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

In a world of economic uncertainty, shrinking budgets, and longer sales cycles, how do smart agencies continue to grow?

Jon Tsourakis, Co-Founder of Oyova, reveals how embracing discomfort, staying authentic, and focusing on fundamentals can transform your agency’s performance even in the hardest times.

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 of The Digital Agency Growth Podcast, Jon Tsourakis breaks down how agencies can stay competitive by embracing adaptability, simplifying operations, and focusing on what truly drives growth in uncertain times. He shares actionable insights on refining your service offering, building stronger client relationships, and creating a resilient agency model that thrives despite market challenges.

Tune in to learn:

• Why resisting comfort is key to success
• How to adapt your biz dev strategy when outbound stops working
• The balance between automation and human connection
• Lessons from rejection and how to stay in "performance mode"

Whether you're battling slow sales or looking to future-proof your agency, this conversation is packed with actionable insights.

CONNECT WITH JON TSOURAKIS

LinkedIn

OYOVA

CONNECT WITH DAN ENGLANDER:

LinkedIn

Sales Schema

Are retainers the future of agency growth?

In this episode, David Brecount — CEO and co-founder of US Digital Partners — returns to share how his agency survived and thrived over 23 years by doing the opposite of what most agencies chase: consistency over chaos, long-term strategy over shiny tactics, and relationships over quick wins.

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.

We talk about how he shifted from project-based work to recurring revenue, what clients actually want in today’s skeptical market, and how his team is doubling down on being human in a noisy, AI-dominated landscape.

Whether you're an agency founder or a sales leader selling complex services, this is a blueprint for sustainable growth.

🔍 What we cover in this episode:
– Why they transitioned from projects to retainers
– How to sell strategy (not just deliverables)
– Navigating economic uncertainty without panicking
– The “physical therapy” mindset behind real marketing
– Why pricing transparency ≠ trust
– AI hype vs. human creativity
– And… why they ditched open office culture for private spaces

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!

CONNECT WITH DAVID BRECOUNT

LinkedIn

US DIGITAL PARTNERS

CONNECT WITH DAN ENGLANDER:

LinkedIn

Sales Schema

In this special episode of The Digital Agency Growth Podcast, we’re featuring Dan Englander's recent guest appearance on the Revenue Rehab podcast with Brandi Starr.

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.

Dan, founder of Sales Schema and host of this show, dives into the challenges agencies face in today’s low-trust, high-noise landscape. He and Brandi explore why traditional outbound strategies are breaking down, how to rethink your sales approach to win trust faster, and how to build systems that scale without losing the human touch.

This conversation is packed with real examples, strategic frameworks, and practical advice to help agency leaders sell complex services more effectively in 2025 and beyond.

In This Episode, You’ll Learn:

• Why response rates are dropping—and how to adapt your strategy
• How to identify “relationship triggers” and use them to book more meetings
• The downside of over-automation and what to do instead
• How agencies can de-risk outreach in low-trust environments
• The key roles your team needs to scale personalized outreach

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 BRANDI STARR:

LinkedIn

Tegrita

Revenue Rehab

CONNECT WITH DAN ENGLANDER:

LinkedIn

Sales Schema

Many agencies focus heavily on new business, chasing logos and cold leads—while the biggest growth opportunity is already in front of them. In this episode of The Digital Agency Growth Podcast, Dan Englander is joined by Matt Pensinger, founder of Accelerate Advisors and former EVP at Jack Morton, to talk about how agencies can stop leaving money on the table and start expanding inside existing accounts.

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.

Drawing from over a decade of experience working with major brands like McDonald’s, P&G, and Diageo, Matt shares how agency leaders can build deeper relationships, navigate client-side politics, and turn trust into long-term revenue. You’ll also learn why in-housing doesn't have to mean losing the account, how to build a win-back campaign, and what separates the agencies that stay top-of-mind from the ones that don’t.

This week’s episode is all about building client trust, navigating internal change, and unlocking untapped growth within your current book of business.

In this episode, Dan and Matt discuss the following:

• Why agencies over-prioritize new business and overlook their biggest asset
• The importance of relationship mapping inside complex client organizations
• What to do when your point of contact leaves the company
• When churn is actually a good thing
• How to re-engage lapsed clients with a win-back strategy
• Why origin stories and strategic perspective matter in pitches
• How to have better conversations around in-housing and agency value

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 MATT PENSINGER:

LinkedIn

Jack Morton Worldwide

CONNECT WITH DAN ENGLANDER:

LinkedIn

Sales Schema

As an agency owner or marketer, keeping up with rapid changes in SEO and AI can feel like chasing a moving target. In this episode of The Digital Agency Growth Podcast, Brandon Leibowitz, founder of SEO Optimizers, joins Dan to share practical advice on evolving SEO strategies, leveraging AI without sacrificing creativity, and scaling an agency that stands the test of time.

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 of The Digital Agency Growth Podcast, Brandon Leibowitz emphasizes the importance of combining long-term strategy with adaptability. He shares actionable steps for balancing business development and fulfillment, building effective systems, and delegating with confidence.

Brandon Leibowitz is the founder of SEO Optimizers, a digital marketing agency helping small and medium-sized businesses increase their online visibility and drive measurable results. With nearly two decades of experience, Brandon has been featured in Entrepreneur, Yahoo, and other top publications, and now helps agency owners stay competitive in an ever-evolving market.

In this episode, Dan and Brandon discuss:

• How AI is changing SEO and what agencies need to know
• Why schema remains critical for visibility in AI-powered search
• The balance between using AI and human creativity in content creation
• Strategies for business development and branding
• How to build SOPs, delegate effectively, and scale sustainably

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 BRANDON LEIBOWITZ

SEO Optimizers

LinkedIn

Youtube

CONNECT WITH DAN ENGLANDER:

LinkedIn

Sales Schema