Modern website designs: Trends and actionable tips for 2025

Devansh K • March 12, 2025

Website homepage with the word

When you search for “modern website designs,” you'll definitely find some cool examples. But all those lists have one thing in common: they stop short of delivering the practical, hands-on guidance agency owners really need.
While the phrase “modern website design” might seem straightforward to seasoned web professionals, it's a lot more than just pictures, colors, and buttons on a page. Its nuances profoundly shape user expectations, brand perception, and a site’s long-term viability. In fact, web design is responsible for  94% of a visitor’s first impression  of your clients’ businesses.
In today's post, we’ll take a forward-looking approach to 2025’s most important design trends. And we'll give you actionable steps to take so you can confidently integrate them into your agency’s web design process.
Our top 11 website design trends for 2025

1. Maximalist typography

Black and white graphic with centered text:

They say, "A picture is worth a thousand words." With maximalist typography, where large, layered text is used to make a bold visual statement, the words are part of the picture. In fact, they're the focal point.
  • Expressive fonts bring out the personality of a brand and convey its message (and they're attention-grabbing).
  • Layering different fonts within images adds depth to a design, making it more visually interesting.
  • Bold titles establish a clear visual hierarchy, making the rest of the site’s content easy to scroll.
  • Best of all, they can actually simplify the web design process (since the text replaces at least some complex images or illustrations).

Keep in mind that if you're going to go this route, you need to use high-contrast colors and font pairings for maximum impact.
Best for: Promotional landing pages, creative websites (e.g., photography, fashion brands), hero images, and specific brand messaging.

2. Playful and interactive websites

Website landing page. Office setting, showcasing camera security system. Blue accents, white background.

One of our favorite trends over the last year has been the increasing use of website animations and interactive design elements.
  • Parallax scrolling, where the background of a website moves slower than the foreground creates a 3D effect.
  • Interactive menus and buttons that change color or shape when hovered over.
  • Microinteractions, like small animations or sounds that respond to user actions (e.g., a loading animation, a progress completion bar, a click animation).
  • Loading animations that include progress, fun facts, or a playful image to entertain users while they wait.

You can use these to make the site experience more engaging, which is especially important in the case of an interactive loading screen. Users will abandon a website that takes longer than three seconds to load, but the issue could be with their WiFi connection or a slow server, not your client’s site. By keeping their site visitors entertained, you can use this to reduce their bounce rate.
For instance, Expedia shows a plane flying through clouds, and updates visitors on what the site is doing in the background (in this case, searching through flights in their database).

One of our favorite trends over the last year has been the increasing use of website animations and interactive design elements.
  • Parallax scrolling, where the background of a website moves slower than the foreground creates a 3D effect.
  • Interactive menus and buttons that change color or shape when hovered over.
  • Microinteractions, like small animations or sounds that respond to user actions (e.g., a loading animation, a progress completion bar, a click animation).
  • Loading animations that include progress, fun facts, or a playful image to entertain users while they wait.

You can use these to make the site experience more engaging, which is especially important in the case of an interactive loading screen. Users will abandon a website that takes longer than three seconds to load, but the issue could be with their WiFi connection or a slow server, not your client’s site. By keeping their site visitors entertained, you can use this to reduce their bounce rate.
For instance, Expedia shows a plane flying through clouds, and updates visitors on what the site is doing in the background (in this case, searching through flights in their database).

Flight search in progress: New York to Los Angeles. Airplane icon.

You can also use them to drive conversions for your clients. See this coffee cup? The animation makes it more fun to click, so more users are likely to do so.

You can also use interactivity to demo a product or help customers get to know it right from the home screen. VR Game Developer Enver Studio uses their home page to show users what it's like to play their popular game, MotoX.

ENVER website homepage with text over a background of a person riding a jet ski.

3. White space, negative space, and minimalism 

Exploded view of a black speaker with the text

"Less is more."  Although lots of designers are going maximalist with their text content, there's still a big trend towards minimalism and the use of white space. In fact, that's how they make their maximalist text pop.
White space (or negative space) refers to the empty or unmarked area of a design, and it's as important as the elements on the page. It helps to create balance, contrast, and visual hierarchy. It also reduces cognitive load and makes the important elements on the page stand out.
Minimalism is also a way to reinforce your clients’ branding. If the product already prioritizes sleek design, minimalist packaging, a luxurious feel, and easy-to-use features, reflecting that in the website design is an absolute MUST!
Best for: Brands that exemplify minimalism in their values and aesthetics, such as Apple, Muji, or Zara.
4. Bright, bold, and vibrant colors

Figma website homepage, featuring the tagline

Whether you realize it or not, every color you choose will have a profound impact on how people feel when they visit your clients' websites. Just like grayscale colors can demonstrate sleekness and luxury, bright and bold colors can convey confidence, energy, excitement, and enthusiasm.
Gumroad uses bold, bright colors to make an emotional connection with their visitors. They want to make their brand feel lively and engaging, just like starting an online business should be.

