Secrets of Staffing Success

Discover how curiosity is the secret sauce for elite recruiters, driving success even in tough markets. Learn about the untapped power of Google reviews and their impact on staffing firms' reputations. Hear insights from industry conferences and the importance of community and networking. Continuous learning and self-assessment emerge as crucial for growth, while fostering candidate engagement can enhance reputation management. This conversation redefines recruitment strategies and highlights collaboration as a key to thriving in challenging times.

In this insightful discussion, guests Tom Erb, President of Tallann Resources, Dan Mori, Founder of Staffing Mastery, and Mark Winter, CEO of WinSource Group, explore the creation of demand for temporary staffing services. They delve into strategies for navigating economic challenges and discussing the importance of client segmentation. The conversation highlights the need for staffing firms to differentiate themselves by providing value over mere pricing. Effective communication and building long-term relationships are emphasized as key factors in driving growth in this competitive landscape.

Is your staffing firm's digital lead generation falling flat? In this episode of Take the Stage, Brad Bialy talks with David Searns, Co-CEO of Haley Marketing, about the pitfalls of relying solely on digital automation for sales success. David explains why your prospect pool isn't large enough to make digital-only work and offers a smarter, integrated approach that blends human connection with digital tactics. Discover how to increase your conversion rates, win attention, and become the go-to expert your clients trust.   Expect to Learn: 1. The value of integrated direct marketing 2. Why the "spray and pray" approach is failing staffing firms 3. How to personalize your outreach and boost lead engagement   Key Moments: [00:00] Personal intros and pickleball frustrations [02:06] The Smart Ideas newsletter: history and purpose [03:10] "Stop the Digital-Only Madness"—The core issue [06:49] Why digital-only strategies fail in staffing [09:11] Winning the battle for attention first [11:49] Changing the sales conversation: Short game vs. long game [14:09] Incentivizing smarter sales approaches [17:34] Becoming a trusted advisor, not a necessary evil [19:27] Establishing credibility from first contact [23:01] Leveraging data and AI for better targeting [24:35] Building integrated campaigns that actually work [27:00] Aligning sales and marketing for success [28:59] Final thoughts and AI as a game-changer for sales productivity   About the Speakers: Brad Bialy is host of Take the Stage and InSights, two of the leading podcast for the staffing industry, presented by Haley Marketing. He has a deep passion for helping staffing and recruiting firms achieve their business objectives through strategic digital marketing. For over a decade, Brad has developed a proven track record of motivating and educating staffing industry professionals at over 100 industry-specific conferences and webinars. As a visionary leader, Brad has helped guide the comprehensive marketing strategy of more than 300 staffing and recruiting firms. His keen eye for strategy and delivery has resulted in multiple industry award-winning social media campaigns, making him a sought-after expert and speaker in the industry. When it comes to marketing a staffing firm, few people know the industry like David. He literally grew up in the business. He has been helping staffing companies create innovative marketing strategies and award-winning websites for more than 25 years.   Offers Heard in this Episode: 30-minutes of strategic marketing consultation with Brad Bialy: https://bit.ly/Bialy30 Special Offers! Our Best Savings of 2025: https://bit.ly/bialyoffer If you’re running a staffing firm and your tech stack feels more like a roadblock than a growth engine—Broad & Madison is your fix. With over 60 years of recruitment technology expertise, they streamline your systems, automate the boring stuff, and make your tech finally work for your team, not against it. Broad & Madison doesn’t just keep your systems running... they make them smarter, faster, and more profitable. To learn more about our friends over at Broad and Madison and how they can help your staffing firm maximize its technology visit https://www.BroadAndMadison.com

Dan Fisher, founder of Menemsha Group, shares his extensive experience transforming cold calling in the staffing industry. He reveals how outdated techniques have held back professionals and offers actionable strategies to revitalize sales outreach. Fisher emphasizes the need to build trust through empathy, engage with compelling storytelling, and redefine conversations to focus on outcomes rather than services. With practical tips and insights from coaching over 500 staffing firms, listeners gain fresh perspectives on making meaningful connections and mastering modern sales techniques.

In this insightful discussion, Brad Smith, Chief Strategy Officer at Haley Marketing, shares two decades’ worth of expertise in the staffing world. He reveals strategies for recruiting beyond job boards, such as leveraging local Facebook campaigns that convert and the surprising ROI of employee referral programs. Brad also highlights the untapped potential of your ATS through segmentation and stresses grassroots methods like engaging with community organizations. Get ready to rethink your recruiting approach and unlock new talent channels!

