Secrets of Staffing Success

[InSights] Why Selling Staffing Is Harder Than Ever—and What Actually Works Now

In this episode of InSights, presented by Haley Marketing, Brad Bialy sits down with Brad Smith to unpack why selling staffing services is harder than ever—and how tightly integrated sales, marketing, and AI-driven buyer enablement are becoming the real competitive advantage heading into 2026.

About the Guest

Brad Smith is Chief Strategy Officer at Haley Marketing, bringing more than 20 years of experience helping staffing firms turn digital marketing, technology, and strategy into predictable growth. A Certified Inbound Marketing professional, Brad is a frequent industry speaker and contributor to leading staffing publications.

Key Takeaways

• Selling got harder—but avoidance won’t fix it.

• Activity beats hope when markets tighten.

• Buyer education now happens before sales conversations.

• Specialization creates leverage in crowded markets.

• AI amplifies systems—it doesn’t replace them.

Timestamps

• [01:10] – Why sales feels harder than ever

• [02:35] – The real reason leaders avoid quotas

• [04:45] – When inbound stopped being enough

• [05:10] – The shocking truth about 72 touches

• [07:00] – Why reps quit before momentum starts

• [09:15] – Turning marketing into sales leverage

• [10:45] – How buyers decide before calling you

• [12:40] – What buyer enablement actually includes

• [15:10] – A $1.1M lesson in control and scale

• [18:05] – Why marketing can’t fix broken sales

• [21:00] – Focus beats doing everything for everyone

• [26:20] – How AI shifts from advantage to necessity

About the Host

Brad Bialy is a trusted voice and highly sought-after speaker in the staffing and recruiting industry, known for helping firms grow through integrated marketing, sales, and recruiting strategies. With over 13 years at Haley Marketing and a proven track record guiding hundreds of firms, Brad brings deep expertise and a fresh, actionable perspective to every engagement. He’s the host of Take the Stage and InSights, two of the staffing industry’s leading podcasts with more than 200,000 downloads.

Sponsors

InSights is presented by Haley Marketing. The old way of selling staffing is dead. Let’s fix it – with smarter strategies and HUGE DISCOUNTS on modern lead gen tools: 👉 https://bit.ly/Bialy20

Book a 30-minute business and marketing consultation with host, Brad Bialy: 👉 https://bit.ly/Bialy30

[Stage] Why High Performers Burn Out (with Ashley Andersen)

In this episode of Take the Stage, Brad Bialy sits down with Ashley Andersen to reframe stress as a signal—not a setback—and explore how leaders can build mental strength, stay grounded in uncertainty, and keep showing up without burning out.

About the Guest

Ashley Andersen is the Founder & CEO of EzraSage, where she helps high-performing professionals and leadership teams build the mental strength to handle stress and pressure without burning out. With a clinical background in social work and psychology and experience as a certified executive coach and Dare to Lead™ facilitator, Ashley has worked with organizations ranging from family-owned businesses to Fortune 100 companies.

Key Takeaways

• Stress is a signal, not a failure.

• Awareness comes before intention.

• Pause creates power.

• Purpose buffers pressure.

• Progress requires showing up.

Timestamps

• [00:02] – Redefining stress beyond “good” and “bad”

• [02:10] – Why the brain defaults to danger mode

• [06:24] – The caveman brain at work meetings

• [08:04] – The invisible guest mindset shift

• [09:32] – Stop taking reactions personally

• [12:13] – The power of the pause

• [14:07] – Building accountability into team culture

• [17:37] – Alignment beats agreement

• [18:55] – Purpose as a stress buffer

• [23:18] – Finding purpose through lived experiences

• [28:09] – Why celebrating wins builds resilience

• [32:09] – Keep showing up when it’s hard

About the Host

Brad Bialy is a trusted voice and highly sought-after speaker in the staffing and recruiting industry, known for helping firms grow through integrated marketing, sales, and recruiting strategies. With over 13 years at Haley Marketing and a proven track record guiding hundreds of firms, Brad brings deep expertise and a fresh, actionable perspective to every engagement. He’s the host of Take the Stage and InSights, two of the staffing industry’s leading podcasts with more than 200,000 downloads.

