Scaling Success: Agencies, AI, and Acquisition with Corey Northcutt

In this episode of Retained Trust, host Karl Hughes sits down with Corey Northcutt, a serial entrepreneur and Chief Optimization Officer at Orbit Media Studios. Corey shares his journey from founding a hosting company in college to leading and selling multiple agencies, culminating in his role at Orbit Media. They discuss the evolution of digital agencies, the role of AI in marketing and optimization, and how agencies can leverage automation for smarter workflows. Corey also shares his perspective on junior roles in the AI era, the future of digital service businesses, and why he sees agency work as more resilient than ever. Whether you’re building an agency, integrating AI into your workflow, or considering an acquisition, this conversation offers valuable insights from an industry leader. Key Points From This Episode: [00:00:22] Introduction to Corey Northcutt and his entrepreneurial journey. [00:01:27] Corey’s background in building internet companies and selling agencies. [00:02:04] The role of Chief Optimization Officer at Orbit Media Studios. [00:04:46] How Corey transitioned from running his own agency to joining Orbit. [00:06:05] The size, structure, and services of Orbit Media Studios. [00:07:05] AI’s impact on SEO, content marketing, and agency workflows. [00:08:33] The role of AI in finding deficiencies vs. creating efficiencies. [00:10:46] AI’s ability to process and analyze large datasets for decision-making. [00:13:52] Does AI pose a threat to agencies, or is it a tool for growth? [00:16:47] The evolving role of junior employees in the AI era. [00:19:00] Corey’s early experiences launching a hosting business. [00:22:10] Growth hacking strategies and how Corey found underserved markets. [00:26:45] The intersection of AI, automation, and consulting work. [00:30:15] Predictions for the future of digital agencies in an AI-driven world. Links: Corey Northcutt on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/coreynorthcutt/ Corey Northcutt on X: https://x.com/corey_northcutt Orbit Media; https://www.orbitmedia.com/ Google Ranking Factors: https://www.orbitmedia.com/google-ranking-factors/ Karl Hughes on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/karllhughes Production and editing by The Podcast Consultant: https://thepodcastconsultant.com