﻿{"id":5759,"date":"2025-04-21T11:33:14","date_gmt":"2025-04-21T11:33:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.sortlist.com\/datahub\/?post_type=reports&#038;p=5759"},"modified":"2025-05-14T07:48:21","modified_gmt":"2025-05-14T07:48:21","slug":"agency-discovery-report","status":"publish","type":"reports","link":"https:\/\/www.sortlist.com\/datahub\/reports\/agency-discovery-report\/","title":{"rendered":"The 2025 Agency Discovery Report: how clients choose agencies online and what it takes to stand out"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div id=\"section-67ff94dd99928\" class=\"gutenberg-block gutenberg--section\" style=\"background-image:url();\">\n        <div class=\"overlay\" style=\"background-color:\"><\/div> \n    <div class=\"gutenberg--section__wrapper wrapper\">\n        \n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\">Agencies face a challenge that is fast becoming common across all industries: <strong>visibility<\/strong>. A threat that not only affects their organic traffic levels, but also their overall revenue.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\">Until now, appearing in the top positions of search engine results pages has been enough to drive targeted, high-quality traffic to their websites. But this is no longer the case, and it&#8217;s becoming a threat for agencies.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\">On the one hand, search engines are constantly updating and changing their algorithms, decisions that have a major impact on visibility and acquisition costs. On the other hand, people are also changing, especially the way they search and behave online. All of this is happening as AI makes its way into the search world, changing the way people search and engage with content.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-large-font-size\"><strong>So what can agencies do to maximise visibility and be relevant?&nbsp;<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\">To answer this question, at Sortlist, we conducted a deep analysis of <strong>80,000+ agencies<\/strong> and <strong>500,000 buyer online searches<\/strong>: including an in-depth look at what influences visibility in <strong>AI-powered search tools<\/strong> like ChatGPT, Gemini, and Perplexity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\">We also tapped into our own marketplace data, analyzing search activity, category trends, and buyer intent signals, to reveal the <strong>patterns driving discovery<\/strong> in 2025. The insights shared in this <strong>Agency Discovery Report<\/strong> empower agencies to make smarter, data-backed decisions about visibility, positioning, and expansion.<\/p>\n\n\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:0px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"section-67fe5ea225cbd\" class=\"gutenberg-block gutenberg--section\" style=\"background-color:rgb(246,248,254);\">\n        <div class=\"overlay\" style=\"background-color:\"><\/div> \n    <div class=\"gutenberg--section__wrapper wrapper\">\n        \n\n<h1 class=\"wp-block-heading has-black-color has-text-color\" style=\"font-size:32px\"><strong>In this Agency Discovery Report:<\/strong><\/h1>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:21px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>In a landscape where search habits are shifting and trust is harder to earn, <strong>this report helps agencies navigate the new rules of visibility in 2025.<\/strong> Here&#8217;s what you&#8217;ll discover:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list has-medium-font-size\">\n<li><a href=\"#section-67fe5ea225d39\"><strong><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);color:#1012b3\" class=\"has-inline-color\">The Visibility Gap<\/mark><\/strong><\/a><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);color:#1012b3\" class=\"has-inline-color\">: <\/mark>Why traditional tactics are losing ground (and what agencies must change to stay competitive)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list has-medium-font-size\">\n<li><strong><a href=\"#section-67fe5ea225d66\"><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);color:#1012b3\" class=\"has-inline-color\">The Case for Diversification<\/mark><\/a><\/strong><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);color:#1012b3\" class=\"has-inline-color\">:<\/mark> Why betting everything on Google (or any one channel) is no longer sustainable and what a balanced, resilient strategy looks like<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list has-medium-font-size\">\n<li><strong><a href=\"#section-67fe5ea225d8f\"><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);color:#1012b3\" class=\"has-inline-color\">The Shifting Discovery Landscape<\/mark><\/a>:<\/strong> How AI-powered platforms like ChatGPT, Gemini, and Perplexity are reshaping how buyers find agencies and how to stay visible in this new ecosystem<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list has-medium-font-size\">\n<li><a href=\"#section-167fe5ea225d8f\"><strong><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);color:#1012b3\" class=\"has-inline-color\">Mapping Demand in Real Time<\/mark><\/strong><\/a>: Play with interactive dashboards to uncover where market demand is rising, which services are trending, and how your agency can act with precision<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\">If you&#8217;re still relying on outdated tactics, you&#8217;re already falling behind. <strong>This Agency Discovery Report shows you where to show up, how to get found and where to grow next.