In this episode of Leverage for Growth, Jesse P. Gilmore sits down with Eric Ritter, Founder and CEO of Digital Neighbor & Host of The Search Bar Podcast to break down the real skills agency owners need to scale—delegation, documentation, and operational discipline. Eric shares how he grew his digital marketing agency by moving from "saying yes to everything" to building repeatable processes, clear SOPs, scalable services, and a culture rooted in mission and values.

You'll learn why documenting your work isn't optional if you want to scale, how to stop being the bottleneck inside your agency, and why "AI is the new intern"—powerful, but not a substitute for strategy, brand voice, or leadership.

We dive into the evolving future of AI in digital marketing, the shift from execution to strategic partnership, and how agencies can thrive by systemizing workflows, tightening their positioning, and empowering their teams. Whether you're running a lean team or a growing agency, this episode gives you the frameworks to build a business that runs without your constant involvement.