317. Turn AI Disruption into Agency Opportunity, with Leslie Carruthers
Release Date: 10/01/2025
324. Turn Data Privacy into Profit, with Aaron Burnett
The Innovative Agency
Today on The Innovative Agency Podcast Sharon Toerek sits down with Aaron Burnett, Founder and CEO of Wheelhouse DMG, for a deep dive into one of the most pressing, and misunderstood, issues in our industry: data privacy. Aaron shares hard-earned lessons from leading an agency that serves highly regulated sectors like healthcare and medical devices, revealing how boundaries around data can actually spark innovation. Aaron explores the intersection of compliance, trust, and long-term growth showing how agencies can turn regulatory challenges into strategic advantages. If you’ve ever wondered...
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323. Today’s Social Media Playbook for Agencies, with Emeric Ernoult
The Innovative Agency
Today on The Innovative Agency Podcast Sharon Toerek welcomes Emeric Ernoult, CEO of Agorapulse, to explore what’s really working in social media right now — and what’s just noise. As both a former lawyer and agency owner, Emeric brings a rare mix of legal acumen and hands-on marketing experience to the conversation. Together, he and Sharon unpack how agencies can stay ahead as technology, algorithms, and AI continue to evolve without losing sight of what truly drives connection and results. From chasing trends to protecting your IP, this episode is a masterclass in cutting through the...
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322. Designing a Future-Ready Agency, with Nick Avaria
The Innovative Agency
This episode of The Innovative Agency Podcast tackles one of the most pivotal conversations for marketing agency owners: how do you build a business that’s not only successful today but also strategically designed for the future? Joining Sharon Toerek is Nick Avaria, Founder of Agency Acquisitions and a seasoned agency owner who’s built, scaled, and sold multiple agencies. Nick shares hard-earned lessons on navigating growth, making smart exit decisions, and even why keeping your agency “unsellable” can sometimes be the most profitable path. Get practical advice, proven systems,...
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321. AI, Your Agency & Keeping the Human Connection, with Pete Sena
The Innovative Agency
Today on The Innovative Agency Podcast Sharon Toerek sits down with Pete Sena, multi-hyphenate founder, brand experience visionary, and creative provocateur, to tackle one of the most urgent questions facing agencies today: How do you keep innovating when AI is rewriting the rules of marketing in real time? If you’ve ever wondered how AI is reshaping not just how your agency works, but how your clients’ customers feel, connect, and build trust with brands, this episode is a must-listen. Pete introduces his groundbreaking “VIBE Marketing” framework, a call to arms for agency leaders...
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320. Are Webinars Your Agency’s Secret Advantage? with Logan Lyles
The Innovative Agency
On this episode of The Innovative Agency Podcast Sharon Toerek welcomes back Logan Lyles, Founder of DemandShift and a seasoned B2B marketing strategist, for a deep dive into how agencies can reclaim webinars as a high-impact growth engine. Logan reveals how his Webinar Fast Track Framework turns webinars from passive brand awareness plays into measurable lead generation machines helping agencies attract right-fit prospects and drive real results. Sharon and Logan discuss why webinars remain one of the most underutilized tools in the agency toolkit, what most teams get wrong about engagement...
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319. Scaling Up Without Burnout, with Jesse Gilmore
The Innovative Agency
On this episode of The Innovative Agency Podcast Sharon Toerek chats with Jesse Gilmore, Founder of Niche In Control. Jesse opens up about his journey from entrepreneurial burnout to building agencies that scale sustainably, without sacrificing sanity or freedom. He shares powerful lessons on the mindset shifts that turn overwhelm into momentum and breaks down why adding more people isn’t always the answer to growth. Jesse reveals how systemizing your agency can help you reclaim your time, empower your team, and finally build the freedom-filled business you set out to create. What you will...
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318. Leveraging AI for SEO Advantage, with Carl Holden
The Innovative Agency
Today on The Innovative Agency Podcast Sharon Toerek and guest Carl Holden tackle one of the biggest shifts reshaping our industry — how AI is rewriting the rules of SEO and digital marketing. Carl, agency owner and Founder of RankBot, has been at the forefront of this transformation. He’s seen firsthand how AI is changing client expectations, lowering barriers to entry, and forcing agencies to redefine what “value” really means. Carl digs into what it takes to stay relevant and profitable in this new landscape, from redefining your agency’s value proposition to applying AI...