Sponsors

Take the Stage is presented by Haley Marketing.
The old way of selling staffing is dead. Let’s fix it – with smarter strategies and HUGE DISCOUNTS on modern lead gen tools:
👉 https://bit.ly/Bialy20

Book a 30-minute business and marketing consultation with host, Brad Bialy:
👉 https://bit.ly/Bialy30

Best of Take the Stage 2025 | Lessons from the Staffing Industry's Top Consultants

In this highlight reel from 2025, we bring you the BEST moments from the first 11 episodes of Take the Stage.

Topics Include:
1. Stress Management 
2. How to Stop Chasing Prospects 
3. How to Develop a Winning Sales Mindset
4. What High-Performing Sales Teams Do Differently
5. Staffing Industry Trends to Impact 2026
6. Can We Stop the Staffing Industry's Decline?
7. Why Culture is Your Competitive Advantage 
8. Cold Calling Tips 
9. How to Develop Strategic Partnerships
10. Go-to-Market Strategies for Staffing Firms 
11. Proactive Strategies for Staffing Firms

Learn from the following industry experts:
Cathi WIlliams 
Rochelle Carrington
James Abraham
Joey Frampus 
Barry Asin
Mike Cleland 
Patrick Morin
Dan Fisher 
Kendra Cato
Avner Baruch
Martin Borosko 
Michael Napolitano

About the Host

Brad Bialy is a trusted voice and highly sought-after speaker in the staffing and recruiting industry, known for helping firms grow through integrated marketing, sales, and recruiting strategies. With over 13 years at Haley Marketing and a proven track record guiding hundreds of firms, Brad brings deep expertise and a fresh, actionable perspective to every engagement. He’s the host of Take the Stage and InSights, two of the staffing industry’s leading podcasts with more than 200,000 downloads.

Sponsors and Offers Heard

InSights is presented by Haley Marketing. The old way of selling staffing is dead. Let’s fix it – with smarter strategies and HUGE DISCOUNTS on modern lead gen tools: https://bit.ly/Bialy20

Book a 30-minute business and marketing consultation with host, Brad Bialy: https://bit.ly/Bialy30

[Stage] The Funding Strategy Every Staffing Owner Needs to Know (with Julie Ann Bittner)

In this episode of Take the Stage, presented by Haley Marketing, Brad Bialy sits down with Julie Ann Bittner to unpack the truth about staffing funding: why it’s not a weakness, how the right partner fuels growth, and what smart owners must understand before cash gets tight.

About the Guest

Julie Ann Bittner is the President and CEO of TRICOM, a staffing-industry–specific funding and back-office partner with over 36 years of experience. Known for her high energy and deep industry insight, Julie Ann has spent decades helping staffing owners scale responsibly while navigating volatility, growth cycles, and uncertainty.

Key Takeaways

• Funding is a strategic growth tool, not a sign of weakness.

• The right partner scales with your business—not against it.

• Waiting until cash is tight limits your best options.

• Industry-specific expertise beats generalist solutions.

• Proactive communication prevents reactive decisions.

Timestamps

• [00:15] – Reframing funding as strength, not weakness

• [01:40] – Why banks struggle with staffing growth cycles

• [03:15] – Asset-based lending vs. factoring explained

• [05:16] – Funding realities for staffing startups

• [06:07] – Questions every owner must ask lenders

• [07:51] – The risk of client concentration

• [09:20] – Why waiting too long costs you options

• [11:14] – The danger of non-industry lenders

• [13:38] – Where staffing rebounds next year

• [16:02] – Industries quietly turning the corner

• [17:12] – AI’s real role in staffing today

• [23:53] – What true funding partnership looks like

About the Host

Brad Bialy is a trusted voice and highly sought-after speaker in the staffing and recruiting industry, known for helping firms grow through integrated marketing, sales, and recruiting strategies. With over 13 years at Haley Marketing and a proven track record guiding hundreds of firms, Brad brings deep expertise and a fresh, actionable perspective to every engagement. He’s the host of Take the Stage and InSights, two of the staffing industry’s leading podcasts with more than 200,000 downloads.

