For years, the agency world has been locked in a civil war. On one side, the brand purists argue that “creative is the last unfair advantage.” On the other hand, the performance hackers claim that “if it doesn’t sell, it isn’t creative.” This binary choice is not just exhausting, it is commercially dangerous. For the […]
Creativity vs Performance Marketing Is the Wrong Debate Read More »
As we push past the mid-year mark, agency leaders are facing a familiar balancing act: protecting margins while keeping teams engaged. If you are evaluating your own agency growth strategy, navigating these market shifts requires moving from reactive adjustments to proactive scaling. Here at Now Next Why, we’ve spent the last few months deep in
How to Build a Resilient Agency Growth Strategy for H2 Read More »
In a world where “full-service” was once the gold standard, the tide has turned. Today’s CMOs are no longer looking for a jack-of-all-trades; they are looking for the master of one. The era of the generalist agency is being squeezed by two forces: the rise of sophisticated in-house teams and the hyper-efficiency of AI. In
Why Specialist Agencies Are Winning the Future of Marketing Read More »
For decades, the billable hour has been the bedrock of professional services. It is a model built on transparency: time equals money. But for the modern agency, this legacy system has become a ceiling. It creates a fundamental conflict of interest where the client wants efficiency, but the agency is incentivised for duration. To thrive
The End of Billable Hours: Rethinking the Agency Revenue Model Read More »
The latest BenchPress data has landed, and on the surface, the UK agency landscape is enjoying a long-awaited summer. With 60% of £1m+ agencies growing fee income and average hourly rates climbing 6% to £122, the numbers suggest a sector in full recovery mode. However, at Now Next Why, we look beneath the headlines and
Why Your Agency Growth Strategy Needs More Than Just “Good News” Read More »
The marketing agency landscape is evolving faster than ever. Leaders focused on marketing agency growth need clarity, strategy and insight to navigate technology shifts, client expectations and talent challenges. At Now Next Why, we work with agency leaders to diagnose where their business truly stands and make deliberate decisions that drive sustainable growth. Here’s our
10 Trends Shaping Marketing Agency Growth Read More »
What a state. Socially. Politically. Economically. Everywhere you look, uncertainty rules. And in agency land, it’s becoming harder to find the positives. Harder but not impossible. Why Traditional Business Growth Strategies are Failing Agencies overburdened by overheads are feeling the squeeze. Costs are rising, clients are cautious, and growth is no longer a given. But
The State of the Market: Business Growth Strategies Built on Efficiency Read More »
As we enter 2026, AI is still in the headlines. Will the bubble burst, will the government ban Grok, has AI killed the networks? Where does Jensen Huang get those leather jackets? Hype cycle aside, it is clear that clients and agencies of all stripes are still wrestling with what an AI future holds. According
The expert factor: driving value and relevance in the AI era Read More »
Now Next Why is gearing up for the next instalment of our agency-leader webinar series, Power Up Your Proposition on Wednesday 4th February at 10am. Designed for founders, agency leaders and strategy teams, this session will explore one of the most important drivers of agency growth heading into 2026: a sharp, distinctive and motivating agency
Upcoming Webinar: Power Up Your Proposition — Wed 4th February at 10am Read More »
A plea for polarisation and investing in your agency brand Whilst estimates vary, there’s about 30,000 agencies of all stripes in the UK. That’s a lot of competition. Especially when clients are increasingly seeking alternative automated solutions. So, whether you’re looking to acquire new clients, fresh talent or perhaps be acquired, the question is always
The importance of being pointy Read More »