Join Corey Quinn alongside Raj Ramanan, CEO of Herringbone Digital, and Jason Hennessey, Founder of Hennessey Digital, as they unpack the recent acquisition that marks a major shift in the agency world.

They discuss how niche specialization, strategic alignment, and a client-first mindset fueled Hennessey Digital’s growth, plus what comes next under Herringbone Digital’s leadership.

From the inside story of the acquisition to the evolving role of private equity in agency scaling, this episode explores the principles, people, and playbooks behind one of the most strategic moves in digital marketing.

• Beyond the Sale — Why the Hennessey Digital acquisition was built on partnership, not just profit.
• Client-First Growth — How prioritizing relationships over revenue leads to long-term success.
• Verticalization = Value — Why narrowing your focus creates stronger client outcomes.
• Private Equity, Public Wins — How smart capital and aligned incentives fuel sustainable growth.
• Leadership in Transition — What it takes to guide a team through big changes with clarity and trust.
• Authenticity Over Optics — The traits Jason and Raj look for in agency founders and partners.
• Profitability as a Strategy — Why getting lean before scaling up is a winning move.
• Culture is a Multiplier — How internal values drive external performance.
• The Power of Personal Brand — How Jason built Hennessey Digital’s reputation from the ground up.
• Acquisition is Just the Start — What this deal signals for the future of specialized agencies.

The resources mentioned in this episode are:

• Check out Hennessey Digital: https://hennessey.com
• Check out Herringbone Digital: https://www.herringbonedigital.com
• Visit Jason’s website: https://www.jasonhennessey.com
• Connect with Jason on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jhennessey
• Connect with Raj on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rtramanan
• Listen to Ep 85 with Jason Hennessey - Building a $20M Agency Through SEO Specialization: https://www.coreyquinn.com/podcasts/the-deep-specialization-podcast/episodes/2148933224

Escape the generalist trap with my best-selling book “Anyone, Not Everyone” and discover how to become the go-to agency in a vertical market https://www.AnyoneNotEveryone.com

👍If you liked this episode, please rate and review us on Apple Podcasts, and be sure to hit the subscribe button! 🔔

😡Frustrated with a lack of results from outbound? I'd like to give you my free 6-day email course that will transform your outbound program from broken to consistently driving new sales opportunities. Sign up here: GetOutboundROI.com.

This episode was produced and brought to you by Reignite Media.

Join Corey Quinn and Andrew Peluso—Founder & CEO of Pesty Marketing—as they dive into the game-changing power of deep specialization in the agency world. Andrew shares his journey from knocking doors as a pest control salesman to building a premium digital marketing agency exclusively for pest control companies doing $1M+ in revenue. Discover the turning points that led him to niche down, the lessons learned from failed partnerships, and how relentless client focus created a defensible “moat” in a crowded market.

If you’re an agency owner ready to escape mediocrity, charge premium fees, and build unstoppable growth, this episode is packed with hard-won insights!

• The Power of Niching Down — Why trying to do it all nearly sank Andrew’s early agencies, and how hyper-focusing on pest control unlocked 30%+ annual growth for his clients.
• Specialization = Competitive Advantage — How deeply understanding your clients’ industry creates trust, loyalty, and less selling.
• How to Win Premium Clients — The moment Andrew shifted away from serving “everyone”—and saw sales conversations transform overnight.
• Delegating for Scale — The crucial role of offloading fulfillment, trusting your gut with hiring, and focusing on what drives business growth.
• Sales as Education — Why Andrew’s consultative, research-heavy sales process is winning 5-figure deals (and how you can copy it).
• Referral Engines That Work — How a simple, generous referral program exploded new client growth.
• The Future of Agencies and AI — Navigating industry shifts, staying ahead with holistic search, and why change signals opportunity for top-performers.
• Preparing for What’s Next — Andrew’s vision for operational excellence, future leadership, and why swinging big is the only way forward.

The resources mentioned in this episode are:

• Check out Pesty Marketing: https://pestymarketing.com
• Connect with Andrew Peluso on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrewpeluso

Escape the generalist trap with my best-selling book “Anyone, Not Everyone” and discover how to become the go-to agency in a vertical market https://www.AnyoneNotEveryone.com

👍If you liked this episode, please rate and review us on Apple Podcasts, and be sure to hit the subscribe button! 🔔

😡Frustrated with a lack of results from outbound? I'd like to give you my free 6-day email course that will transform your outbound program from broken to consistently driving new sales opportunities. Sign up here: GetOutboundROI.com.