Sponsors and Offers Heard

Take the Stage is presented by Haley Marketing. The old way of selling staffing is dead. Let’s fix it – with smarter strategies and HUGE DISCOUNTS on modern lead gen tools: https://bit.ly/Bialy20

Book a 30-minute business and marketing consultation with host, Brad Bialy: https://bit.ly/Bialy30

This episode is brought to you by MJA & Associates. For over 20 years, they’ve helped staffing firms save money by securing federal and state tax credits like the Work Opportunity Tax Credit (WOTC). With performance-based pricing, you only pay when you save—no setup costs, just real results. Learn more at https://mja-associates.com

 

 

 

Keep Showing Up: Resilience, Growth, and Lessons That Matter for 2026

In this episode of Lunch with Haley,  Brad Bialy sits down to reflect on the biggest lessons, mindset shifts, and industry insights he gained from a transformative year in staffing, recruiting, leadership, and personal growth.

About the Guest

Brad Bialy is a senior marketing strategist at Haley Marketing and the host of both Take the Stage and InSights. With seven years of podcasting and thousands of conversations with staffing leaders, he brings a rare blend of industry expertise, curiosity, and real-world experience.

Key Takeaways

• “The storm isn’t coming — it’s already here.”

• “Systems create repeatable wins.”

• “Happiness lives in the process, not the milestone.”

• “Curiosity builds relationships; pressure breaks them.”

• “Your service must live up to your story.”

Timestamps

• [00:27] Warming up the room and the question that sparks reflection

• [02:14] Why 2025 was a “hell of a year” for staffing

• [05:13] Inside the threats creating a perfect storm for staffing

• [13:23] Competing with Amazon, DoorDash, and Spotify

• [18:44] The happiness trap and the marathon moment

• [24:58] Topical authority and why content density wins

• [28:41] Systems over goals: the Uber ride epiphany

• [31:37] Why you’re not reaching prospects nearly enough

• [36:29] Personalized automation and the GNC postcard lesson

• [38:31] Stop selling like the ’80s

• [41:09] Stay curious: winning the relationship, not the deal

• [55:21] The Gen Z wake-up call and the danger of declining satisfaction

About the Host

Brad Bialy is a trusted voice and highly sought-after speaker in the staffing and recruiting industry, known for helping firms grow through integrated marketing, sales, and recruiting strategies. With over 13 years at Haley Marketing and a proven track record guiding hundreds of firms, Brad brings deep expertise and a fresh, actionable perspective to every engagement. He’s the host of Take the Stage and InSights, two of the staffing industry’s leading podcasts with more than 200,000 downloads.

[Stage] The Blueprint for Modern Selling (with John Klymshyn)

In this episode of Take the Stage, Brad Bialy sits down with John Klymshyn to explore how sales professionals can reclaim humanity, curiosity, and authentic connection in an AI-driven staffing world.

About the Guest

John Klymshyn is a renowned speaker, coach, and author who has spent more than 27 years helping staffing organizations unlock creativity, sharpen their message, and elevate leadership through authentic communication. His work blends business practicality with creative play, empowering teams to sell with curiosity and conviction. Amazon Author Page

Key Takeaways

• Authenticity is a competitive advantage.

• Curiosity moves conversations forward.

• Precision of language shapes outcomes.

• Consistency beats urgency.

• Practice makes prepared.