Company culture strategy isn’t just important—it is your competitive advantage. In this powerful conversation from Take the Stage, Brad Bialy sits down with Patrick Morin, Partner at Transact Capital, to explore why company culture is more than a part of the business—it is the business. Especially in the highly commoditized staffing industry, culture is the invisible hand that shapes performance, retention, and client trust. Drawing on insights from Bill Taylor (Fast Company) and firsthand experience in M&A and organizational leadership, Patrick breaks down: Why culture defines your brand more than your strategy doc ever will How top-performing firms build cultures of accountability, learning, and responsibility The role of leadership in embedding values into operations, not just words How cultural fit—even for a 12-week assignment—can drastically improve outcomes Why the most disruptive companies hold everyone, even executives, accountable The golden framework for owning, competing, and reaching for business in uncertain times If you’ve ever felt like your staffing firm lacks a true differentiator—this is the conversation you can’t afford to miss.   Chapters and Key Moments: 00:01 – Culture is the strategy: unpacking Bill Taylor’s insight 02:15 – Innovation as differentiation in a commoditized staffing world 03:47 – Top-down and grassroots culture development 05:12 – Hiring for cultural fit vs. skills 06:41 – Embedding temps into client culture 08:00 – Necessary evil to trusted advisor 11:28 – Culture of accountability, responsibility & learning 14:57 – A story of accountability—from the maintenance guy up 16:30 – Humility and “I’m sorry” as leadership superpowers 19:28 – Empathy and handwritten notes: the human advantage 24:32 – Own, compete, and reach: a framework for market strategy 28:31 – How to pivot in uncertain markets 30:58 – Optimism for the future of staffing 32:32 – About Transact Capital Partners 36:12 – Advice for new staffing professionals   About the Speakers Brad Bialy is host of Take the Stage and InSights, two of the leading podcast for the staffing industry. He has a deep passion for helping staffing and recruiting firms achieve their business objectives through strategic digital marketing. For over a decade, Brad has developed a proven track record of motivating and educating staffing industry professionals at over 100 industry-specific conferences and webinars. As a visionary leader, Brad has helped guide the comprehensive marketing strategy of more than 300 staffing and recruiting firms. His keen eye for strategy and delivery has resulted in multiple industry award-winning social media campaigns, making him a sought-after expert and speaker in the industry.   Patrick Morin is a partner with Transact Capital Securities, a Richmond, Virginia- based investment banking firm that specializes in mergers and acquisitions of privately-owned companies with enterprise values up to $250MM. Transact specializes in the staffing industry, serving clients in technology, light industrial, marine/stevedoring, skilled labor, hospitality, logistics, financial & administrative, legal, and medical staffing specialties. He was also one of the founding partners of BrightHammer, LLC., a global consultancy engaged by private equity groups, boards of directors, and CEOs to improve the performance of their invested companies. BrightHammer works with select start-ups, growth companies, and turnarounds to stabilize operations and ramp up revenue and employee performance. Prior to his current engagement, he was seven years as Senior Vice President with Cornerstone Realty Income Trust, Inc., a New York Stock Exchange-traded company that owned and operated apartments throughout the US. Before joining Cornerstone, Mr. Morin was with Dale Carnegie Training for five years and was an instructor for almost two decades. He was ranked among the top instructors globally and was a member of the elite Global Delivery Team. While a member of the National Speakers Association, he personally conducted thousands of keynotes and training meetings for businesses, associations, government agencies and community groups. Notable groups he's addressed include: the National Independent Staffing Association, McDonalds, National Association of Women In Construction, NASA, the National Ground Intelligence Center, the DEA, National Apartment Association, and the staffing associations of NY, Wisconsin, New Jersey. Mr. Morin appears on television, radio, and in print (Forbes, CNBC, Crain’s) as an authority in his field and wrote a weekly column on sales for the Central Pennsylvania Business Journal and www.lendio.com. He serves on the boards of several local charities including the YMCA and the Franks Foundation. Patrick makes his home in Richmond, Virginia and in chairlifts of ski resorts around the country.