<\/strong><br><\/p>\n\n\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<div id=\"om-kd35pvppgsn08lmvzmu4-holder\">\u00a0<\/div>\n<p><!-- This site is converting visitors into subscribers and customers with OptinMonster - https:\/\/optinmonster.com --><br \/><script>(function(d,u,ac){var s=d.createElement('script');s.type='text\/javascript';s.src='https:\/\/a.omappapi.com\/app\/js\/api.min.js';s.async=true;s.dataset.user=u;s.dataset.account=ac;d.getElementsByTagName('head')[0].appendChild(s);})(document,364590,385255);<\/script><br \/><!-- \/ https:\/\/optinmonster.com --><\/p>\n\n\n<div id=\"section-67fe5ea225d39\" class=\"gutenberg-block gutenberg--section\" style=\"background-color:rgb(251,250,249);\">\n        <div class=\"overlay\" style=\"background-color:\"><\/div> \n    <div class=\"gutenberg--section__wrapper wrapper\">\n        \n\n<div style=\"height:25px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h1 class=\"wp-block-heading has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">The new reality of agency acquisition: <strong>rising costs, skeptical buyers, discovery behaviours<\/strong><\/h1>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:25px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<div id=\"section-67fe5ea225d0d\" class=\"gutenberg-block gutenberg--section\" style=\"background-image:url();\">\n        <div class=\"overlay\" style=\"background-color:\"><\/div> \n    <div class=\"gutenberg--section__wrapper wrapper\">\n        \n\n<div style=\"height:40px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center has-text-color\" style=\"color:#081f91;font-size:50px;font-style:normal;font-weight:700\">\ud83d\udcb8<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:10px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center has-text-color has-medium-font-size\" style=\"color:#081f91;font-style:normal;font-weight:400\">&nbsp;Between 2014 and 2020, B2B acquisition costs surged by <strong>over 60%<\/strong><\/h4>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center has-text-color\" style=\"color:#081f91;font-size:50px;font-style:normal;font-weight:400\">\u2b50\ufe0f\u2b50\ufe0f\u2b50\ufe0f<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:10px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center has-text-color has-medium-font-size\" style=\"color:#081f91;font-style:normal;font-weight:400\"><strong>92% of B2B <\/strong>buyers are more likely to make a purchase after reading a <strong>trusted review<\/strong><\/h4>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center has-text-color\" style=\"color:#081f91;font-size:50px;font-style:normal;font-weight:400\">\ud83d\udd0e<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:10px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center has-text-color has-medium-font-size\" style=\"color:#081f91;font-style:normal;font-weight:400\"><strong>76%<\/strong> <strong>of<\/strong> <strong>consumers<\/strong> turn to <strong>directories<\/strong> for service providers<\/h4>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:40px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<div id=\"section-67fe5ea225d4a\" class=\"gutenberg-block gutenberg--section\" style=\"background-image:url();\">\n        <div class=\"overlay\" style=\"background-color:\"><\/div> \n    <div class=\"gutenberg--section__wrapper wrapper\">\n        \n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\">As user behaviour has evolved, so has agency acquisition. It&#8217;s no longer enough to rank highly for industry keywords. Today, agencies face more <strong>skeptical buyers<\/strong> with a decision-making process that includes gathering enough information and looking for third-party reviews and comments.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\">In other words, today, in 2025, agency acquisition faces three modern challenges:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-large-font-size wp-container-content-9cfa9a5a\"><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">1. Customer acquisition: more <mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);color:#1a0cc7\" class=\"has-inline-color\">expensive and competitive<\/mark> than ever<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Customer acquisition is becoming a losing game for many agencies, and the numbers tell a sobering story. Between 2014 and 2020, <strong>B2B acquisition costs surged by over <a href=\"https:\/\/www.paddle.com\/blog\/how-is-cac-changing-over-time\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">60%<\/a>.<\/strong> And that wasn\u2019t a temporary spike. Since then, costs have continued to <strong>climb steadily<\/strong>, rising between&nbsp; <a href=\"https:\/\/focus-digital.co\/customer-acquisition-cost-trends\/#:~:text=In%20this%20section%2C%20we've,and%20compared%20it%20to%202023.&amp;text=Change%20From%202023%20Explanation:%20As,acquiring%20more%20leads%20than%20ever.\">3% and 15%<\/a> each year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group\"><div class=\"wp-block-group__inner-container is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group\"><div class=\"wp-block-group__inner-container is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\n<p><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image is-style-default\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"868\" height=\"448\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.blog.production.sortlist.cloud\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/14\/2025\/04\/image.