Timestamps

• [00:34] – Why AI can’t replace human connection

• [02:14] – The mindset shift sellers must make

• [04:04] – Bringing your authentic self into sales

• [07:47] – Asking better questions that invite the next step

• [09:37] – How to remove “commission breath”

• [12:36] – Leading with curiosity instead of pressure

• [13:55] – Selling through down markets without fear

• [17:33] – The real math behind modern follow-up

• [21:24] – Why personalized video still disrupts

• [24:19] – Honor your commitments and keep showing up

• [29:23] – Practice makes prepared, not perfect

• [38:16] – A five-year mindset for new sales reps

About the Host

Brad Bialy is a trusted voice and highly sought-after speaker in the staffing and recruiting industry, known for helping firms grow through integrated marketing, sales, and recruiting strategies. With over 13 years at Haley Marketing and a proven track record guiding hundreds of firms, Brad brings deep expertise and a fresh, actionable perspective to every engagement. He’s the host of Take the Stage and InSights, two of the staffing industry’s leading podcasts with more than 200,000 downloads.

Sponsors and Offers Heard

Take the Stage is presented by Haley Marketing. The old way of selling staffing is dead. Let’s fix it – with smarter strategies and HUGE DISCOUNTS on modern lead gen tools: https://bit.ly/Bialy20

Book a 30-minute business and marketing consultation with host, Brad Bialy: https://bit.ly/Bialy30

[InSights] A Marketing Lesson from Hell's Kitchen

In this episode of InSights, Brad Bialy sits down with Steve Gipson to explore why great marketing must align with great service—and how modern staffing firms can blend both to win more business.

About the Guest

Steve Gipson is a 15-year recruiting industry veteran and the Director of Sales and Operations at Recruiters Websites. His team has helped more than 700 recruiting and staffing firms elevate their digital presence through modern websites, SEO, and marketing strategy.

Key Takeaways

• Marketing can never exceed the quality of the service it promotes.

• Hype without delivery destroys trust faster than no marketing at all.

• Many firms avoid marketing because they’re unsure their product is strong enough.

• Sales and marketing work best as a unified system—not competing functions.

• Negative experiences travel fast in tight-knit recruiting communities.

• Strong marketing amplifies great salespeople by warming the path before contact.

Timestamps

• [00:42] – When hype outpaces service delivery

• [03:11] – The danger of over-marketing an average product

• [05:55] – Why firms delay marketing until assets match reality

• [07:47] – Fixing the gap between leads and delivery

• [09:58] – How one bad experience can ripple through a niche

• [11:24] – Building a signature solution that stands apart

• [13:10] – Vegas, overpricing, and customer expectations

• [14:54] – Does great marketing replace the need for sales?

• [16:23] – Why service industries still require human closers

• [21:03] – Marketing’s real job: warming the conversation

• [23:52] – The unified system: sales and marketing

• [25:30] – How strong marketing amplifies a single salesperson

About the Host

Brad Bialy is a trusted voice and highly sought-after speaker in the staffing and recruiting industry, known for helping firms grow through integrated marketing, sales, and recruiting strategies. With over 13 years at Haley Marketing and a proven track record guiding hundreds of firms, Brad brings deep expertise and a fresh, actionable perspective to every engagement. He’s the host of Take the Stage and InSights, two of the staffing industry’s leading podcasts with more than 200,000 downloads.

Sponsors and Offers Heard

InSights is presented by Haley Marketing. The old way of selling staffing is dead. Let’s fix it – with smarter strategies and HUGE DISCOUNTS on modern lead gen tools: https://bit.ly/Bialy20

Book a 30-minute business and marketing consultation with host, Brad Bialy: https://bit.ly/Bialy30

This episode is brought to you by MJA & Associates. For over 20 years, they’ve helped staffing firms save money through federal and state tax credits like the Work Opportunity Tax Credit (WOTC). With performance-based pricing, you only pay when you save—no setup costs, just real results. Learn more at mja-associates.com.

[Stage] Bullhorn Data Reveals a Shocking Story Staffing Owners Need to Hear

In this episode of Take the Stage, Brad Bialy sits down with Lia Taniguchi to unpack Bullhorn’s 2025 Grid Talent Trends Report and explore how data, AI, and human connection are reshaping the candidate experience in staffing and recruiting.

