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.