Website split in two halves: pink text

Vibrant colors are also great for grabbing attention and making important elements stand out.
On Neil Patel's homepage, he uses white space to create a clean and minimalist design, but uses his classic bright orange branding to highlight the most important word (revenue) and the CTA button, to draw users' attention toward the free website analysis he's offering.

Webpage with text:

Best for: Brands with colorful branding, important UI elements, and a playful or energetic tone.
5. Mobile-first, responsive design

Google's mobile-first indexing requirements mean search engine crawlers will prioritize the mobile version of your clients' website content, rather than the desktop version. And, in January 2024, mobile site visits (excluding tablets) accounted for  more than 60% of all web traffic .
This makes responsive design among the most important considerations for modern website design. It guarantees the website can be easily viewed and navigated on any device, from smartphones to tablets and desktop computers.
The mobile version of the site should have:
  • The hero, main copy, and CTA before scrolling
  • Bigger font sizes and clickable icons, buttons, and links for touchscreen usage
  • No horizontal scrolling — text and images should fit within the screen width
  • Simple, app-like navigation that's suited for touchscreen usage

Our website builder puts responsiveness at the forefront. This makes it easy for agency owners to implement and maintain responsive websites, with minimal input on their end.
Best for: ALL websites — this is a basic requirement for modern website design, and all your clients should have a responsive website to ensure optimal user experience and search engine ranking.
6. Hi-res and big images 

Zara website homepage with model,

All over, we're seeing images take the forefront on websites. High-quality, large images can grab attention and give a visual break to text-heavy pages. You can use images to:
  • Showcase a product you want to highlight
  • Convey a certain type of "vibe" or emotion that aligns with your client’s brand or website
  • Break up text-heavy pages and make content more digestible

It’s also an integral part of SaaS website design — our current homepage uses a near-full-screen image to show how our site builder functions and give viewers a taste of the features.
The important thing to remember is to not mix text-heavy and image-heavy designs. When the two overlap, it makes the image hard to see and the text hard to read — it's all cluttered together.
7. Personalized images generated by AI

Some brands use AI to generate their images, rather than creating one on their own. There are  plenty of tools you can use  to instantly generate images for a client’s website, from landscapes and portraits to abstract illustrations. Just enter a prompt and it'll do the heavy lifting for you. 

Field of strawberries with a few berries popping out with a bright sun in the background.

There are a lot of considerations when using AI-generated images (like licensing and originality), but when done right, the results are astounding. Take Pentagram Agency's recent work (which agency Partner Paula Scher  vehemently defended ) on Performance.gov, a U.S. government website. 
All these images were created using MidJourney:

Website with white background, eagle graphic, red and blue shapes,

You can also use AI image generator tools as a starting point if your team is having a bit of designer's block.
Best for: Websites that need high-quality, original images quickly and easily.
8. Anti-design

Anti-design is a concept where all the elements of a design are intentionally made to be unconventional and visually jarring. It goes against traditional aesthetics and rules, resulting in a unique, attention-grabbing, and, in its own way, beautiful design.
Take Kitchen 154, a restaurant in Madrid. Its website features tons of scribbles and is made to look like it was made in a drawing program. In the upper left corner, you can actually click and add your own illustrations. 

Whiteboard with scribbled hand, text, and comic panels.

Or Advisory Board Crystals, a clothing brand from Los Angeles. The opening page of the website features two buttons: a giant padlocked door and a glowing, colorful stone. Neither has any indication what they're supposed to do (and the padlock doesn't even open).

A colorful orb above a stone archway with a figure inside. White background.

What you'll notice about every "anti-design" concept is that they're all completely different. If you're going to go this route for one of your clients, make sure it's aligned with their branding and personality, and no one else's.
Keep in mind that the one design principle you should never sacrifice is usability. Things like navigation clarity, readability, and accessibility should always be kept in mind, no matter how unconventional the design may be. Make the important elements visible and clickable, and don't hide or obscure important information.
Best for: Creative industries, art-based portfolios, and brands with edgy or rebellious identities.
9. Dark mode

"Dark mode" is the mode you switch on your smartphone when you're reading in bed and want to minimize screen glare. But it's also an increasingly popular trend in design for its energy efficiency, eye-friendliness, and ability to enhance certain brand aesthetics.
It involves using a color scheme that is the opposite of traditional light-colored design. Instead of white backgrounds throughout the website, dark mode uses black as the primary background color.
For instance, AI photo generator Lummi uses dark mode on its blog posts: 

