🎙 Sales That Don’t Suck: Lessons from Christian Coley on Timpl's JobTopia Podcast

Recruiters know it: when the economy slows down, pipelines tighten, and objections pile up. But on the Resistance Is Futile recent episode of the Jobtopia podcast by Timpl, Christian Coley, SourceFlow’s VP of Sales (US), delivered a refreshing, practical take on what actually moves the needle in today's staffing market.

From smarter sales tactics to recruitment events that don’t suck, here are the top takeaways for staffing firms serious about growth—especially if you’re investing in recruitment marketing, launching a new career portal, or rethinking your recruitment website design.

1. Sales That Move, Even When the Market Doesn't

Christian pulled no punches: selling is harder than it was 12 months ago. Budgets are tighter. Decision-makers are more skeptical. But rather than pushing harder, smart firms are shifting their strategy.

What’s working:

• Personalized outreach over spray-and-pray cold emails

• Short, human video demos that quickly show value

• Free trials instead of polished sales decks

Buyers are fatigued. They’re not looking for perfect pitches—they’re looking for proof that your solution solves their problem. The same applies to your recruitment website. If it doesn’t demonstrate value fast, your bounce rate will show it.

2. Tailored Messaging > Generic Campaigns

One of Christian’s strongest points was around audience segmentation. Whether you're selling to a CIO, a recruiter, or a marketing lead, your message needs to speak their language.

That means:

• Mapping content to the pain points of each persona

• Avoiding jargon and focusing on outcomes

• Using case studies and testimonials that match the audience

Your recruitment marketing campaigns should reflect this as well. Are you showing different messaging on your career portal for different job types? Are landing pages customized by sector or persona? If not, you’re missing conversions.

3. Events That Don’t Waste Time (or Budget)

Christian also pulled back the curtain on a SourceFlow networking event in Boston—one that worked because it felt human. It wasn’t just another soulless meetup with stale bagels and sales pitches.

What made it successful?

• A focus on community and connection, not just closing

• Leveraging local contacts and known voices to drive attendance

• Authentic follow-up that prioritized relationships

This is the blueprint for modern events. If your recruitment firm hosts anything—from breakfasts to webinars—it needs to bring actual value. Good recruitment marketing turns these events into brand equity and pipeline, not just calendar fillers.

4. Embracing Change—Without the Pushback

Resistance to change is human—and it’s especially tough in recruitment. New software, new processes, or even a redesigned recruitment website can face major internal hurdles.

Christian’s advice?

• Don’t bulldoze. Acknowledge people’s reluctance.

• Offer low-risk, trial-based introductions to new tools.

• Show clear ROI—time saved, money earned, placements made.

Recruiters are creatures of habit, so change needs to feel safe and beneficial. That’s just as true for your team as it is for your clients.

5. LinkedIn: Still Essential (Just Use It Better)

Yes, LinkedIn fatigue is real—but Christian pointed out it’s still an irreplaceable channel, especially for recruitment agencies.

Tips he shared:

• Focus on value-first engagement, not hard sells

• Use video snippets, polls, and real insights—not just job posts

• Keep your company page fresh and aligned with your recruitment website design

Social selling isn’t just for sales teams—it’s a critical part of recruitment marketing. Done right, it drives traffic, builds trust, and opens doors.

Final Take: Thought Leadership Without the Ego

Podcasting, blogging, speaking—these aren’t just vanity plays. As Christian put it, they’re ways to stay top-of-mind before your prospects are ready to buy.

When you're the name they remember—because you've educated, entertained, or inspired them—you’ve already won half the battle.

Want a Recruitment Website That Converts?

At SourceFlow, we help staffing firms modernize their recruitment website design, build high-performing career portals, and run recruitment marketing that drives measurable results.

Let’s talk about how we can help you stay ahead—even when the market doesn’t make it easy.

👉 Book a call

Check out the full episode here:

SourceFlow do WAY more than industry-leading recruitment website design. We build career portals, recruitment websites and marketing tools that amplify ROI and provide transparency with state-of-the-art data insights.