Agencies face pressure but smart M&A chances emerge. We cover deal math, asset vs. stock pitfalls, ops fixes, “artificial upticks,” and brand-safety risks—plus lessons from Federer, Jerry Jones, and LinkedIn’s SEO surge.

Key takeaways

Agency deals: Buy assets, check contracts, cross-sell, and use AI.

Growth reality: Upticks are old deals; fix ops and hiring to grow.

Winning edge: Small gains add up—stay steady and market with flair.

TIMESTAMPS

00:00 Agencies Are Struggling—M&A Conversations Heat Up

(01:16) B2B+B2C Synergy: Community, Creators & AI Leverage

(03:58) From Skepticism to Deal Diligence: How It Starts

(04:13) Buying Agencies: Asset Deals & Contract Traps

(04:46) Fast Filters: Not Every Intro Deserves a Call

(05:40) Artificial Revenue Spikes from Delayed Deals

(06:43) Growth via New Logos vs Operational Unblocking

(08:19) Macro View: Why the Economy Still Feels Weak

(08:41) Brand Safety Gone Wrong: Public Backlash Case

(12:10) Sponsor Note: NP Digital + Growth Tools

(12:29) Federer’s 54% Rule: Winning with Marginal Gains

(15:07) Djokovic on Composure: Your Brand = Your Temperament

(15:55) Cowboys Case Study: Spectacle as Strategy

(20:41) Promo DNA: Jerry Jones Learned from Grocery Hype

(21:00) LinkedIn SEO Surge, ChatGPT Referrals Drop

(21:45) Final Takeaways & Wrap