Article header:

What you have to remember is that dark screens are hard to read when it's bright outside. So, to maximize usaility, you should always display a toggle button that allows users to switch between light and dark modes. And use neutral hues and maintain sufficient contrast for legibility.
Best for: Brands in tech, gaming, consumer electronics, and entertainment industries, as well as brands that want to convey a sleek and modern image.
10. Custom illustrations

There's also been quite a big shift away from generic stock visuals (boooring!) and toward hand-drawn illustrations. The Kitchen 154 example we showed you above is one extreme example, but there are ways to do this while abiding by traditional design principles.
Custom illustrations can add personality, charm, and a unique touch to the brand's visual identity. They're also great for visually communicating complex or abstract concepts.
There are two ways you can go about them:
  • Hire an artist to create original illustrations from scratch.
  • Use a tool like Procreate.

Design agency Designjoy uses custom illustrations throughout its single-page website (and has a  pack of vectorized illustrations  available for free). 

Website advertisement:

Jamm uses playful caricatures of PB&J to lean into their brand name and come off as more personable.

Illustration: three-step process of subscribing, adding tasks, and getting designs; depicted with food imagery.

Best for: Any client project that needs a touch of whimsy.
11. Sustainable, inclusive, and accessible web design

There are two parts to this.
Sustainability is exactly what it sounds like: reducing the environmental impact of a client's website. It means decreasing the page's load time through simplicity and creating timeless designs that don't require enormous amounts of resources to constantly update.
If your client is in an industry that values eco-friendliness, you can also add elements of sustainability into the design itself, such as using backgrounds that look like recycled materials, adding leaves, or incorporating green colors.
Inclusive design is all about designing for everyone, regardless of their abilities. There are actual guidelines for this (WCAG 2.2,  if you're interested , and we've written about the latest updates here), but the main idea is making sure designs are:
  • Perceivable: Can users access all the information on your client's site, regardless of their abilities?
  • Operable: Can they navigate and interact with it easily?
  • Understanable: Is its content clear and easy to understand for all users?
  • Robust: Does it work on different devices and assistive technologies?

Best for: ALL websites — accessibility is one of the most important factors for both users and search engines. What makes it modern, you ask?
  • It shows consistency.  Throughout the entire site, the fonts, branding, color scheme, and images speak the same language and convey the same message. This creates a cohesive and professional look.
  • Visuals are high-quality.  Every image is high-res, so there won't be any pixelated or blurry images. (Hint: We generated all the photos using MidJourney!)
  • It incorporates negative space.  Notice how there is ample white space between the elements on each section of the scroll? We made sure important details like hours of operation and buttons to reserve a table or view a menu have plenty of room to breathe.
  • It's responsive.  The template is designed to look great on any device, whether it's a desktop, tablet, or smartphone.
  • It's accessible.  The font size is large enough to be easily read by those with visual impairments, and the colors provide a high contrast for easy viewing.
  • There are just the right amount of interactive elements.  Entrance animation, scrolling animation, and hover effects make the site more dynamic and engaging, without being overbearing.
  • Typography is bold and visible.  For titles, value propositions, and important information (e.g., Christmas hours), the words on the page are large and bold enough to naturally guide site visitors’ eyes to them. 

Best practices for implementing modern website design
Now...trends are only as good as the concept that they are applied to. And they're only as good as the execution.
And what's the key differentiator when it comes to this?
Functionality.  The reason we're seeing these trends is that, in addition to looking nice, they help create a more user-friendly experience that drives conversions, user retention, and operational scalability.
Here are our best practices for truly functional modern website design:
1. Prioritize user-centricity.

Of all the things that can increase a site’s bounce rate, poor usability is probably the most frequent offender. After the first impression, the average time on site across all industries is  54 seconds . You have a window of less than a minute to get everything across, meaning important info has to be readily digestible, menus need to be intuitive to navigate, and the CTA areas should be obvious within each page.
For this to work, you need to incorporate principles of minimalism into every design (give important elements room to breathe!). And you have to use contrasting colors to accentuate what you want users to interact with.
2. Make sure the site loads fast, but don't compromise on design.

