I recently started my AI automation agency, Automation Unlocked, and in just a few short months, we’re on track to hit $20,000 in monthly revenue. I wish I had a roadmap when I was starting out, so I’m going to share with you the exact method I used to secure our first AI automation client.
When I first started, I offered my work for free in exchange for testimonials. I know it might seem counterintuitive to work for free, but it’s a great way to get the experience you need and build social proof. Plus, you can use testimonial.to to make it easy for clients to leave a review.
After putting out some tweets making it clear what I offered, I reached out to agency owners on Twitter offering to automate their onboarding flow and lead qualification process for free. It took about 20 DMs, but I finally secured my first client.
The automation I built for him included a Google form with a new client’s information that triggered a web hook, creating multiple Google Drive folders, subfolders, and inviting the client to Slack. I also assigned an internal team member to own the account and added them to the channel. The second automation watched form responses on his website and performed different actions based on whether those leads were qualified or not.
At first, I was overwhelmed and made some mistakes. I took longer than expected and the client was needy, but I still built some really valuable automations for him for free. Eventually, he became one of our first paid customers.
To scale and get a non-stop flow of paying clients, you need to focus on content and outreach. Post valuable, informative content on social media every day and make sure to engage with people. You can also use tools like Instantly and Drippy AI to send thousands of cold emails and DMs with a personalized touch.
Remember, customization is key. Show your prospective clients that you understand their unique needs and have a tailored solution specifically for their business. With persistence and hard work, you can secure your first AI automation client and scale your agency.