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-5763\" style=\"width:684px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.blog.production.sortlist.cloud\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/14\/2025\/04\/image.png 868w, https:\/\/cdn.blog.production.sortlist.cloud\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/14\/2025\/04\/image-300x155.png 300w, https:\/\/cdn.blog.production.sortlist.cloud\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/14\/2025\/04\/image-768x396.png 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 868px) 100vw, 868px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Source: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.paddle.com\/blog\/how-is-cac-changing-over-time\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">Paddle<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\">This isn\u2019t just inflation, it\u2019s a reflection of a <strong>crowded digital landscape<\/strong> where everyone is chasing the same audiences, in the same places, with the same strategies. Paid channels are saturated, competition is fierce, and the returns are thinning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\">Even worse? Consumers are tuning out. Only <a href=\"https:\/\/searchengineland.com\/search-engine-experience-results-ads-survey-442943\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">12%<\/a> of them say they <strong>find search ads relevant<\/strong> at all, meaning most of your ad budget is likely being scrolled past, skipped, or ignored.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\">The message is clear: <strong>more spend no longer guarantees more visibility<\/strong>. And in 2025, standing out requires something smarter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-medium-font-size\"><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>2. Prospects don\u2019t trust agencies they <mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);color:#1a0cc7\" class=\"has-inline-color\">trust their peers<\/mark><\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Modern B2B buyers rely on their peers, not your pitch. Reviews. Ratings. Case studies. That\u2019s what drives decisions now.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group\"><div class=\"wp-block-group__inner-container is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\n<p><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group\"><div class=\"wp-block-group__inner-container is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.forbes.com\/councils\/forbescommunicationscouncil\/2020\/09\/22\/why-b2b-reviews-should-be-an-essential-part-of-your-marketing-mix\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">92%<\/a> are more likely to buy after reading a trusted review.<br><a href=\"https:\/\/www.heinzmarketing.com\/blog\/the-power-of-social-proof-how-b2b-case-studies-influence-purchasing-decisions\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">73%<\/a> use case studies to evaluate partners.<br>Only <a href=\"https:\/\/www.demandgenreport.com\/industry-news\/new-research-86-of-b2b-software-buyers-rely-on-third-party-reviews-when-making-a-purchase-decision\/7019\/#:~:text=New%20Research:%2086%%20Of%20B2B%20Software%20Buyers,A%20Purchase%20Decision%20%2D%20Demand%20Gen%20Report.\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">4%<\/a> believe what salespeople say.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\">Younger buyers, Millennials and Gen Z, trust third-party platforms more than your website. For agencies, social proof isn\u2019t a nice-to-have anymore. It\u2019s the price of entry. <br><br>At Sortlist, we see this play out every day. With over 500,000 buyers visiting our platform each month, agency reviews aren\u2019t just nice to have, they\u2019re decisive.<strong> More than 65,000 verified reviews <\/strong>help agencies earn trust upfront and spark more meaningful, high-intent conversations. In fact, verified social proof is one of the most powerful levers agencies can pull: often winning trust before a single word is exchanged<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-medium-font-size\"><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>3. &nbsp;Timing: being in the <mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);color:#1a0cc7\" class=\"has-inline-color\">right place<\/mark> at the <mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);color:#1a0cc7\" class=\"has-inline-color\">right time<\/mark><\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>B2B buyers are proactive in their purchasing decisions. Research indicates that a significant majority of customers conduct <strong>online research before making a purchase,<\/strong> emphasizing the importance of a brand&#8217;s early visibility in the buyer&#8217;s journey. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This underscores a critical challenge:<strong> a substantial portion of the buyer&#8217;s journey is completed before a prospect even reaches out to a potential vendor.<\/strong> If your agency isn&#8217;t visible during these initial stages, you&#8217;re likely missing out on valuable opportunities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Most B2B purchasing journeys begin with an online search, highlighting the necessity for agencies to establish a strong digital presence. From that initial search, <strong>the discovery process is rapid, fragmented, and often occurs without the agencies being aware they&#8217;re under consideration.