E339: How to find best-fit clients and the right niche – with Corey Quinn
Jan 31, 2024
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Former CMO of Scorpion, Corey Quinn, talks about the benefits of vertical specialization for agency owners, including higher profits and greater freedom. He also discusses finding the best-fit clients and niche, validating the market, and building relationships. Quinn emphasizes the importance of caring for the industry and having a specific positioning strategy.
Vertical market specialization helps agencies scale by positioning themselves as specialists and using targeted messaging to attract clients.
Finding a best-fit client or vertical requires data analysis, validation of market viability, and having a clear point of view that resonates with potential clients.
Deep dives
The Importance of Vertical Market Specialization
In this podcast episode, Corey Quinn discusses the significance of vertical market specialization for agencies looking to scale. He highlights the challenge of going too broad and emphasizes the need to identify niches within niches. By focusing on exclusive niches, agencies can position themselves as specialists and use targeted messaging to attract clients. Corey shares his own experience at Scorpion, where vertical market specialization led to significant revenue growth. He underlines the importance of finding a best-fit client or vertical using data, such as average revenue per business, to validate the market's viability. Corey also emphasizes the value of having a point of view and caring about the industry being targeted.
Choosing a Vertical Market
Corey provides insights into choosing a vertical market and offers practical tips to agency founders. He suggests evaluating the average revenue per business in a vertical to ensure alignment with agency pricing. Corey recommends looking for industries with a sizable market and the presence of associations, which can provide opportunities for building relationships and trust. He also mentions the importance of having a clear point of view that resonates with potential clients. Corey emphasizes the need for the founder to be energized and excited about the chosen vertical, as this passion drives agency growth.
Overcoming Challenges and Making Decisions
Corey addresses common challenges faced by agency owners when transitioning to vertical market specialization. He highlights the concept of the decision paradox, where owners fear making the wrong choice and potentially giving up short-term benefits. Corey advises agency owners to analyze data, evaluate the market's potential, and assess if the chosen vertical aligns with their goals. He provides a scoring system outlined in his workbook to facilitate decision-making. Corey also emphasizes that specializing in a large market like healthcare requires focusing on niches within the market to avoid a diluted positioning.
Strategies for Success
Corey shares strategies to help agencies succeed in vertical market specialization. He suggests conducting a thorough analysis of data to identify winners and potential winners within the market. Corey highlights the importance of caring about the chosen industry and having a genuine point of view that stands out from competitors. He mentions an example of an agency targeting the construction industry and working to improve the perception of trades. Corey also recommends regularly reviewing performance against goals and making course corrections to stay on track.
Corey Quinn is the former CMO of Scorpion and now a dedicated agency coach. Corey specializes in guiding agency founders to scale with vertical market specialization. At Scorpion, he played a pivotal role in growing the agency’s revenue 8x in 5 years to a remarkable $150M. Corey is also the author of Anyone, Not Everyone, a comprehensive guide for agency founders looking to move beyond founder-led sales.
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