Observations on “AI Agencies”

If you think you are behind, don’t worry, you are not… yet.

I hear a lot of people making a lot of noise about AI.

Reading about AI.

Talking about AI.

You know what I don't see?

People actually using AI.

There’s been a big surge in people using automation and there are a lot of gains to be made here.

But less so AI - especially outside of writing, creative, and research.

And this is why you are likely not behind… yet.

But it's coming, and it may be here sooner than you think.

I’m Nick Avaria, agency owner, and founder of Agency Acquisitions. Every week I share a client story, insights, and tips into scaling your agency faster. For longer insights and more in-depth analysis, follow me on YouTube for real stories of scaling agencies to 7 and 8 figures. Watch the latest videos here.

Let’s get into predictions and then what it means for you, the agency owner:

Predictions:

• If you plan on letting an AI out of the box drive value for your clients in the future - it won't. Because clients will have access to the same knowledge.

  • You need to take the model that everyone else will have and add in your own unique thinking overtop (aka train the AI on your way of doing things in addition to what the AI brings on its own.)

• Agencies that organize and structure their work properly (so when AI gets good enough to learn real thinking and not just predict the next word well) are going to win in the long run.

• Training is the way to win - if you can't train a human you can't train a AI

  • You need to train your people on how to use AI now so that they can see the iterations so they understand it better than someone that picks it up in 2-3 years.

• Agencies that are smaller now or agencies that will be started in the coming months or years when AI hits its stride will leapfrog non-AI native agencies.

  • This is because the bigger agencies will be slower to apply AI and the thinking needed while keeping the current status quo of delivering against client expectations.

What it means for you and what to do:

• Systemize and organize your work into Inputs, Processing, and Outputs

  • What are the inputs to start work

  • What it the process that we use to do the work (tip: literally record meetings and people doing the work while talking out loud on how to do the work

  • The final output

  • By having these 3 things in folders by product or service you will be able to train AI much more efficiently/quickly when it get to the point where it actually things vs regurgitates cleverly

• Train your people on how to use the current iteration of AI - at least 1 hour every 2 weeks

• Begin automating basic work, alerts, admin etc. ASAP

• Work on as good as you can for a specific use case (product/service for a specific industry)

  • There are diminishing returns on doing this in a pre-AI age, but huge upsides in doing it in a world where true AI works

• Create an AI tiger team - a small group of people internally that are interested in AI; these are your champions and educators.

Want to dive into this more for your agency? Watch my AI Survival Guide on Youtube:

Book a time with me this week to find out how to get started.

Until next time - Nick