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Being present at the right time isn&#8217;t just advantageous, it&#8217;s crucial. Agencies that position themselves effectively early in the buyer&#8217;s journey, providing compelling proof and clear positioning, are the ones that convert visibility into tangible business opportunities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group\"><div class=\"wp-block-group__inner-container is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:17px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:25px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-left\" style=\"font-size:22px\">This is the landscape agencies are navigating in 2025: rising costs, vanishing trust, and fleeting attention spans. But it\u2019s not all bad news.<strong> The agencies that understand this new buyer behaviour, and adapt their strategy. are already pulling ahead.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-left\" style=\"font-size:22px\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-left\" style=\"font-size:22px\">Up next, we\u2019ll explore what those strategies look like.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:10px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<div id=\"section-67fe5ea225d66\" class=\"gutenberg-block gutenberg--section\" style=\"background-color:rgb(251,250,249);\">\n        <div class=\"overlay\" style=\"background-color:\"><\/div> \n    <div class=\"gutenberg--section__wrapper wrapper\">\n        \n\n<div style=\"height:25px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h1 class=\"wp-block-heading has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\"><strong>The case for diversification: <\/strong>relying on a single channel limits growth<\/h1>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:25px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<div id=\"section-67fe5ea225d75\" class=\"gutenberg-block gutenberg--section\" style=\"background-image:url();\">\n        <div class=\"overlay\" style=\"background-color:\"><\/div> \n    <div class=\"gutenberg--section__wrapper wrapper\">\n        \n\n<div style=\"height:10px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:10px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>Putting all your visibility efforts into Google is a risky move for agencies, especially when margins are on the line.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Yes, search engines can drive traffic. But they\u2019ve also become increasingly unstable. A few years ago, Google made occasional updates to its algorithm. Now it rolls out <strong>thousands each year<\/strong>, often with no warning &#8211; meaning your hard-earned rankings can disappear overnight.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\">And it\u2019s not just about rankings. <strong>The cost of visibility is rising fast.<\/strong> Competition for both paid and organic spots is fierce. Since 2022, Google Ads CPC has jumped more than <a href=\"https:\/\/www.veuno.com\/ad-platform-cost-rises-and-predictions\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">65%<\/a> , making it harder (and more expensive) to stay visible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\">You might think about shifting to social platforms instead, but acquisition costs are growing there too:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p>Meta ads CPM is up <a href=\"https:\/\/www.veuno.com\/ad-platform-cost-rises-and-predictions\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">7.4%<\/a> since 2023<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>TikTok CPM has soared <a href=\"https:\/\/www.veuno.com\/ad-platform-cost-rises-and-predictions\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">90%<\/a><strong>+<\/strong> since 2021<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>LinkedIn CPC has climbed <a href=\"https:\/\/www.veuno.com\/ad-platform-cost-rises-and-predictions\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">52%<\/a> since 2023<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\">It\u2019s clear: the entire digital ad space is oversaturated, expensive, and unpredictable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\">So what\u2019s the alternative?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\"><mark style=\"background-color:#fbfaf9\" class=\"has-inline-color\">To stay competitive, agencies need a more resilient visibility strategy, one that goes beyond just search and social. That means showing up <strong>where prospects are already looking<\/strong>: trusted third-party directories.<\/mark><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\">Platforms like <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.sortlist.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Sortlist<\/a><\/strong> connect over <strong>120,000 businesses<\/strong> with nearly <strong>100,000 vetted agencies<\/strong> every year, putting agencies in front of decision-makers <strong>right at the moment they\u2019re searching for a partner<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:25px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"510\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.blog.production.sortlist.cloud\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/14\/2025\/04\/image-2-1024x510.png\" alt=\"Platforms like Sortlist connect over 120,000 businesses with nearly 100,000 vetted agencies every year\u2014putting agencies in front of decision-makers right at the moment they\u2019re searching for a partner. The agency discovery report 2025\" class=\"wp-image-5777\" style=\"width:680px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.blog.production.sortlist.cloud\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/14\/2025\/04\/image-2-1024x510.png 1024w, https:\/\/cdn.blog.production.sortlist.cloud\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/14\/2025\/04\/image-2-300x149.png 