Hi friends 👋🏻

I’m excited to share an effective, repeatable process I’ve been using to start conversations with prospects.

And a new workshop this coming week to help us all create more authentic, powerful content on LinkedIn.

I hope you have a fantastic week! 💚

Best,
Tal

P.S. - I will have two 1:1 coaching slots open in May. If you want to grow your business with an experienced advisor by your side, schedule an intro call.

In today’s edition you’ll find:

⏳ Estimated reading time: 8-10 minutes

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You know that awkward moment when you’re trying to message a new prospect…

And you’re staring at the screen thinking:
“What do I say to break the ice?” 🥶

It kind of feels like dating on OKCupid again, right? 😅 (or maybe that’s just me)

It’s always easier when you have a good opener.

So recently, I started using a new technique:

Using public award lists as warm openers. 💡

You know the ones - “Fastest Growing Startups,” “Top Employer,” “Best Culture,” etc.

They’re everywhere. And they’re perfect.

Why?

Because they give you a real reason to reach out that doesn’t feel cold.

Example:

Simple. Warm. Natural.

And best of all?

Repeatable.

So here’s the exact process I used - and how you can do it too:

I started with the Forbes Best Startup Employers list.

It includes 500 startups, many of whom are great prospects. 💪🏻

The website isn’t super copy/paste-friendly, but I estimate would take me about 30 minutes to turn it into a spreadsheet using my best Excel moves.

That said, my go-to is using a Fiverr agent to save time🧑🏻‍💻

My go-to person quoted me $25 and a 2-day turnaround. Totally worth it.

I cut out industries that aren’t relevant to my work (e.g., biotech, energy, real estate, etc.).

That left me with 356 companies in sectors I do recruit for.

This part is gold - and where the real value starts.

My goal:

I tested a few different tools for this:

A highly relevant, enriched BD list of 350+ high-growth companies:

Want to see exactly how I built it in Clay?
I recorded a step-by-step video for you 🎥

Want the full enriched spreadsheet to use it in your BD?
Download the full list of 500 companies with CEO names and LinkedIn profiles enriched here 📥

And if you want help building your own version or have questions about Clay, tools, or approach - just shoot me a message. Always happy to jam. 🙌🏻

What are other recent lists you can use as conversation starters?

Here are a few recent lists I found:

Inc., Regionals 2025
These 951 Companies Are the Growth Champions of Their Regions

Fast Company - The World’s 50 Most Innovative Companies of 2025
Fast Company’s annual ranking of the World’s Most Innovative Companies covers 58 industries and sectors, from advertising to video.

Glassdoor Best Places to Work 2025
Features companies with the highest employee satisfaction, based on anonymous reviews from employees.

Fortune 100 Best Companies to Work For® 2025
Our Best Workplaces lists highlight organizations excelling in creating positive, inclusive, and engaging environments. Explore top companies recognized for exceptional workplace culture and employee satisfaction.

CB Insights AI 100: Most Promising AI Startups (2025)
Highlights the top private AI companies globally, selected based on market potential and innovation.

Built In’s Best Places to Work Awards (2025)
Features tech companies excelling in benefits, culture, and employee satisfaction across various U.S. cities.

Wellfound 10 in 10
100 innovative companies in 10 categories

When I first started posting on LinkedIn, I was very hesitant.

I would hover over the “submit post” button asking myself:

“Is this what I’m supposed to post?” 🙈
“Will anyone care?” 🙉
“Will I look stupid?” 🙊

And the results were inconsistent.

Some likes. A few comments.

But not from hiring managers.

And I kept second-guessing everything I created.

One of the investments that help me unlock my hesitation was Clark Willcox’s Digital Recruiter program.

It gave me structure.

And the confidence to post without second guessing.

Now I write with intention - and it leads to better conversations.

I’m getting noticed by hiring teams and my ICP (CEO/founders of startups).

And my outreach is getting a lot more traction!

Starting next week (April 21-25) Clark is running his 5-day live bootcamp again.

If you want help dialing in your messaging, your content, and your outbound effectiveness - this is a great opportunity.