Elaborate visuals are heavy on bandwidth and processing power, which can slow down a website’s loading time. Implementing optimization techniques like caching and compressing images is a must if you want to maintain user attention and reduce bounce rates.
That said, you should never sacrifice design for speed. While performance is critical, a visually engaging website that captures the essence of a brand will always be more memorable and impactful.
"Mobile page speed is more critical for several reasons. First, it's generally harder to score well for mobile due to the slower internet and less powerful devices. Second, over 50% of web traffic comes from mobile devices. Third, Google uses the mobile version of a website for indexing and ranking."
To monitor this, use Google's PageSpeed Insights as a starting point, and check out our  guide to measuring and optimizing website performance  for a more comprehensive look.

3. Adopt scalable and responsive frameworks.

73.1% of users  abandon sites because they aren't responsive. To avoid this and make your client’s website accessible across all devices, use a responsive framework like our website builder that will do do the heavy lifting for you.
In addition to making the site appear like it's supposed to on every device, scalable frameworks will enable trends like playful interactivity across platforms.
Before you launch each client's site, test its responsiveness across devices using live browser tools.
4. Balance accessibility with uniqueness and innovation.

Even anti-design principles don't go against the ideas of inclusivity and accessibility. While it's important to stand out, don't eliminate the functional aspects of a good user experience for the sake of "standing out."
We've already created an agency checklist for accessible websites, but we'll go over the basics here:
  • Understand WCAG's  three levels of conformance , and which one applies to your client.
  • Make sure every site meets the "POUR principles" — Perceivable, Operable, Understandable and Robust.
  • Don't forget about alternative text for images and multimedia that can be read by screen readers.
  • Color contrast should be at least 4.5:1 for normal text and 3:1 for large text.
  • Avoid designs that are too flashy or have elements that may trigger seizures.
  • Use headings and labels properly to ensure easy navigation for users with disabilities.
  • Make everything keyboard-accessible.

5. Maintain consistent branding across all pages.

Branding is about consistency. If a site visitor heads to a different page and doesn't see any familiar logos or colors, they may think they've been redirected to a completely different site. Or, at the very least, they won't really understand the vibe you're trying to give off. And they won't be able to connect with it.
Make sure all elements of the design — from the hero images to fonts to button styles — are consistent throughout the entire website. This goes for all sites, no matter whether you're implementing bold typography, custom illustrations, or are considering a dark mode aspect to the site.
Ideally, work with your client to develop a style guide that outlines all of the branding elements to be used on the website. This can include logo usage guidelines, color palettes, typography choices, and everything else that drives brand consistency.
6. Optimize the site visuals for search engines.

Design and search visibility go hand-in-hand. High-res images, animations, and vibrant designs should not hurt SEO.
What does this mean? You need to add ALT tags and title attributes to multimedia elements so they can be easily read by search engine crawlers.
Structured data is another key component of optimizing your clients’ site visuals. This code, which is placed on a page to help search engines understand the content better, can be used to improve how images are displayed in search engine results pages (SERPs). Consider using structured data for things like product images or video thumbnails.
7. Structure the content for search engines as well.

Structuring your clients’ content means organizing it in a way that is easy for search engines to understand and index. This includes using headings (H1, H2, H3) to separate sections of content, incorporating keywords naturally throughout the text, and utilizing bullet points or numbered lists when it's appropriate.
You'll also include metadata, such as title tags and meta descriptions, for each page on every client’s website. These are the snippets of information that appear in search engine results pages and can greatly impact click-through rates.
Our AI SEO assistant can   auto-generate metadata and alt text , saving your team hours of manual work.
8. Monitor your clients’ sites’ performance analytics.

From a design standpoint, you need to know how a site's performing because you want to validate which design elements actually resonate with users. You can do this through the site's dashboard. And you can access other insights by integrating tools like Google Analytics (for tracking website traffic and user behavior) and Hotjar (for heatmapping and user session recording).
9. Use a CMS to manage your clients’ content.

The right CMS can enable design flexibility. By separating website content from the design, you can easily make updates to the layout and design without affecting the content itself. Ideally, you want one with enough native features that you can minimize your use of plugins — plugin overload hinders maintenance and performance.

10. Conduct user tests to gather feedback.

The ultimate way to validate a client's design is by conducting user tests to gather feedback. You can do so through moderated or unmoderated testing and surveys that ask targeted questions (like, “What made you want to click on this page?”). When you have solid data, that’s when you can refine and validate the design decisions you make for your clients.
Final thoughts

While no one knows what the future holds for specific trends in web design, the key is to stay updated and informed about industry changes and user preferences. And most importantly, keep yourself in the know about new website technology, because the two things that'll never be off the trends list are accessibility and functionality. And there will always be new ways to improve both.
A few tools to help you streamline your team's process:
  • AI-powered design tools
  • Drag-and-drop site editors
  • Collaborative design platforms with commenting, co-creating, and versioning
  • Prototyping tools that allow you to experiment with design iterations without affecting your live site
  • Wireframing  software that lets you sketch out designs before committing to code
  • Heatmapping and analytics tools that show you where users are clicking and how you can drive conversions