300w, https:\/\/cdn.blog.production.sortlist.cloud\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/14\/2025\/04\/image-2-768x382.png 768w, https:\/\/cdn.blog.production.sortlist.cloud\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/14\/2025\/04\/image-2.png 1304w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<div style=\"height:25px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>And the results speak for themselves:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:10px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li class=\"has-medium-font-size\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.jasminedirectory.com\/blog\/are-business-directories-still-relevant-in-2025\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">76%<\/a><strong> of consumers<\/strong> still turn to directories for service providers<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"has-medium-font-size\">Agencies in trusted directories see <a href=\"https:\/\/www.jasminedirectory.com\/blog\/are-business-directories-still-relevant-in-2025\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">24%<\/a><strong> more website visits<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"has-medium-font-size\">That traffic converts <a href=\"https:\/\/www.jasminedirectory.com\/blog\/are-business-directories-still-relevant-in-2025\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">15%<\/a><strong> better<\/strong> than organic search alone<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"has-medium-font-size\">In niche sectors, specialized directories drive <a href=\"https:\/\/www.jasminedirectory.com\/blog\/are-business-directories-still-relevant-in-2025\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">3.4x<\/a><strong> more qualified leads<\/strong> than general platforms<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:10px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>Being listed on a high-trust business directory helps agencies:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:10px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\" datatext=\"\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li class=\"has-medium-font-size\">Build credibility with buyers<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"has-medium-font-size\">Attract qualified, high-intent leads<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"has-medium-font-size\">Improve backlink diversity and SEO<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"has-medium-font-size\">Tap into demand without high acquisition costs<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:10px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\">It\u2019s not about replacing paid media, but <strong>balancing<\/strong> it. Diversifying your acquisition strategy with platforms like directories, email, social, and referrals helps reduce risk and build a more stable, scalable pipeline for growth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:10px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<div id=\"section-67fe5ea225d8f\" class=\"gutenberg-block gutenberg--section\" style=\"background-color:rgb(251,250,249);\">\n        <div class=\"overlay\" style=\"background-color:\"><\/div> \n    <div class=\"gutenberg--section__wrapper wrapper\">\n        \n\n<div style=\"height:25px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h1 class=\"wp-block-heading has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\"><strong>The shifting discovery landscape:<\/strong> how AI is changing visibility<\/h1>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:25px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<div id=\"section-67fe5ea225d9d\" class=\"gutenberg-block gutenberg--section\" style=\"background-image:url();\">\n        <div class=\"overlay\" style=\"background-color:\"><\/div> \n    <div class=\"gutenberg--section__wrapper wrapper\">\n        \n\n<div style=\"height:10px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\">The way people search for information is undergoing one of the biggest shifts in over a decade and AI is driving the change.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\">Google, for example. It\u2019s gradually rolling out AI-generated overviews that now appear at the top of search results summarizing key answers <em>before<\/em> you even reach the ads, maps, or websites. This is more than a design tweak. It\u2019s a fundamental change in how users interact with search and who gets noticed first. If your agency isn\u2019t part of those summaries, you may not be seen at all.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\">And Google isn\u2019t the only player rewriting the rules. Platforms like <strong>ChatGPT, Gemini, and Perplexity<\/strong> are quickly becoming go-to tools for information discovery, especially during the early research and comparison stages of the buyer journey. These tools don\u2019t pull from just any website. They prioritize <strong>verified, structured sources<\/strong> like business directories, knowledge hubs, and trusted content.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:14px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:50%\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"777\" height=\"652\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.blog.production.sortlist.cloud\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/14\/2025\/04\/image-1.