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317. Turn AI Disruption into Agency Opportunity, with Leslie Carruthers
The Innovative Agency
Today on The Innovative Agency Podcast, Sharon Toerek is joined by Leslie Carruthers, Founder of The Search Guru, for a conversation that every agency leader needs to hear right now. Generative AI isn’t just a shiny new tool, it’s rewriting the rules of search, visibility, and how clients find their next partner. If you’ve seen your organic traffic slide or you’re struggling with how to guide clients through this AI-driven shift, this episode is for you. Leslie brings decades of search expertise and lays out exactly what’s at stake for agencies today, along with the bold moves that...
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316. Partnerships that End Churn, with Justin Rashidi
The Innovative Agency
On this episode of The Innovative Agency Podcast Sharon Toerek chats with Justin Rashidi, co-founder of SeedX, for a no-fluff conversation about one of the toughest challenges every agency faces: client churn. Justin brings a candid, inside look at why expectations so often fall apart between agencies and clients and what to do about it before the relationship unravels. From spotting red flags early, to setting crystal-clear metrics, to redefining what true partnership really looks like, Justin shares practical lessons agencies can put to work right now. This conversation also digs into why...
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315. The Table Stakes for Agency Business Growth Now, with Dan Englander
The Innovative Agency
On this episode of The Innovative Agency Podcast Sharon Toerek welcomes Dan Englander, CEO and Founder of Sales Schema, to dig into what’s really ahead for agency business development in 2025 and beyond. Dan has spent years in the trenches with independent agencies, and he’s here to share why specialization and perspective are no longer “nice to haves” but are survival skills. This conversation delves into how the current “trust recession” is reshaping the sales landscape and what it means for the way agencies show up with prospects. If you’re ready to rethink how your...
info_outlineToday on The Innovative Agency Podcast, Sharon Toerek is joined by Leslie Carruthers, Founder of The Search Guru, for a conversation that every agency leader needs to hear right now. Generative AI isn’t just a shiny new tool, it’s rewriting the rules of search, visibility, and how clients find their next partner.
If you’ve seen your organic traffic slide or you’re struggling with how to guide clients through this AI-driven shift, this episode is for you. Leslie brings decades of search expertise and lays out exactly what’s at stake for agencies today, along with the bold moves that can turn disruption into opportunity.
From navigating traffic declines to rethinking your agency’s value proposition, Leslie shares practical steps to help you stay relevant, profitable, and positioned to thrive in a rapidly changing landscape.
What you will learn in this episode:
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Why AI is causing dramatic drops in organic and paid traffic, and what agencies can do to respond
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How "findability" and SEO are evolving in the era of LLMs, generative engines, and answer-based search
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What agency leaders should be teaching clients about getting cited and discovered by AI-driven platforms
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The critical importance of brand originality, multimodal content, and strategic thought leadership
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How agencies should rethink pricing, value, and positioning in light of AI-powered content creation
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Where human expertise and insight remain indispensable
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Smart ways to experiment with AI tools, agents, and workflow automation
Bio
Leslie Carruthers is the Founder and President of The Search Guru, a digital marketing agency helping B2B enterprises drive measurable growth. With over 25 years of experience, she is a recognized expert in AI-driven marketing, SEO, and conversion optimization. A graduate of Ohio University’s E.W. Scripps School of Journalism, Leslie has trained, consulted for, and executed strategies for startups to Fortune 500 companies.
A sought-after speaker, she has presented at Content Marketing World, MAICON, SMX, eTail, and the Direct Marketing Association, delivering actionable insights on AI in marketing, search evolution, and data-driven decision-making. Named a Top 50 Content Marketing Influencer (2018) and one of the Top Women in SEO (2012), Leslie blends technical expertise with strategic vision. Her agency specializes in navigating complex sales cycles, leveraging AI to drive leads and revenue while maximizing ROI in an evolving digital landscape.
Resources:
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Website: https://thesearchguru.com/
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LinkedIn Personal: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lesliecarruthers/
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LinkedIn Business: https://www.linkedin.com/company/thesearchguru/