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How to Track Your LinkedIn Leads (and Finally See What’s Working)

By Nicole Clarke • October 28, 2025
How to Track Your LinkedIn Leads (and Finally See What’s Working) Most recruitment agencies post regularly on LinkedIn, but few actually know what’s working. You might get great engagement, but how do you know if those likes and clicks are turning into new clients or candidate enquiries? If you’re not tracking your leads, you’re flying blind. The good news is that it’s incredibly easy to fix. You just need a simple setup using UTM tracking and Google Analytics (GA4) . Here’s how to do it properly so you can see exactly which posts, people, and campaigns are driving real results. Step 1: Add UTM Links to Every LinkedIn Post Whenever you share a link on LinkedIn, whether it’s to a job, a blog, other content or a “book a demo” page etc you should add a little bit of tracking code at the end of your URL. This code is called a UTM , and it tells you exactly where your traffic came from once people land on your website. Example: https://www.xyzrecruitment.com/book-demo?utm_source=linkedin&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=demo_launch&utm_content=post1 Here’s what each tag means: utm_source=linkedin → tells you the traffic came from LinkedIn utm_medium=social → identifies it as an organic social post utm_campaign=demo_launch → labels your specific campaign utm_content=post1 → helps you see which post or person shared it You can use Google’s free Campaign URL Builder to generate these in seconds. Step 2: Use Tagged Links in Every Post and Profile Once you’ve created your UTM-tagged links, use them everywhere you share links from LinkedIn: Company updates Recruiter and consultant posts LinkedIn articles or newsletters Comments and DMs If multiple people in your team are posting, give each person their own UTM content tag (for example: utm_content=sarah_post or utm_content=liam_article ) so you can easily see who’s driving the most traffic or conversions. Step 3: Track the Results in Google Analytics 4 With your UTM links live, it’s time to see what’s working. In Google Analytics (GA4) , go to: Reports → Acquisition → Traffic Acquisition Filter by: Source / Medium = linkedin / social Now you’ll see: How many visitors came from LinkedIn Which pages they viewed Whether they filled out a form, booked a demo, or applied for a role That’s how you finally connect your LinkedIn activity to actual business outcomes. Step 4: If You Run Paid Ads — Connect LinkedIn to GA4 If you’re also running LinkedIn Ads , connect your LinkedIn Campaign Manager to GA4 . This gives you the complete picture, not just clicks and impressions, but which ads and audiences are driving conversions. Step 5: Create a Simple Dashboard Once you’re tracking everything, pull it together in a Google Looker Studio (Data Studio) dashboard. You’ll get a clear visual of: Traffic from LinkedIn (organic + paid) Conversions by campaign Which recruiters generate the most leads Your overall ROI from LinkedIn It’s simple, visual, and finally gives you proof of what’s working. Why This Matters for Recruitment Agencies Without UTM tracking, your LinkedIn traffic shows up in Google Analytics as “direct” or “referral”, which tells you nothing. With proper tracking, you’ll know: Which campaigns or posts bring in new client leads Which recruiters or consultants drive the most engagement What content types actually convert It’s not about guessing, it’s about growing with real data. Quick Recap Step 1: Add UTM links to every LinkedIn post — Tracks traffic accurately Step 2: Use consistent naming — Keeps your data clean Step 3: Check GA4 reports — See conversions clearly Step 4: Connect LinkedIn Ads — Measure full ROI Step 5: Build a dashboard — See what’s working at a glance Final Tip Consistency is key! One untagged link can throw off your data. Once you start tracking properly, you’ll quickly see which content drives leads and where to focus your marketing energy next. If you’d like help setting up UTM links or building a simple LinkedIn-to-GA4 dashboard, contact the team at www.shazamme.com we can show you exactly how to do it right!

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Top AI Marketing Resources for Agencies