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-5770\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.blog.production.sortlist.cloud\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/14\/2025\/04\/image-1.png 777w, https:\/\/cdn.blog.production.sortlist.cloud\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/14\/2025\/04\/image-1-300x252.png 300w, https:\/\/cdn.blog.production.sortlist.cloud\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/14\/2025\/04\/image-1-768x644.png 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 777px) 100vw, 777px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Source: <a href=\"https:\/\/static.semrush.com\/file\/docs\/evolution-of-online-after-ai\/Online_Search_After_ChatGPT.pdf\">Semrush<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:50%\">\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\">The shift is already happening:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:10px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li class=\"has-medium-font-size\">In 2023, <a href=\"https:\/\/static.semrush.com\/file\/docs\/evolution-of-online-after-ai\/Online_Search_After_ChatGPT.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">13 million<\/a> U.S. adults&nbsp; were using generative AI as their <em>primary<\/em> search method. By 2027, that number will skyrocket past <strong>90 million<\/strong>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"has-medium-font-size\">Gartner predicts that by 2026, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.gartner.com\/en\/newsroom\/press-releases\/2023-09-21-gartner-expects-sixty-percent-of-seller-work-to-be-executed-by-generative-ai-technologies-within-five-years\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">60%<\/a><strong> of B2B discovery<\/strong> will start with AI tools. Not traditional search engines.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"has-medium-font-size\">Even Google\u2019s dominance is showing cracks: its market share just dipped below <a href=\"https:\/\/searchengineland.com\/google-search-market-share-drops-2024-450497\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">90%<\/a> for the first time since 2015.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:10px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p style=\"font-size:18px\"><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:25px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>For agencies, this means one thing: <strong>you need to show up where AI is looking.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>AI tools favor clarity, structure, and credibility. They scan directories and trusted sources, pulling in content that is cleanly formatted, consistent, and verified over time. That means being listed on platforms like Sortlist isn\u2019t just helpful. It\u2019s strategic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>To improve visibility in this AI-powered landscape, <strong>agencies need to get the fundamentals right:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:10px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li class=\"has-medium-font-size\">Clearly define your <strong>services<\/strong>, <strong>expertise<\/strong>, and <strong>locations<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"has-medium-font-size\">Keep pricing, availability, and contact <strong>details up to date<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"has-medium-font-size\">Collect <strong>client reviews and case studies<\/strong> to build trust<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"has-medium-font-size\">Use <strong>long-tail keywords<\/strong> and direct answers that AI models can easily quote<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"has-medium-font-size\">Add <strong>schema markup<\/strong> and keep your site mobile-friendly<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"has-medium-font-size\"><strong>Build links<\/strong> from trusted, relevant sources like business directories<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:10px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\">AI is changing <em>who<\/em> gets discovered, and <em>how<\/em>. Agencies that adapt early will be the ones showing up first, earning trust faster, and winning more business.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:10px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<div id=\"section-167fe5ea225d8f\" class=\"gutenberg-block gutenberg--section\" style=\"background-color:rgb(251,250,249);\">\n        <div class=\"overlay\" style=\"background-color:\"><\/div> \n    <div class=\"gutenberg--section__wrapper wrapper\">\n        \n\n<div style=\"height:25px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h1 class=\"wp-block-heading has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\"><strong>Expanding the reach:<\/strong> where demand is growing, and how to spot it<\/h1>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:25px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<div id=\"section-67fe5ea225d9d\" class=\"gutenberg-block gutenberg--section\" style=\"background-image:url();\">\n        <div class=\"overlay\" style=\"background-color:\"><\/div> \n    <div class=\"gutenberg--section__wrapper wrapper\">\n        \n\n<div style=\"height:10px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\">As the way clients search evolves and visibility becomes harder to secure, knowing <em>where<\/em> demand is growing (and <em>when<\/em> to act) is more important than ever. That\u2019s why, as part of this Agency Discovery Report, we\u2019ve gone beyond search behaviour and AI-driven discovery to also explore where <strong>real, actionable demand signals<\/strong> are emerging.