Mike Cleland, founder of Charted Path, shares his 30 years of staffing industry wisdom. He discusses the accountability gap causing underperformance and the shift from order-taking to proactive selling. The conversation dives into the crucial role of leadership in fostering resilience and sales culture, emphasizing the characteristics of thriving firms. Mike also addresses the challenge of toxic high-performers and provides insights on building high-performing teams, making this a vital listen for industry leaders and newcomers alike.

Discover how recruiters can shift from order-takers to proactive sellers in today’s competitive market. The discussion emphasizes the necessity of a structured sales process for long-term success. Learn why it takes 17–20 touches to engage clients and the biggest mistakes firms make in chasing new business. Collaboration over competition is highlighted as crucial for innovation. Plus, the importance of mentorship in refining sales strategies is explored, giving actionable insights to enhance recruitment effectiveness and drive results.

What are the staffing industry trends in 2025? With AI, economic shifts, and technological disruptions, firms must adapt—or risk falling behind. Barry Asin, President & Chief Analyst of Staffing Industry Analysts (SIA), joins Brad Bialy to break down key trends, challenges, and opportunities shaping the industry. SIA is the leading authority in staffing research, and Barry’s insights help top firms navigate uncertainty and stay ahead of the competition. This is a big episode—we’re covering SIA’s latest research, why "Flat is the New Up," and how leadership separates thriving firms from struggling ones. Plus, we discuss SIA’s upcoming Executive Forum on March 10, the must-attend event for staffing leaders. Whether you’re a staffing firm owner, recruiter, or industry executive, this episode is a must-watch to stay ahead in 2025. If you've seen content from Staffing Monthly or Haley Marketing, you’ll love this episode. Barry Asin has advised the world’s top staffing firms and brings exclusive insights on how to lead and grow in today’s industry. 5 Key Takeaways from This Episode: ✅ Why "Flat is the New Up" ✅ The impact of AI on recruiting? ✅ How top staffing firms are staying ahead. ✅ The leadership mindset shifts that separate thriving firms from struggling ones ✅ Why small and mid-sized staffing firms can still compete with billion-dollar tech giants   Chapters & Key Moments 00:01 - Introduction: Barry Asin on the staffing industry's outlook for 2025 00:10 - Why the industry is stabilizing and SIA’s 5% growth projection 01:14 - Sector breakdown: Healthcare staffing struggles, IT and AI’s impact 03:07 - "Flat is the new up": How firms should view growth in 2025 06:34 - Election years and their impact on staffing demand 07:28 - AI in staffing: A threat or an opportunity? 11:01 - What top staffing firms do differently: Embracing change 14:18 - Growth mindset: How leadership shapes long-term success 18:07 - Biggest threats to the staffing industry in 2025 and beyond 23:56 - Competing with tech-driven platforms like Amazon and Upwork 27:41 - How small firms can stay competitive despite massive tech budgets 28:41 - Preview of SIA’s upcoming Executive Forum 30:25 - What is Staffing Industry Analysts (SIA)? 32:57 - Rapid fire: Barry’s top book, best career advice, and Bills' Super Bowl hopes   About the Speakers Brad Bialy has a deep passion for helping staffing and recruiting firms achieve their business objectives through strategic digital marketing. For over a decade, Brad has developed a proven track record of motivating and educating staffing industry professionals at over 100 industry-specific conferences and webinars. As a visionary leader, Brad has helped guide the comprehensive marketing strategy of more than 300 staffing and recruiting firms. His keen eye for strategy and delivery has resulted in multiple industry award-winning social media campaigns, making him a sought-after expert and speaker in the industry. A leading authority on workforce solutions worldwide, Barry Asin is renowned for his expertise on staffing and contingent labor. He served as Staffing Industry Analysts (SIA) president from 2010 through 2024 with overall responsibility for the company’s global strategy, operations and growth. Asin has been with the company since 2003, where he previously led the team responsible for SIA’s award-winning research and content. As chief analyst he continues to focus on developing SIA’s thought leadership, conference content, long-term strategy and product development.

In a world flooded with distractions, standing out is crucial for staffing firms. Consistent marketing efforts create brand visibility, while neglecting them can lead to stagnation and missed opportunities. The speakers delve into the psychology of attention, revealing the need for multiple touchpoints to make an impression. They discuss effective strategies for targeting healthcare staffing clients through tailored social media content. The power of niche marketing is emphasized as a way to cultivate trust and foster deeper connections.