In this episode, Dan Englander welcomes back Nick Petroski of Promethean Research for a high-signal, data-backed deep dive into the state of the digital agency industry in 2025. From agency size trends to the truth about AI integration, Nick reveals what the numbers really say.

Watch our latest video training, How to Take Charge of Your Agency’s Future Revenue. During this training, you’ll learn how we get qualified appointments every week using tasteful and highly targeted email outreach.

They cover:

• Why sub-10-person agencies are disappearing
• The true impact (and limits) of AI in agency operations
• What’s driving the contractor surge—and what it means for margins
• Why specialization isn’t optional anymore (and how to actually do it right)
• How GLP-1 drugs like Ozempic could disrupt agency-adjacent markets
• What top-performing agencies are doing differently

If you're an agency founder navigating a changing market, this episode is your strategic cheat sheet.

Thank you for listening! If you enjoyed this episode, please take a moment to follow, rate and review the podcast and tell me your key takeaways!

Learn more about The Digitial Agency Growth Podcast at https://www.salesschema.com/podcast/ and our Video training at http://salesschema.com/takecharge

CONNECT WITH NICK PETROSKI:

LinkedIn

Promethean Research

Download Nick’s latest research report here: prometheanresearch.com

CONNECT WITH DAN ENGLANDER:

LinkedIn

Sales Schema

What do you do when referrals dry up and the market gets shaky?

In this solo episode, Dan Englander breaks down the key takeaways from his recent workshop: Implementing a Business Development System That Stands Up to Uncertainty.

You’ll learn:

• Why reactive sales keeps you stuck in volatility
• How to shift to a proactive system that builds momentum
• The 3 mindset shifts every agency needs for consistent growth
• A practical KPI framework to build sales habits (not just reports)
• How to define your ICPs without overcomplicating things
• A smarter way to run referral campaigns—no awkward asks

This episode is packed with timeless strategies, no fluff—just actionable systems for growing your agency in unpredictable times.

We're bringing back one of our most valuable episodes a conversation that’s just as relevant today as when it first aired.

The agency world has seen plenty of change in recent years. But with that change comes opportunity — for evolution, adaptation, and leadership. In this episode, Drew McLellan joins us to talk about the current state of the agency landscape in 2024, the importance of thought leadership, and how to build real trust with clients long before the sale.

Watch our latest video training, How to Take Charge of Your Agency’s Future Revenue. During this training, you’ll learn how we get qualified appointments every week using tasteful and highly targeted email outreach.

In this episode, Dan and Drew discuss:

• Why trust starts long before the sales conversation
• What it really takes to grow your agency sustainably
• How to position your agency as a true thought leader
• Where AI adds value (and where it doesn’t)

Drew McLellan has worked in advertising for over 30 years. He runs McLellan Marketing Group and Agency Management Institute (AMI), where he helps thousands of small and mid-sized agencies grow smarter and stronger every year.

Whether you missed this episode the first time or just need a refresher, we’re excited to bring it back. If you enjoy it, don’t forget to follow, rate, and review the podcast and share your biggest takeaway with us.

Learn more about The Digitial Agency Growth Podcast at https://www.salesschema.com/podcast/ and our Video training at http://salesschema.com/takecharge

CONNECT WITH DREW MCLELLAN:

Agency Management Institute

LinkedIn

X (formerly Twitter)

Website

CONNECT WITH DAN ENGLANDER:

LinkedIn

Sales Schema