I Asked 100+ Agency Owners the SAME Question… Here’s What They Said

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Aug 6, 2025

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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:

Jamie Adams (CRO, Scorpion) on specializing, clarifying TAM, and delivering repeatable value
Alex Membrillo (CEO, Cardinal Digital) on how niching into healthcare transformed his agency
Chris Yano (Founder, Rhino Strategic Solutions) on the power of reputation, focus, and giving back
Ron Callis Jr. (CEO, One Firefly) on deep empathy, the truth about business ownership, vertical mastery, and premium positioning
Arielle Cohen (Co-Founder, Marketing 411) on scaling fast by solving one market’s exact pain points
Austin Houser (Founder, Base Coat Marketing) on building a seven-figure agency in under a year through specialization and mindset resilience

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.