About the Guest

Lia Taniguchi is the Senior Research Manager at Bullhorn, leading global market research that drives data-informed strategy for the staffing industry. With an MBA from Simmons College and a forthcoming MPH from Boston University, Lia brings a rare mix of analytical depth and human-centered insight to her work.

Key Takeaways

• Only 26% of Gen Z candidates are actively using a recruiter—showing an urgent need for better engagement and support for younger talent.

• 54% of candidates stopped working with a recruiter due to slow or unclear communication, proving that speed and transparency are now table stakes.

• 88% of candidates rated their voice agent interview as as good as or better than speaking with a person, signaling growing comfort with AI-driven screening.

• Overall candidate satisfaction declined across every stage of the recruitment process in the past year, with speed and responsiveness dropping by 20%.

• Candidates want instant acknowledgment—most expect confirmation within minutes and status updates within one week, mirroring Amazon-style service expectations.

Timestamps

[00:45] – Introducing the Grid 2025 Talent Trends Report
[03:20] – Why Gen Z is least satisfied with recruiters
[06:30] – Setting higher expectations in a digital-native world
[10:25] – The power of intergenerational mentorship in recruiting
[13:40] – Can AI fix the application black hole?
[17:10] – What candidates really mean by “speed and communication”
[20:15] – Remembering the human impact behind every resume
[24:00] – Using AI to give feedback to the “silver medalists”
[28:15] – 88% of candidates rate voice agents as good as people
[33:20] – Why candidate satisfaction is declining—and how to fix it
[37:45] – Secret shopping your own candidate experience
[46:20] – Specialization as the new superpower for staffing firms

About the Host

Brad Bialy is a trusted voice and highly sought-after speaker in the staffing and recruiting industry, known for helping firms grow through integrated marketing, sales, and recruiting strategies. With over 13 years at Haley Marketing and a proven track record guiding hundreds of firms, Brad brings deep expertise and a fresh, actionable perspective to every engagement. He’s the host of Take the Stage and InSights, two of the staffing industry’s leading podcasts with more than 200,000 downloads.

Sponsors and Offers Heard

Take the Stage is presented by Haley Marketing. The old way of selling staffing is dead. Let’s fix it—with smarter strategies and HUGE DISCOUNTS on modern lead-gen tools: https://bit.ly/Bialy20

Book a 30-minute business and marketing consultation with host, Brad Bialy: https://bit.ly/Bialy30

For 30 years, Benefits in a Card has delivered benefit plans designed specifically for the staffing industry—over 140 unique options with immediate coverage, unique perks like FreeRx, and solutions that reduce turnover while improving ACA compliance. Give your workforce benefits they’ll actually use and give your staffing firm a competitive edge. Learn more at https://www.BenefitsInACard.com

[InSights] Common Mistakes from Auditing 50 Staffing Websites

In this episode of InSights, Brad Bialy sits down with Shaun Chojnacki to uncover the eight most common—and easily fixable—mistakes holding staffing and recruiting websites back from driving better visibility, engagement, and conversions.

About the Guest

Shaun Chojnacki is a Senior Marketing Strategist at Haley Marketing, specializing in SEO, paid media, and content strategy. With more than a decade of experience spanning SaaS and eCommerce, Shaun combines data-driven marketing with creative execution to help staffing firms turn their websites into high-performing lead generation engines.

Key Takeaways

• Your website isn’t outdated—it’s underperforming.
• If your homepage talks to everyone, it converts no one.
• Fresh, relevant content is your new SEO currency.
• Trust signals aren’t vanity—they’re validation.
• Small website fixes can create massive marketing wins.