September 29, 2025
The trick with AI is not simply using it but using it intelligently. This means understanding AI's limitations and using it to complement, not replace, human expertise. While proper use of AI is essential for everyone, it’s especially critical for agencies that rely on efficiency for survival and prosperity. Falling behind in AI adoption can lead to missed opportunities and reduced market relevance. Therefore, staying informed about AI advancements is crucial for marketing agencies. As AI tools evolve rapidly, agencies must continuously update their knowledge and integrate the latest innovations. This blog post compiles key resources to help agencies stay informed and proficient in AI marketing. Marketing AI Institute Blog The Marketing AI Institute blog is a premier resource that covers all aspects of AI in marketing. It offers insights into AI tools, trends, and practical applications, helping marketers understand how to integrate AI into their strategies effectively. The blog features articles on AI-powered marketing automation, customer personalization, and AI-driven content creation. It has the option to filter by marketing agencies to get a few articles tailored for marketing agencies on interesting topics like how to win more business with AI. Think of it as a one-stop shop for foundational knowledge on how to integrate AI into your marketing strategies effectively. Digital Agency Network Blog Digital Agency Network's blog is a great resource for marketing agencies in general. It is also one of the best resources for getting informed about AI for agencies (especially its AI Marketing category). If you’re wondering what an AI agency is or whether you’d like to become one, this is the place to read about it. It’s also the place to discover how AI is transforming digital marketing and advertising, offering insights into successful AI-driven campaigns and strategies. Jasper AI Blog Jasper AI’s blog focuses on leveraging AI for content creation. Therefore, it is particularly useful for agencies seeking to improve their content marketing strategies using AI. Each month, quite a bit blog posts are published, which is pretty fitting for a blog belonging to an AI content generation company like Jasper AI. Here, too, you can filter by “Marketing Strategy” for a more specific, marketing-like point of view. HubSpot Blog HubSpot’s blog needs no introduction, but I’ll introduce it anyway. Widely recognized as one of the leading B2B content hubs in the marketing industry, HubSpot’s blog serves as a comprehensive resource for marketers, sales professionals, and customer service representatives, presenting both introductory content for beginners and advanced strategies for experienced professionals. In short, this is one of the biggest resources for everything B2B. Its Marketing sub-blog is the perfect place to stay updated with marketing insights, ideas and inspirations, and the lobby page features some great AI marketing articles under the AI category. HubSpot excels at breaking down complex topics into easy-to-understand pieces, making them a great resource for agencies at any stage of their AI journey. Shane Barker’s blog Shane Barker's Blog is a prominent resource for marketers seeking insights and strategies on digital marketing, influencer marketing, SEO, social media, and AI applications in marketing. Known for its practical advice and actionable tips, the blog is recommended for marketing professionals. Shane Barker frequently shares case studies and data-driven insights, making his blog a great resource for agencies seeking to implement tangible AI marketing strategies. Jounce Jounce is a company dedicated to providing AI-driven solutions to enhance marketing strategies. Their blog provides useful insights into AI-driven marketing strategies, focusing on how AI can optimize various aspects of marketing, including content creation, customer engagement, and marketing automation. AdWeek AdWeek's AI category is a key resource for staying informed about how AI is impacting the advertising industry. The publication features articles on the latest AI innovations, trends, and case studies, highlighting how top brands are using AI to enhance their marketing efforts. Their focus on industry news and case studies makes it a valuable resource for staying on top of the latest advancements in AI advertising. AdExchanger AdExchanger is a leading publication that covers data-driven marketing, advertising, and technology. The site AI category features deep dives into AI and its implications for digital marketing and advertising. It provides valuable insights into how AI technologies are being used to optimize ad spend, improve targeting, and enhance customer experiences. MarketingProfs MarketingProfs is a well-established resource that offers a wealth of information on marketing strategies, tools, and best practices. The site includes a dedicated section on AI in marketing , providing insights into how AI can be leveraged to improve various marketing functions. With a mix of articles, webinars, and training programs, MarketingProfs helps marketers stay informed about the latest AI trends. Spiceworks Spiceworks is a network that connects technology professionals with the resources they need to make informed decisions. Their dedicated section on AI in marketing offers insights into how AI technologies are transforming marketing strategies. The blog covers topics such as AI-driven analytics, personalized marketing, and the integration of AI in various marketing platforms. Influencer Marketing Hub The Influencer Marketing Hub’s AI Marketing section is an excellent resource for understanding how AI is shaping influencer marketing. It features articles on AI tools for influencer identification, campaign optimization, and performance tracking. This blog is particularly useful for agencies focusing on influencer marketing and looking to integrate AI into their strategies.

