match how people search
Job seekers don’t search for internal titles. They search for standard role names + specialty + location.
SEO-friendly title formula
[Specialty] [Role] (Level) – [City, State] (Remote/Hybrid)
Examples:
- “Digital Marketing Manager (Paid Search) – Milwaukee, WI (Hybrid)”
- “Content Strategist – Madison, WI (Remote Optional)”
- “Account Manager – Green Bay, WI (On-site)”
Avoid:
- vague titles (“Marketing Specialist” with no context)
- internal acronyms
- titles that bury the lead (“Associate” but it’s really a director-level role)
Example:
Job: Digital Marketing and Content Strategist
Employer: PS Seasoning
Why It’s Winning: This role is getting high traffic because the title hits the sweet spot of modern marketing: "Content" + "Strategy." It tells candidates, "You won't just be posting on Facebook; you'll be building a brand."
The Lesson: Avoid generic titles like "Marketing Associate" if the job is actually about digital strategy. Specificity drives traffic.
3. The Remote Multiplier
It’s no secret that flexibility is in demand, but the data quantifies just how much.
- Jobs tagged as Remote received 3x the views of fully on-site roles
The Takeaway: If your role offers any flexibility—hybrid options, work-from-home Fridays, or fully remote—make sure it is tagged and highlighted in the first paragraph. If you are fully on-site, you need to work harder on tips #1 and #2 to compete for that attention.
Write it like this
- Remote: “Remote (U.S.)” or “Remote (WI/IL preferred)”
- Hybrid: “Hybrid in Milwaukee (3 days in office / 2 remote)”
- On-site: “On-site in Madison (no remote option)”
Big Shoes-specific: make sure the remote setting is accurate so your job shows up in remote filters.
Example:
Job: Search Engine Marketing (SEM) Associate
Employer: RyTech, LLC
Why It’s Winning: A job post may say “flexible work environment,” but what does that really mean? RyTech does the opposite: they’re specific, upfront, and refreshingly un-mysterious. They lead with the exact rule: Residency in Illinois or Wisconsin is required to apply for this position. This position is primarily remote with in-person team meetings twice per quarter in Milwaukee, WI or Chicago, IL.
The Lesson: If you offer remote or hybrid work, don’t bury it and don’t be vague. Put the policy in the first lines of the description, state the residency requirement plainly, and spell out the in-person cadence. Clarity is a conversion tactic.
Quick Checklist for Your Next Post
Before you hit publish on Big Shoes Network, ask yourself:
- Did I include a salary range? (Even a wide one helps).
- Are my job titles clear and prominent? (Describe what job seekers are searching for).
- Have I highlighted flexibility? (Don't bury the remote/hybrid policy).
Ready to find your next great hire? Post a Job on Big Shoes Network Today.