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\">At Sortlist, we analysed thousands of buyer projects across Europe to help agencies turn data into strategy, making smarter decisions around positioning, market expansion, and acquisition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\">To support this, we\u2019ve built four interactive dashboards that map out the key discovery trends shaping the 2025 landscape<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\">Together, these dashboards give agencies a real-time, data-backed view of <strong>where their services are most needed and most valuable<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\">\ud83d\udca1 With these dashboards, agencies can:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:10px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li class=\"has-medium-font-size\"><strong>Pinpoint where demand is growing<\/strong> and where budgets are strongest<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"has-medium-font-size\">Align marketing and outreach with<strong> seasonal buying patterns<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"has-medium-font-size\">Identify which <strong>industries<\/strong> are actively <strong>searching<\/strong> for their services<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"has-medium-font-size\"><strong>Make sharper decisions<\/strong> on positioning, visibility, and expansion<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:40px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center has-large-font-size\"><strong>This is what smart, strategic visibility looks like in 2025.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\">\ud83d\udc49 Dive into the dashboards and let the data guide your next move<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:10px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/public.flourish.studio\/visualisation\/22415835\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">\ud83d\udccd Project Value Dashboard<\/a> \u2013 See where budgets are highest by country and expertise.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"flourish-embed flourish-hierarchy\" data-src=\"visualisation\/22415835\"><script src=\"https:\/\/public.flourish.studio\/resources\/embed.js\"><\/script><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/public.flourish.studio\/visualisation\/22415835\/thumbnail\" width=\"80%\" alt=\"hierarchy visualization\" \/><\/noscript><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:10px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>\ud83d\udcc8<a href=\"https:\/\/public.flourish.studio\/visualisation\/22415604\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"> Project Volume Dashboard<\/a> \u2013 Track which services are most in demand across Europe.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"flourish-embed flourish-hierarchy\" data-src=\"visualisation\/22415604\"><script src=\"https:\/\/public.flourish.studio\/resources\/embed.js\"><\/script><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/public.flourish.studio\/visualisation\/22415604\/thumbnail\" width=\"80%\" alt=\"hierarchy visualization\" \/><\/noscript><\/div>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/public.flourish.studio\/visualisation\/22458750\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">\ud83d\udcc5 <strong>Seasonality Dashboard<\/strong> <\/a>\u2013<strong> Understand how service demand fluctuates by month and region.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"flourish-embed flourish-chart\" data-src=\"visualisation\/22435260\"><script src=\"https:\/\/public.flourish.studio\/resources\/embed.js\"><\/script><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/public.flourish.studio\/visualisation\/22435260\/thumbnail\" width=\"80%\" alt=\"chart visualization\" \/><\/noscript><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Examples: what the data reveals and how to use it<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li class=\"has-medium-font-size\"><strong>UX\/UI agencies in Italy<\/strong> may benefit from expanding into <strong>Germany<\/strong>, where both budgets and Q2 demand are stronger.<br><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"has-medium-font-size\"><strong>Branding firms in Belgium<\/strong> could increase visibility in the <strong>UK or Netherlands<\/strong>, where both volume and value rise mid-year.<br><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"has-medium-font-size\"><strong>Email marketing and SEO<\/strong> see consistent demand in <strong>France and Spain<\/strong>, but <strong>Germany and the Netherlands<\/strong> offer <strong>higher average budgets<\/strong>.<br><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"has-medium-font-size\"><strong>Software and cloud services<\/strong> experience clear <strong>Q2 demand spikes<\/strong>, pointing to annual IT investments.<br><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/public.flourish.studio\/visualisation\/22479662\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">\ud83c\udfed Top Industries per Service Dashboard<\/a> \u2013 Discover which sectors are actively seeking services like SEO, branding, software development, and more.