This episode was produced and brought to you by Reignite Media.

Want to know how ready your agency is to grow sustainably?

Take the FREE Agency Growth Scalability Score assessment and find out where you stand—across Positioning, Marketing, and Sales Systems.

🎯 It only takes 5 minutes, and you’ll get custom growth advice based on your results. https://geni.us/niN8d

Join Corey Quinn and Brian K. McRae—speaker, business coach, and Chief Encouragement Officer at Giftology—as they explore why relationships are the ultimate growth strategy in today’s noisy, fast-paced market.

Brian shares his framework for building a referral-based business, why emotional loyalty beats transactional marketing, and how agency owners can use the power of conversations to fuel sustainable growth.

If you’re tired of chasing trends and want to get back to what truly matters—meaningful relationships—this episode is for you.

• The ROI of Relationships — Why building authentic connections is more powerful than any marketing funnel.

• Emotional Loyalty — How to move beyond contracts and create customers who champion your agency.

• The Power of Conversations — Why great questions are the currency of lasting business.

• Adding Value to Referral Partners — How to become indispensable in your network.

• The Four C’s of Service — Competence, Communication, Consistency, and Collaboration.

• Joyful Accountability — How holding yourself and others accountable creates progress.

• A Well-Managed Database — Why your contact list is your most valuable business asset.

• Building Community — How the Rich Relationship Society fosters growth and referrals.

• Technology and Authenticity — How to use tools to deepen human connections, not replace them.

• Authentic Generosity — Why giving first is the best way to build lasting business relationships.

The resources mentioned in this episode are:

• Check out the Rich Relationship Society: https://giftologygroup.com/rich-relationships/
• Ready to improve your business relationships? Sign up for the course Brian mentioned here: www.rptbrian.com. Use code “BRIAN” for an amazing discount opportunity!
• Connect with Brian McRae on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/briankmcrae/
• Visit Brian’s website: www.briankmcrae.com
• Email Brian directly: brian@briankmcrae.com
• Escape the generalist trap with my best-selling book “Anyone, Not Everyone” and discover how to become the go-to agency in a vertical market https://www.AnyoneNotEveryone.com

👍If you liked this episode, please rate and review us on Apple Podcasts, and be sure to hit the subscribe button! 🔔

😡Frustrated with a lack of results from outbound? I'd like to give you my free 6-day email course that will transform your outbound program from broken to consistently driving new sales opportunities. Sign up here: GetOutboundROI.com.

Join Corey Quinn and Arielle Cohen—Co-Founder & CMO of Marketing 411 & Business 411—to reveal how she carved out a fast-growing niche in the roofing industry. Drawing on her diverse background in music and marketing, Arielle shares lessons on building a high-impact brand, empowering a team, and turning education into a powerful sales tool. If you're an agency founder stuck in the day-to-day, this episode offers a roadmap for scaling smart!

- The Roofing Niche Advantage — How focusing on one vertical unlocked explosive growth.

- Education as a Sales Strategy — Why teaching builds trust and turns prospects into clients.

- Delegation That Drives Growth — How offloading the right tasks freed up time for strategy.

- Hiring Sales the Right Way — Why a strong salesperson can transform your agency.

- SOPs That Scale — The key to training VAs and building a self-sufficient team.

- Branding That Sticks — What roofers really need from a standout agency.

- You Are the Bottleneck — How Arielle overcame founder-block to grow faster.

- From Hustle to Impact — Why loving 80% of your work is the new benchmark for success.

The resources mentioned in this episode are:

- Check out Business 411: https://business411.com

- Check out Marketing 411: https://marketing411.com

- Connect with Arielle Cohen on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/arielleceo

- Follow her on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/arielleceo

- Escape the generalist trap with my best-selling book “Anyone, Not Everyone” and discover how to become the go-to agency in a vertical market https://www.AnyoneNotEveryone.com

👍If you liked this episode, please rate and review us on Apple Podcasts, and be sure to hit the subscribe button! 🔔

😡Frustrated with a lack of results from outbound? I'd like to give you my free 6-day email course that will transform your outbound program from broken to consistently driving new sales opportunities. Sign up here: GetOutboundROI.com.

This episode was produced and brought to you by Reignite Media.