Top 10 Agency Directories to List Your Agency and Win Clients

September 29, 2025
If you haven’t already, it’s time to expand your horizons and take a look at agency directories. I know you’re so used to referrals that you’re pretty skeptical about any other lead-generation channel. But hear me out: while referrals are undoubtedly valuable (90% of agencies cite them as their top source for new leads, according to HubSpot’s Agency Pricing and Financials Report ), diversifying your client acquisition strategy is crucial for growth. That’s where agency directories come into play, offering your agency access to a vast pool of potential clients, actively searching for services like yours. However, with so many directories to choose from, there are many factors to consider. For instance, you’ll need to think about audience relevance, search rankings, and the specific features each directory offers to help your agency stand out. In this article, we’ll provide you with a rundown of the top agency directories, reviewing their unique features, audience reach, and how they can help you differentiate yourself from the competition. We’ll explore directories that cater to a range of industries and services, from digital marketing and SEO to creative design and web development, ensuring you find the best platforms to showcase your agency and win clients. 1. Digital Agency Network (DAN) DAN was created with the goal of connecting digital marketing professionals, agencies, and clients by providing a platform where agencies can showcase their work and expertise. With impressive numbers such as 146,000+ monthly visits, it’s fair to say that DAN has a lot to offer to its 3,300+ member agencies, operating in 122 cities worldwide. One of the standout features of DAN is its curated list of member agencies, ensuring that only high-quality, reputable agencies are showcased. This selective approach boosts the credibility of the platform and helps clients find trusted partners for their digital needs. The directory also includes an extensive blog section (which we enjoy reading) where agencies can contribute thought leadership content, share case studies, and promote their services. As for the agencies' profiles, they are quite detailed, allowing agencies to showcase their services, portfolios, client testimonials, and team bios to demonstrate their capabilities. This translates into the advanced search mechanism. Businesses can easily search and filter agencies by location, industry expertise, agency size, and more to find the perfect fit. The “Get Quotes” system simplifies this process even further, allowing brands to submit project details, needs, and budgets, making it easier to connect with the most suitable agency. DAN offers both free and paid listings . While the free listing provides basic exposure, agencies looking to maximize their visibility can opt for paid membership plans, which offer enhanced features such as priority listing, access to exclusive leads, and opportunities for content promotion on DAN’s blog and social media channels. 2. Spona (formaly Top Digital Agency) Spona , formerly known as Top Digital Agency (TDA), primarily functions as a directory aimed at connecting businesses with digital agencies. However, it offers more than just a standard directory service. Spona functions as an all-in-one digital project collaboration platform. The platform combines management, financing, and project collaboration in one place and provides tools and features that enhance the matchmaking process between businesses and agencies. One of the key features is their matching algorithm, which helps pair businesses with agencies that align with their specific needs, making it easier for businesses to find the right partner. Additionally, Spona has a project posting feature, where businesses can describe their project requirements and allow agencies to bid on them. This feature adds a layer of interaction beyond a simple directory listing, turning Spona into a more dynamic platform. The agency listings are relatively detailed compared to other directories. Agencies can showcase their services, case studies, and expertise, along with information about their team, client testimonials, and contact details. The platform also allows agencies to categorize their services, making it easier for businesses to find agencies specializing in particular areas. Spona offers both free and paid options for listing agencies on their platform. Paid options often include benefits such as priority placement in search results, enhanced profile customization, and the ability to bid on projects with more visibility, which can help agencies attract more clients. 3. AdForum AdForum’s strong focus on advertising, branding, and design makes it a great platform for agencies looking to connect with clients interested in creative services. It has built a reputation as a premier directory, particularly for those in the creative industry. One of the coolest things about AdForum is its Creative Library , showcasing an extensive collection (235,000+) of global advertising campaigns and case studies, a major attraction for clients and industry professionals. Additionally, AdForum provides industry news, insights, and a dedicated awards section, which helps keep both agencies and clients informed about the latest trends and developments in the advertising world. The inclusion of a job board also makes it a versatile platform for agencies looking to expand their teams. Agencies can create detailed profiles, highlighting their services, case studies, and portfolios, with options for both free and premium listings . The premium option enhances visibility with priority placement, a more comprehensive showcasing of creative work, access to leads and RFPs (Request for Proposals), and analytics tools to track profile performance. 4. Winmo (formally REDBOOKS) Unlike traditional agency directories, Winmo , formerly known as REDBOOKS, positions itself as a sales enablement tool, offering a unique blend of agency listings, brand information, and decision-maker contacts, making it particularly valuable for agencies looking to proactively generate leads and identify new business opportunities. Another thing to know about Winmo is its integration capabilities with CRM systems, allowing agencies to seamlessly incorporate Winmo's data into their existing sales and marketing workflows. One of Winmo's unique features is its predictive intelligence capability which focuses on analyzing historical data and industry trends to forecast potential business opportunities, allowing agencies to identify and pursue new clients before they even start an official agency search. The platform offers an impressive database covering over 36,000 brands and 150,000 decision-makers, mainly focusing on the North American and UK markets. This wealth of information allows agencies to not only find potential clients but also to understand their marketing spend, agency relationships, and key decision-makers. As for pricing , Winmo’s services are premium, reflecting the value of the intelligence and tools they offer. It is an investment that works for agencies with a strategic focus on large-scale client acquisition. 