After over 100 episodes, The Deep Specialization Podcast wraps its journey with a powerful finale, a curated highlight reel featuring some of the most impactful voices in the agency world. In this special episode, host Corey Quinn revisits key moments from six standout interviews to answer the central question that has driven the show since day one:

“What is the benefit of taking a vertical approach to owning an agency?”

This episode captures the lessons, mindset shifts, and strategies that helped these agency leaders unlock scale, authority, and long-term success in their niches.

You'll hear insights from:

You'll also hear a few final words from Corey as he reflects on the show's impact and shares what’s next.

Whether you're still straddling multiple verticals or looking to double down on your niche, this episode is designed to inspire and equip you with battle-tested insights for the road ahead.

⏱ Episode Chapters

00:00 – Introduction and Overview
01:28 – Benefits of Verticalizing a Business
03:28 – Scaling Customer Service in a Vertical Market
05:08 – Building Confidence and Expertise in a Vertical
07:57 – Specializing in Healthcare
11:59 – Marketing Strategies for Healthcare Clients
15:24 – Challenges and Advice for Verticalizing
19:14 – Motivation and Giving Back
20:54 – Building a Legacy Through Giving Back
22:00 – Challenges and Realities of Small Business Ownership
24:06 – The Joy of Supporting Small Businesses
25:06 – The Importance of Niche Expertise
25:59 – Creating Value and Charging a Premium
28:58 – Merging and Scaling a Business
33:49 – Leveraging AI in Marketing
37:18 – Hiring and Overcoming Seasonality
38:41 – The Benefits of Vertical Market Specialization
41:16 – Podcast Evolution and Future Plans

📩 Have a question or reflection on the episode?
We’d love to hear from you.
Reach out to: http://coreyquinn.com/contact 

This podcast was produced by Reignite Media.

Want to know how ready your agency is to scale? 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 Austin Houser, Founder and CEO of Base Coat Marketing, to explore his inspiring journey from side hustle to specialized agency success. Austin opens up about how a life-threatening health crisis reshaped his mindset and pushed him to build with purpose.

He shares how focusing on a single industry transformed his business, the power of personal development, and how AI is helping him (and other agency owners) deliver better client results. For agency founders navigating growth, burnout, or big life changes, Austin’s story is a powerful reminder of what really matters.

- Specialization as a Growth Lever — Why choosing one industry helped Base Coat dominate.

- Health as a Wake-Up Call — How a personal crisis redefined Austin’s priorities and path.

- Sales = Survival — Why mastering sales is essential for agency growth.

- AI for Better Marketing — How automation is reshaping quality control and delivery.

- Building a Business That Serves Your Life — Not the other way around.

- Family as Fuel — The deeper “why” that keeps Austin pushing forward.

The resources mentioned in this episode are:

- Check out Base Coat Marketing: https://www.basecoatmarketing.com 

- Connect with Austin Houser on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/austinhouser 

- Follow Austin on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/austinjhouser

- Connect on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/austin.houser 

- Listen to our episode with Josh Nelson of Seven Figure Agency: https://www.coreyquinn.com/blog/podcast-proven-7-figure-agency-roadmap 

📘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! 🔔

😩 Feeling stuck trying to stand out in a noisy market? I’d love to give you my free crash course that will help you go from “just another generalist” to a go-to expert people seek out.

In just a few short days, you’ll learn how to position yourself with clarity, authority, and focus.

➡️ Sign up here: deepspecializationcourse.com

Join Corey Quinn and Chris Martinez, CEO & Founder of Bloom, to hear how he transformed a turbulent past into a thriving agency career. Chris opens up about the power of financial literacy, why “Facts Not Feelings” drives every major decision, and what it really takes to build an agency that can grow (and sell). From pricing strategy to personal therapy, Chris shares bold insights every agency owner needs to hear.

- From Trouble to Triumph — How Chris turned personal adversity into entrepreneurial drive.

- Facts Not Feelings — Why this philosophy is key to smart, emotion-free decision-making.