Timestamps

• [00:35] – Why 50 staffing websites revealed the same hidden issues

• [02:34] – Outdated messaging: confusing visitors and search engines

• [05:11] – Creating clear client journeys for your ideal audience

• [07:34] – The power of service pages for SEO and conversions

• [09:21] – Location pages: how to win local search (and clients)

• [12:11] – Segmenting your blog for stronger topical authority

• [16:07] – Building trust through Google Business and external reviews

• [20:19] – Why weak calls-to-action kill great marketing

• [22:46] – Footers that actually convert: making the last scroll count

• [25:42] – Bonus #1: The secret structure behind great headers (H1–H3)

• [28:47] – Bonus #2: Internal linking—the forgotten SEO goldmine

• [29:58] – Rapid-fire recap: eight fixes to implement this week

About the Host

Brad Bialy is a trusted voice and highly sought-after speaker in the staffing and recruiting industry, known for helping firms grow through integrated marketing, sales, and recruiting strategies. With over 13 years at Haley Marketing and a proven track record guiding hundreds of firms, Brad brings deep expertise and a fresh, actionable perspective to every engagement. He’s the host of Take the Stage and InSights, two of the staffing industry’s leading podcasts with more than 200,000 downloads.

Sponsors and Offers Heard

InSights is presented by Haley Marketing.
The old way of selling staffing is dead. Let’s fix it—with smarter strategies and HUGE DISCOUNTS on modern lead gen tools: https://bit.ly/Bialy20

Book a 30-minute business and marketing consultation with host, Brad Bialy: https://bit.ly/Bialy30

This episode is brought to you by MJA & Associates.
For over 20 years, they’ve helped staffing firms save money by securing federal and state tax credits like the Work Opportunity Tax Credit (WOTC). With performance-based pricing, you only pay when you save—no setup costs, just real results. Learn more at mja-associates.com.

[Stage] The Secret Power Behind Great Companies! (with Dr. Gustavo)

In this episode of Take the Stage, Brad Bialy sits down with Dr. Gustavo to unpack how culture—built on accountability, transparency, and intentional communication—drives consistent performance across in-office and remote teams.

About the Guest

Dr. Gustavo is a leading expert and keynote speaker on organizational culture, helping companies of all sizes engineer behavior change that lifts performance and profits. With 2,500+ presentations and two decades of consulting, he brings research-backed, practical frameworks in both English and Spanish.

Key Takeaways

• Culture controls behavior more reliably than personality.

• Accountability means transparency, not punishment.

• Separate the problem from the person.

• Flexibility is earned through performance.

• Feedback is a gift—thank you or tell me more.

Timestamps

• [00:01] – Defining culture as context that drives behavior

• [00:35] – Reframing accountability as transparency, not punishment

• [01:04] – Building momentum with “good → mediocre → bad” sharing

• [04:53] – Four pillars: beliefs, rules, traditions, rituals

• [06:12] – Leaders as chief gardeners of culture

• [07:22] – Coaching assertive communication across teams

• [08:19] – “Attack the problem, not the person” in practice

• [10:22] – Naming silos as culture’s biggest threat

• [12:53] – Creating “temporary Zoom rooms” for organic collaboration

• [16:24] – Future of work: flexibility over hybrid

• [18:58] – Using team KPIs to unlock autonomy

• [22:01] – Making feedback safe: “Thank you” or “Tell me more”

About the Host

Brad Bialy is a trusted voice and highly sought-after speaker in the staffing and recruiting industry, known for helping firms grow through integrated marketing, sales, and recruiting strategies. With over 13 years at Haley Marketing and a proven track record guiding hundreds of firms, Brad brings deep expertise and a fresh, actionable perspective to every engagement. He’s the host of Take the Stage and InSights, two of the staffing industry’s leading podcasts with more than 200,000 downloads.

Sponsors and Offers Heard

Take the Stage is presented by Haley Marketing. The old way of selling staffing is dead. Let’s fix it – with smarter strategies and HUGE DISCOUNTS on modern lead gen tools: https://bit.ly/Bialy20

Book a 30-minute business and marketing consultation with host, Brad Bialy: https://bit.ly/Bialy30

For 30 years, Benefits in a Card has delivered benefit plans designed specifically for the staffing industry—over 140 unique options with immediate coverage, unique perks like FreeRx, and solutions that reduce turnover while improving ACA compliance. Give your workforce benefits they’ll actually use and give your staffing firm a competitive edge. Learn more at https://www.BenefitsInACard.com.