Join Corey Quinn and Nate Freedman—Founder & CEO of Tech Pro Marketing—to learn how niching down helped him transform his generalist agency into a leader in MSPs (Managed Service Providers). Nate shares how embracing specialization reshaped his business strategy, helped him connect more deeply with clients, and opened the door to sustainable growth. From leveraging mentorship to making bold moves like acquiring another agency, Nate offers a candid look at the most valuable lessons he’s learned while building a more focused, scalable, and resilient business.

Whether you're stuck in generalist mode or looking for your next growth lever, this episode is full of proven, tactical insights to help you build a specialized, scalable agency.

- The Power of Niching Down — Why MSPs became the ideal market for Tech Pro Marketing.

- From Generalist to Specialist — What changed when Nate made the leap into specialization.

- Mentors That Moves the Needle — How mentorship inspired Nate’s agency direction and growth.

- Guest Posting for Growth — How early content wins helped attract ideal clients.

- Knowing What Clients Actually Need — The overlooked skill that improves retention and results.

- Building a Scalable Model — Why Nate focused on repeatability and systems early on.

- Growth Through Acquisition — How buying another agency accelerated expansion.

- From One-to-One to One-to-Many — Creating leverage through scalable delivery models.

- Tech That Drives Margins — How software and automation improved both ops and profitability.

- Community as a Growth Engine — How to achieve long-term benefits from building loyal client communities.

The resources mentioned in this episode are:

- Check out Tech Pro Marketing: https://www.techpromarketing.com

- MSP Sites: https://mspsites.com

- Connect with Nate Freedman on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/natefreedman

- Follow MSP Sites on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mspsites

- How To Build an 8-Figure Agency In One Vertical Market with Chris Yano (RYNO): https://www.coreyquinn.com/podcasts/the-deep-specialization-podcast/episodes/2147898991

- Escape the generalist trap with my best-selling book “Anyone, Not Everyone” and discover how to become the go-to agency in a vertical market https://www.AnyoneNotEveryone.com

👍If you liked this episode, please rate and review us on Apple Podcasts, and be sure to hit the subscribe button! 🔔

😡Frustrated with a lack of results from outbound? I'd like to give you my free 6-day email course that will transform your outbound program from broken to consistently driving new sales opportunities. Sign up here: GetOutboundROI.com.

This episode was produced and brought to you by Reignite Media.

Join Corey Quinn and Travis Weathers—Founder and CEO of Rotate Digital—as he shares how specializing in the moving industry became the catalyst for his agency’s explosive growth. From hiring the right sales team to designing a killer commission structure, Travis shares hard-earned lessons on what really drives agency growth, even during economic downturns.

If you're an agency founder aiming to scale revenue, retain more clients, and simplify your sales process, this episode is packed with actionable strategies you can put to work today.

Specialization That Scales — How focusing on one niche fueled Rotate Digital’s explosive growth.

The Sales Hire That Changed Everything — Why industry knowledge matters less than sales experience.

Commission Structures That Actually Work — How to incentivize performance and build a motivated team.

Productized for Profit — Why packaging your services can boost revenue and retention.

Retargeting Done Right — How Travis uses smart ads to stay top-of-mind and win more clients.

Simplicity Sells — Why focusing on business outcomes wins more deals than technical jargon.

Sales as Client Experience — How your sales process shapes long-term client satisfaction.

Metrics That Matter — The KPIs Travis uses to drive a high-performing sales team.

The resources mentioned in this episode are:

- Check out Rotate Digital: https://travis@rotatedigital.com

- Connect with Travis Weathers on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/travisweathers

- Follow Travis on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/travisweathers

- Email Travis: travis@rotatedigital.com

- Escape the generalist trap with my best-selling book “Anyone, Not Everyone” and discover how to become the go-to agency in a vertical market https://www.AnyoneNotEveryone.com

👍If you liked this episode, please rate and review us on Apple Podcasts, and be sure to hit the subscribe button! 🔔

😡Frustrated with a lack of results from outbound? I'd like to give you my free 6-day email course that will transform your outbound program from broken to consistently driving new sales opportunities. Sign up here: GetOutboundROI.com.

This episode is sponsored by E2M, the #1 white-label partner for digital agencies. Visit https://www.e2msolutions.com/the-deep-specialization-podcast to get 20% off your first month.

This episode was produced and brought to you by Reignite Media.