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"flourish-embed flourish-chart\" data-src=\"visualisation\/22458750\"><script src=\"https:\/\/public.flourish.studio\/resources\/embed.js\"><\/script><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/public.flourish.studio\/visualisation\/22458750\/thumbnail\" width=\"80%\" alt=\"chart visualization\" \/><\/noscript><\/div>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading has-medium-font-size\">The <strong>Top Industries dashboard<\/strong> reveals new targeting angles:<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li class=\"has-medium-font-size\"><strong>Social and influencer marketing<\/strong> is booming in <strong>beauty, fashion, and restaurants<\/strong>, especially in <strong>Spain and Italy<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li class=\"has-medium-font-size\"><strong>Video, design, and PR<\/strong> thrive in <strong>education and healthcare<\/strong> sectors across <strong>France and Belgium<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li class=\"has-medium-font-size\"><strong>Digital strategy and development<\/strong> see strong pull from <strong>construction, utilities, and agriculture<\/strong> in <strong>Belgium and Spain<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li class=\"has-medium-font-size\"><strong>B2B services<\/strong> like marketing, SEO, and content strategy are in demand in <strong>Germany and the UK<\/strong>, particularly in <strong>software, legal, and consulting<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:25px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\">These trends are based on <strong>real buyer behaviour happening on our platform right now<\/strong>. Whether your agency is refining its timing, exploring new verticals, or expanding into new markets, these insights provide a practical edge.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:10px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:10px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<div id=\"section-7t57fji8\" class=\"gutenberg-block gutenberg--section\" style=\"background-color:rgb(251,250,249);\">\n        <div class=\"overlay\" style=\"background-color:\"><\/div> \n    <div class=\"gutenberg--section__wrapper wrapper\">\n        \n\n<div style=\"height:25px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h1 class=\"wp-block-heading has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\"><strong>Final thoughts<\/strong>: positioning your agency where it matters most<\/h1>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:25px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<div id=\"section-67fe5ea225d9d\" class=\"gutenberg-block gutenberg--section\" style=\"background-image:url();\">\n        <div class=\"overlay\" style=\"background-color:\"><\/div> \n    <div class=\"gutenberg--section__wrapper wrapper\">\n        \n\n<div style=\"height:10px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>The rules of agency discovery have changed, and they won\u2019t stop changing anytime soon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In an increasingly complex, competitive, and AI-driven search landscape, <strong>visibility is no longer about simply showing up. It\u2019s about showing up in the right places, with the right proof, at the right time.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This <strong>Agency Discovery Report<\/strong> has uncovered how clients <em>really<\/em> search for agency partners in 2025, backed by over <strong>500,000 buyer journeys<\/strong>, <strong>80,000 agency profiles<\/strong>, and thousands of real-world project signals across Europe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center has-large-font-size\"><strong>At Sortlist, we don\u2019t just observe these changes, we help agencies stay ahead of them.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>With the most comprehensive marketplace data in the B2B agency space, we give you the insights, tools, and exposure you need to be found, trusted, and chosen. Whether you&#8217;re looking to expand into new markets, improve visibility in AI-powered search, or convert more high-intent buyers, <strong>we&#8217;re here to help you grow where it counts.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:25px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:25px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading has-medium-font-size\"><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);color:#1012b3\" class=\"has-inline-color\">2025 Agency Discovery Report: want to take the next step?<\/mark><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Reach out to our team at <strong>hello@sortlist.com<\/strong> to:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:10px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li class=\"has-medium-font-size\">Request a personalized analysis of your visibility and growth opportunities<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Learn how Sortlist can position your agency where buyers are already searching<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Access deeper insights or support for your expansion strategy<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:10px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Let\u2019s make sure your agency isn\u2019t just visible, but chosen.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:25px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:25px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<\/p>\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><p><\/p>\n\n<\/p>\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":16,"featured_media":5850,"template":"","reports_categories":[5],"class_list":["post-5759","reports","type-reports","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","reports_categories-industry-reports"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.8 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>The 2025 Agency Discovery Report: how clients choose agencies online and what it takes to stand out - Data Hub<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"The 2025 Agency Discovery Report explores a silent challenge: visibility. 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