A boost is worth it when your post is clear, the role is well defined and you want more qualified people to see it quickly. It puts your listing in front of more candidates, so it works best for hard-to-fill roles, urgent vacancies and multiple hires. Check four things first: the post is specific, your screening is set up (knockout questions on Agency or Pro), you can review applicants fast and you know what a qualified applicant is worth to you. Then measure the result as cost per qualified applicant. On DonutJobs, boosts are optional add-ons, and Pro members get 50% off boost add-ons. Post your first role free and see how it performs.
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What a Boost Does
A boost, sometimes called a promoted or sponsored post, adds visibility so more people see your listing. It increases reach, while your job description, hours and pay structure decide how many of those people apply. A clear, specific post is where a boost earns its money.
On DonutJobs, boosts are optional add-ons that push your post in front of more candidates. Pro members get 50% off boost add-ons. Boost add-ons are non-refundable once activated, so activate one when your post is ready.
Get the Post Ready First
A strong post converts extra views into good applicants. Run through this checklist before you boost:
- Clear title: a specific role name that people actually search for
- Specific duties: the main tasks, tools and channels, in plain language
- Hours and time zone: stated, with flexibility described accurately
- Pay structure: described clearly, even if you share only the structure at first
- Must-have requirements: a short list, not a long wish list
- Knockout questions: on Agency or Pro, the Formbuilder lets unsuitable applicants drop out automatically
- Clear next steps: what happens after applying and how fast you reply
Our guide to virtual assistant interview questions for agency owners helps once applications arrive.
When a Boost Pays Off
- Niche or hard-to-fill roles: when few people have the skills, extra reach helps you find them
- Urgent needs: when a vacancy is costing you work every day and time matters
- A strong post with low traffic: when the people who apply are a good fit and you want more of them
- Busy hiring periods: when many employers are hiring at once, such as ahead of a busy retail season
- Multiple hires: when you need several people and a larger pool saves time overall
A Simple Way to Measure It
Total applications can include people who do not fit, so measure what matters, which is qualified applicants. Use cost per qualified applicant:
Cost per qualified applicant = boost cost divided by the number of qualified applicants gained during the boost
Count only applicants who pass your screening questions and your first review. To see the extra benefit, compare the number of qualified applicants per day before the boost with the number during it. A rising number of qualified applicants per day means the boost is doing its job. Set a spending limit and a review date in advance so you can compare results across roles.
Boost Alongside Pool Search
A boost brings applicants to you. Pool search lets you go to candidates. Together they cover both routes. DonutJobs gives you a pool of 50,000+ pre-tested virtual assistants, and on Agency or Pro, Magic Search and Swipe lets you filter by skills and test scores and then swipe through matching candidates one at a time. The Agency plan also includes unlimited talent-pool outreach, so you can invite suitable people to apply while your boost runs.
A Decision Framework
- Is the post complete and specific? If so, you are ready
- Is the role urgent or hard to fill? Extra reach saves the most time here
- What is a qualified applicant worth? Think about what an open vacancy costs you each week
- Can you review quickly? Plan time to handle the extra applications and reply fast
- Have you set a limit and a review date? Decide in advance how much you will spend and when you will check results
More Ways to Grow Your Qualified Applicants
- Write the title and first paragraph so the role is clear in a few seconds
- Describe the benefits of the role truthfully: schedule, growth, tools and support
- Share the post with your own network
- Invite suitable people from the talent pool on Agency or Pro
- Respond quickly, because good candidates move fast
- On paid plans, use the AI Workflow Builder and automation rules for repeated messages
Handle Applicant Data Properly
More applicants means more personal data to look after. The ICO explains how to handle information during recruitment and selection, including what to collect, how long to keep it and what to tell applicants. Keep the claims in your post accurate too, and see the FTC's advertising and marketing guidance for the United States. Rules differ by place, so check what applies where you hire. Our guide on how DonutJobs uses AI to speed up hiring shows how screening moves faster with the vetting steps in place.
Where Boosts Sit in the DonutJobs Plans
Pick the plan that fits your hiring volume, then add a boost when a role needs more reach.
- Free: one active post, up to 10 applications and chat with applicants. Free posts get a human review of up to 48 hours before they go live
- Agency: 10 active posts a month, unlimited talent-pool outreach and instant go-live, with monthly, 3-month and 6-month terms on the pricing page
- Pro: unlimited posts, 5 seats, 50% off boost add-ons and founder support, with the same term options
Agency and Pro both include the ATS, the Formbuilder, Magic Search and Swipe, time tracking and the AI Workflow Builder. There is no per-hire fee, no placement fee and no commission on wages.
Run a Boost Test on DonutJobs
- Create your free account and publish one clear post.
- On Agency or Pro, add knockout questions in the Formbuilder so unsuitable applicants drop out early.
- Track qualified applicants against the cost per qualified applicant formula for one or two weeks.
- On Agency or Pro, search the pool with Magic Search and Swipe and invite strong candidates to apply. Agency adds unlimited outreach.
- Add a boost add-on to your best post when you want more reach, and compare qualified applicants per day before and during the boost.
Practical Use Cases
An agency needing a niche role such as a technical support agent can combine a clear post, knockout questions and a boost. A founder hiring a general assistant can pair a free post with pool search. A team hiring several chatters before a busy period can boost one strong post and track cost per qualified applicant.
FAQ
Is boosting a job post worth it?
Yes, when your post is clear and you want more qualified applicants quickly. A boost adds reach, and a specific post turns that reach into good applicants.
How do I measure whether a boost worked?
Compare qualified applicants per day before and during the boost, and calculate the cost per qualified applicant.
What should I do before paying for a boost?
Make the post specific, set up screening (knockout questions on Agency or Pro), be ready to reply fast and set a spending limit and a review date.
Does DonutJobs offer boosts?
Yes. Boosts are optional add-ons that push your post in front of more candidates, and Pro members get 50% off boost add-ons.
Can I find candidates without a boost?
Yes. On Agency or Pro you can search the talent pool and chat with candidates directly, and the Agency plan includes unlimited talent-pool outreach.
Visibility pays off when there is something strong to see. Tidy the post, set a limit, measure the result and put your budget behind the roles that need reach.
Post your role, filter early and measure the result. Create your free DonutJobs account or browse the talent pool.