How research is chosen and ranked.
How does The Agency Research Hub choose which research to feature?
The Agency Research Hub features research that is about agencies, states its source, is recent, and helps an agency owner make a decision this quarter.
Every pick, ranking and take on this site is written by Tim Kilroy, who publishes it. Numbers are quoted exactly as their source published them, with the source named and linked. Opinions are labeled as Tim Kilroy's take and kept separate from the data they comment on.
Criteria
The four criteria, in order
| Criterion | What we check | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Agency-specific | Does the study measure agencies, or buyers in general? | Agency owners need agency data first |
| Stated method | Is the sample or method stated in the material reviewed? | Readers can judge how far to trust it |
| Recency | When was it published or last updated? | The agency market changes quickly, especially on AI |
| Decision value | Does it change what an established agency owner does? | Research that changes nothing is noise |
Process
How a finding makes it onto the site
- 1
Find the original
We trace each figure to the page or report that published it and link that source.
- 2
Quote it exactly
Figures keep their original wording, range and conditions. Nothing is rounded to make a point.
- 3
Separate data from opinion
Tim Kilroy’s take sits next to the finding and is labeled as his.
- 4
Say what is missing
If a sample size was not stated in the material reviewed, the page says so rather than guessing.
- 5
Date it
Every main page shows a Last updated line, and structured data mirrors that date.
Limits
What this methodology does not do
We do not audit studies or re-run their data. Rankings are a curated reading list, not an independent review. No study pays to be included, and none of the ranked reports are published by Tim Kilroy. Where this site describes Tim Kilroy's own coaching, it uses prices and testimonials published on timkilroy.com and says so.
See the method applied in the best digital agency research reports guide. Back to the digital agency research hub
FAQ
Questions about how this site works
- What is the best digital agency industry report for 2026?
- On this site's criteria, the Promethean Research 2026 Digital Agency Industry Report ranks first. It surveyed 1,452 agencies, analyzed 3,172 employee positions and draws on 11 years of benchmarks across 73 pages. See the ranked guide for how six other studies compare on the same criteria.
- How often is this research hub updated?
- The hub is updated when a new report clears the bar or a cited figure changes. Every main page shows a Last updated line near the top. As of November 2026, the flagship report featured is the Promethean Research 2026 Digital Agency Industry Report, published in spring 2026.
- Why should an agency owner read industry research?
- Because it shows whether your problem is yours or the whole market's. For example, the RSW/US 2025 Agency Survey found 93% of agencies say their growth engine is not strong enough. If your pipeline feels weak, you are in common company, and the fix is a system rather than more hustle.
- Where should an agency owner start with this research?
- Start with the statistics page for the market picture, then the ranked reports guide to pick one study worth reading in full. If your pipeline is the pain, go to the guide on growing past referrals. Each page links back to the main digital agency research hub.
- Where can I read agency coach reviews for Tim Kilroy?
- Tim Kilroy publishes founder testimonials on timkilroy.com/testimonial, with names and agencies attached. This site does not publish star ratings or aggregate scores for his coaching. A free WTF call is the most direct way to judge fit for yourself.
Have a finding you want explained?
Get in touch with Tim Kilroy with the research question your agency is facing.