- Financial Literacy for Founders — The metrics every agency owner must master to grow and sell.

- Building a Sellable Agency — What makes a business attractive to buyers (and what doesn’t).

- Therapy and Leadership — How self-work translates into stronger leadership and better business.

- Team Over Everything — Why assembling the right people boosts value and scalability.

- Market-Rate Mindset — Why paying yourself properly reveals your agency’s true worth.

- Plan It, Prove It — The importance of documenting strategy before making big moves.

- Profit with Purpose — Why Chris plans to donate the majority of his wealth to charity.

- Check out Bloom: https://bloompartners.io 

- Buy “Facts Not Feelings” by Chris Martinez: https://www.amazon.com/Facts-Not-Feelings-Mastering-Marketing/dp/B0DPCRHY87 

- Connect with Chris Martinez on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrismartinez13 

- Follow Chris on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chrisfrombloom 

- Listen to Operation Agency Freedom Podcast: https://bloompartners.io/our-podcast 

📘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! 🔔

😩 Feeling stuck trying to stand out in a noisy market? I’d love to give you my free crash course that will help you go from “just another generalist” to a go-to expert people seek out.

In just a few short days, you’ll learn how to position yourself with clarity, authority, and focus.

➡️ Sign up here: deepspecializationcourse.com

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

Join Corey Quinn and Stewart Gandolf, CEO of Healthcare Success, to explore how AI is revolutionizing healthcare marketing. From advanced content creation tools to enhanced patient experience and streamlined operations, Stewart shares how agencies can thrive by embracing innovation. Learn the critical role of specialization, the merging of tech and healthcare, and how trust and adaptability will define the next generation of agency success.

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! 🔔

😩 Feeling stuck trying to stand out in a noisy market? I’d love to give you my free crash course that will help you go from “just another generalist” to a go-to expert people seek out.

In just a few short days, you’ll learn how to position yourself with clarity, authority, and focus.

➡️ Sign up here: deepspecializationcourse.com

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

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.

The resources mentioned in this episode are:

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! 🔔

😩 Feeling stuck trying to stand out in a noisy market? I’d love to give you my free crash course that will help you go from “just another generalist” to a go-to expert people seek out.

In just a few short days, you’ll learn how to position yourself with clarity, authority, and focus.

➡️ Sign up here: deepspecializationcourse.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 resources mentioned in this episode are:

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! 🔔

😩 Feeling stuck trying to stand out in a noisy market? I’d love to give you my free crash course that will help you go from “just another generalist” to a go-to expert people seek out.

In just a few short days, you’ll learn how to position yourself with clarity, authority, and focus.

➡️ Sign up here: deepspecializationcourse.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:

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

😩 Feeling stuck trying to stand out in a noisy market? I’d love to give you my free crash course that will help you go from “just another generalist” to a go-to expert people seek out.

In just a few short days, you’ll learn how to position yourself with clarity, authority, and focus.

➡️ Sign up here: deepspecializationcourse.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! 🔔

😩 Feeling stuck trying to stand out in a noisy market? I’d love to give you my free crash course that will help you go from “just another generalist” to a go-to expert people seek out.

In just a few short days, you’ll learn how to position yourself with clarity, authority, and focus.

➡️ Sign up here: deepspecializationcourse.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! 🔔

😩 Feeling stuck trying to stand out in a noisy market? I’d love to give you my free crash course that will help you go from “just another generalist” to a go-to expert people seek out.

In just a few short days, you’ll learn how to position yourself with clarity, authority, and focus.

➡️ Sign up here: deepspecializationcourse.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://[email protected]

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

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

- Email Travis: [email protected]

- 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! 🔔

😩 Feeling stuck trying to stand out in a noisy market? I’d love to give you my free crash course that will help you go from “just another generalist” to a go-to expert people seek out.

In just a few short days, you’ll learn how to position yourself with clarity, authority, and focus.

➡️ Sign up here: deepspecializationcourse.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.