Join Corey Quinn and Simon Bowen—Founder and CEO of The Models Method—to learn how to use visual models to drive agency growth. Simon shares how The Genius Model helps agency founders simplify complex ideas, improve sales, and avoid internal dilution that can lead to commoditization.

Simon believes that business is not just about selling products or services—it's about solving real problems with a noble purpose. If you’re an agency founder looking to refine your strategy and grow your business, this episode offers high-value insights you can apply right now.

- The Genius Model Every Founder Needs — Why visual models could be your secret weapon for business growth.

- Scaling Without Dilution — How to avoid losing your unique selling point as you grow.

- The Key to Powerful Sales Conversations — Why clarity in messaging is crucial to standing out in a crowded market.

- Lead Generation Control — Why founders must own this to drive business success.

- Selling as a Force for Good — How to reframe sales as a noble profession that solves real problems.

- The Middle Market is Disappearing — Why you need to pick a clear market position to thrive.

- Building a Scalable Team — How to ensure your team is aligned with your vision for sustainable growth.

The resources mentioned in this episode are:

- Learn more about The Models Method: https://www.modelsmethod.com

- Connect with Simon Bowen on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/simonbowen-mm

- Learn more on Simon’s YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/@simonbowen_mm

- Escape the generalist trap with my best-selling book “Anyone, Not Everyone” and discover how to become the go-to agency in a vertical market https://www.AnyoneNotEveryone.com

👍If you liked this episode, please rate and review us on Apple Podcasts, and be sure to hit the subscribe button! 🔔

😡Frustrated with a lack of results from outbound? I'd like to give you my free 6-day email course that will transform your outbound program from broken to consistently driving new sales opportunities. Sign up here: GetOutboundROI.com.

This episode is sponsored by E2M, the #1 white-label partner for digital agencies. Visit https://www.e2msolutions.com/the-deep-specialization-podcast to get 20% off your first month.

This episode was produced and brought to you by Reignite Media.

Join Corey Quinn and Alex Melen—Co-Founder of SmartSites—one of America’s fastest-growing digital marketing agencies. Alex shares how SmartSites has maintained 35% year-over-year growth since 2011 by investing in employee satisfaction, reputation management, and long-term marketing strategy.

They discuss what it really takes to scale a service business—how to grow without losing culture, when to specialize (or not), and why reputation is your most valuable asset. Alex also shares how AI is reshaping agency work and the strategies SmartSites uses to stay ahead in an increasingly competitive market.

- The 35% Growth Playbook — How SmartSites scaled fast without burning out their team.

- The Reputation Metric Most Agencies Ignore — And how it quietly drives client retention and referrals.

- Why Profit Isn’t Everything — The counterintuitive reason SmartSites puts growth first.

- The Hidden Cost of Rising Ad Prices — And what your agency should do to stay ahead.

- Generalist vs. Specialist — The surprising truth about what actually wins more business.

- AI’s Double-Edged Sword — How to embrace automation without sacrificing quality.

- Writing the Book on Agency Growth — Why putting your ideas on paper might be your next smartest move.

- Employee Happiness as Strategy — How culture became SmartSites’ secret weapon.

- The Sales Mindset Shift — What Alex changed to close better clients, faster.

- When to Say No — Why turning down the wrong clients fuels long-term success.

The resources mentioned in this episode are:

- Visit Alex Melen’s website: https://www.alexmelen.com

- Check out SmartSites: https://www.smartsites.com

- Connect with Alex on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexmelen

- Follow him on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alex.melen

- Connect on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/alexmelen

- Follow him on X: https://x.com/amelen

- Disney Institute: https://www.disneyinstitute.com

- Escape the generalist trap with my best-selling book “Anyone, Not Everyone” and discover how to become the go-to agency in a vertical market https://www.AnyoneNotEveryone.com

👍If you liked this episode, please rate and review us on Apple Podcasts, and be sure to hit the subscribe button! 🔔

😡Frustrated with a lack of results from outbound? I'd like to give you my free 6-day email course that will transform your outbound program from broken to consistently driving new sales opportunities. Sign up here: GetOutboundROI.com.

This episode is sponsored by E2M, the #1 white-label partner for digital agencies. Visit https://www.e2msolutions.com/the-deep-specialization-podcast to get 20% off your first month.

This episode was produced and brought to you by Reignite Media.