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

𝗔𝗕𝗢𝗨𝗧 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗖𝗛𝗔𝗡𝗡𝗘𝗟 Welcome to Marketing School, one of the top business podcasts with over 61 million downloads. Each episode delivers actionable marketing tips and strategies from two entrepreneurs who truly practice what they preach. The show is hosted by Eric Siu, founder of Leveling Up and Single Grain, and Neil Patel, co-founder of Neil Patel Digital and recognized by Forbes as a Top 10 Marketer. 🎙️ Learn More About the Hosts Eric Siu – Leveling Up: https://www.youtube.com/@LevelingUpOfficial Neil Patel: https://www.youtube.com/@neilpatel 📩 Free Resources Growth Newsletter: https://levelingup.beehiiv.com/subscribe Ubersuggest: https://www.ubersuggest.com/ Answer The Public: https://www.answerthepublic.com/

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