5. Agency Spotter Unlike some directories that allow anyone to leave a review, Agency Spotter is known for its client-verified reviews. The review mechanism includes a review authentication process to ensure the validity of reviews. This may include verifying the reviewer's relationship with the agency, which adds another layer of trust to the system. In addition, it’s quite comprehensive, allowing clients to rate agencies across multiple categories such as quality, cost, schedule, and willingness to refer. These reviews directly impact an agency's ranking and visibility on the platform. Agencies with higher review scores and more recent reviews tend to appear higher in search results. Another thing to note about Agency Spotter is its advanced filtering capabilities. Clients can search for agencies based on specific criteria such as location, agency size, industry expertise, service offerings, audience specialty, martech, or other technologies used, and more. As for pricing , and much like most agency directories, Agency Spotter offers both free and paid options. 6. Clutch Clutch is a highly regarded directory for B2B service providers, with a strong reputation among businesses specifically looking for agencies. What sets Clutch apart is its strict vetting process: a dedicated team of analysts conducts in-depth client interviews or evaluates posted reviews to ensure quality and reliability. This provides detailed insights into an agency's performance, making it a preferred choice for businesses seeking in-depth, verified feedback. This focus on authenticity is a significant driver of Clutch’s popularity. Compared to platforms like Agency Spotter, which offers shorter, more concise reviews that are easier to scan across multiple options, Clutch goes deeper, making it better suited for businesses looking to make more informed, research-backed decisions. Beyond its comprehensive reviews, Clutch features its Leader Matrices , a unique tool that visually ranks agencies based on two axes: their ability to deliver results and their specialization in specific services. This matrix simplifies the search process, enabling businesses to quickly identify top-performing agencies within their desired niche. Just note that Clutch’s paid sponsorship model can influence how agencies are ranked or highlighted. While rankings are based on a combination of client feedback, market presence, and expertise, paying for premium placement can give agencies more visibility, which may affect how clients perceive their options. 7. Credo With Credo , it’s quality over quantity. While its pool of agencies is smaller, it has built a reputation for itself as meeting one of the highest quality standards in the industry, mainly due to its personalized agency matchmaking service in various categories, including SEO (which gets quite a bit of focus at Credo), PPC, content marketing, social media marketing, web design and development, and more. When a business submits a project request, Credo doesn't just provide a list of agencies. Instead, they take the time to understand the business's specific needs and then personally match them with the most suitable agencies from their network. For agencies considering Credo, it's important to note that the platform is selective. Not all agencies will make the cut. However, for those who do make it through the vetting process, Credo can provide access to high-quality leads from businesses serious about investing in digital marketing. As for costs, here’s what Credo has to say on their website: “Leads in the Network, if not on the Agency Growth subscription, cost from $50-$150 per lead depending on amount of contact information and if Credo has spoken with them and verified the project. You can reduce your cost per lead by approximately 75% with an Agency Growth Network subscription ($249/mo paid quarterly or $329/mo paid monthly).” 8. TopSEOs Despite its name suggesting a focus solely on SEO services, TopSEOs , founded in 2002, has evolved to cover a wide range of digital marketing categories as the digital marketing industry expanded. Today, the platform evaluates and ranks 280,000 digital marketing companies in its directory across more than 100 categories, including PPC management, social media marketing, content marketing, web design, and many more. Rumor has it that TopSEOs’ rankings are refreshed monthly, ensuring that the information remains current and relevant. TopSEOs has a free membership option that provides a basic profile and inclusion in the directory. The paid membership option, however, provides an enhanced profile with branding options and the ability to get leads and contact information of those trying to contact your agency. 9. Puddding Pudding’s forte is case studies. It simplifies the process of finding an agency by matching companies with agencies based on real case studies and proven results rather than relying on reviews or referrals. Each case study is analyzed, indexed and used to identify matches and agency recommendations. Another thing to note about Puddding is it allows businesses to quickly get a shortlist of agencies tailored to their project, with the option to request proposals or schedule meetings in as little as 24 hours. Puddding’s plans and pricing allow for a free and paid listing. The paid options offer additional benefits such as access to public RFPs, private invitations to submit proposals, and more extensive promotion across Puddding's platform 10. DesignRush What truly sets DesignRush apart is its dedication to staying ahead of industry trends and building an active marketplace. The platform consistently publishes industry insights, trend reports, and educational content, positioning itself as more than just a directory—it's an important resource for both agencies and clients. Additionally, a Google search for "digital marketing agencies" will place DesignRush on the first page, alongside DAN and Clutch, highlighting its broad reach and visibility.
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