Plus, you get a full year of access to all his training.

To give you preview of working with Clark, we’re hosting a free content workshop this Wednesday (4/16) at 9am PDT / 12pm EDT.

This will be a hands-on session where you’ll walk away with new skills AND 1-2 written posts.

Clark will walk through how to:

If you’re feeling stuck, this is a great opportunity to learn AND practice.

Come join us. I’d love to see you there.

(And you might discover you enjoy creating content - how novel!)

And if you want the significantly up-level your LinkedIn content, outreach approach, automation and BD chops….

Looking for new inspiration, insights and lessons from other top recruiters?

These are my go-to podcasts (in no particular order):

Hishem Azzouz brings on top recruiters and founders from around the world to talk shop - how they win, how they build, and how they grow teams that scale. Think of it as a weekly jolt of strategy, mindset, and practical tactics.

Recent episode highlight: Hishem sat down with Matthew Sullivan to unpack how hiring only entry-level talent helped his firm scale to £8 million - and how they built the systems to turn rookies into high performers.

Benjamin Mena interviews top recruiters who are crushing it - whether it’s building $1M+ desks, scaling firms, or mastering retained searches. It’s like sitting down with the best in the biz and getting their playbook.​

Recent episode highlight: Sharon Hulce shares how she built a $1.4M retained desk and why going all-in (no side hustles!) was the key to her success.​

Ben Browning keeps it real with weekly episodes that tackle the challenges recruiters face, offering actionable strategies to make more placements, find better candidates, and charge bigger fees. It's like having a mentor in your pocket.​

Recent episode highlight: Ben sat down with Alex Elliott to discuss how recruitment leaders can scale their businesses by shifting from people-led to systems-led operations, emphasizing the importance of structured sales processes and clear metrics.

Hosted by Clark Willcox, this show is a goldmine for recruiters aiming to modernize their approach. Clark brings on industry leaders to discuss what's working in digital recruiting - from content strategies to automation.​

Recent episode highlight: Clark sat down with Darren Koontz to explore the evolving challenges in today's recruitment landscape, including the pitfalls of overhyped tech and the importance of building systems that work for real recruiters.

This one’s hosted by brothers Sam & Ben Miller and focuses on real conversations with high-performing recruiters, salespeople, and marketers. It’s practical, honest, and packed with lessons from people doing the work at a high level.

Recent episode highlight: Gabrielle Blackwell shared how she went from rock bottom to becoming one of the most sought-after sales development leaders in the industry and the mindset shifts that got her there.

This podcast, hosted by Louise Archer and Jordan Taylor, is all about helping recruiters transition from contingent chaos to retained success, with real-world stories from people who’ve done it. It’s tactical, honest, and packed with mindset shifts that actually lead to bigger fees and happier clients.

Recent episode highlight: In a recent episode, Ryan and Paul shared how they each built retained search success in Japan, one of the toughest markets in the world - one of them even hit his annual target by Valentine’s Day.

Dandan Zhu keeps it real with no-fluff advice for agency recruiters. She shares her journey from top-billing headhunter to founder, offering insights on career growth, business strategies, and the realities of the recruitment industry.​

Recent episode highlight: Dandan discussed the 5 mistakes agency recruiters make with passive candidates, emphasizing the importance of mastering dealings with passive candidates to succeed in headhunting. ​

Sharon Bondurant brings over 30 years of recruiting experience to the show, sharing real talk and practical advice for recruiters aiming to build both a business and life they love. Whether you're just starting out or scaling your firm, this podcast offers insights on everything from choosing the right business model to mastering your mindset.

Recent episode highlight: Sharon sat down with Brian Dallman to discuss the journey from corporate to agency to launching your own firm, offering a behind-the-scenes look at what it takes to make the leap.

Does your podcast list include another favorite show? I’d love to hear!

We did it! I hope you enjoyed the ride. 😎

I love creating this newsletter - and your feedback means the world to me. How would you rate today’s edition:

See you in TWO weeks (I’m taking next week OFF - yay).
-Tal