18 months of Building an AI Agency in 49 mins

Introduction

In this article, we’ll explore how I successfully built my AI agency, AI Answers, within just 18 months, utilizing various strategies and tools to achieve rapid growth. We generated $ 15,000 in a single day and significantly increased the booking of meetings for our clients through innovative AI applications.

How It All Began

I graduated with a degree in Computer Science from NYU and worked as a software engineer for major companies such as JP Morgan and Amazon. While my technical skills were honed during this period, I realized that I was limited in my career path—no vacations, fixed working hours, and a lack of flexibility in my daily routine. The turning point came when the wave of AI technology began making headlines, specifically with the introduction of ChatGPT and its API capabilities.

The Birth of AI Answers

By integrating ChatGPT with services like 11 Labs and Twilio, I created an AI agent capable of conducting conversations over the phone. This innovation caught the attention of venture capitalists and media platforms like Bloomberg, giving me the confidence to transition my side project into a full-fledged business.

Building the Platform

Our agency focuses on automating appointment settings and follow-ups for businesses using AI-assisted phone calls, SMS, and emails. The process begins with potential clients booking meetings through our platform, which we refer to as a "flywheel." Upon entry, clients are categorized—either as beginners seeking guidance or established businesses looking for our software-as-a-service (SaaS) solutions. Our strategy is aimed at marketing agencies, where we can add the most value.

The AI Solution

We identified a particular challenge faced by many businesses: the inefficient follow-up process after initial contacts. By utilizing our AI agents, we could automate conversations and persistent follow-ups, significantly increasing appointment rates and revenue for our clients. This led us to develop tools for businesses operating in different sectors like real estate and legal services.

The Seven-Step Framework

1. Identify the Niche: Find an industry where AI can relieve pain points.
2. Client Acquisition: Use platforms like YouTube to attract clients organically.
3. Understand the Problem: Study the specific issues businesses face concerning lead generation and appointment setting.
4. AI Development: Create custom AI solutions that are easy to integrate with a client’s existing workflows.
5. Client Onboarding: Educate clients on how to use the technology effectively.
6. Automation Setup: Automate follow-up processes using SMS, email, and phone calls.
7. Analyze and Iterate: Regularly analyze performance data to refine the system.

Leveraging Open-Source Tools

We built operational efficiency using various open-source tools. For example, we utilized Bubble.io and Rag Flow to create our platform without writing extensive code. This approach speeds up development and lowers costs, allowing us to reinvest into our marketing.

Generating Leads Through YouTube

YouTube has been instrumental for lead generation. By publishing only a few videos, we established credibility in our field. Each video invites viewers to join a mailing list or book a meeting, making it easy to nurture potential leads.

Client Testimonials

Testimonials became powerful tools for conversion. Offering free services or projects in the beginning can pave the way for solid endorsements and ongoing business relationships.

The Revenue Model

Typically, we charge clients between $ 1,500 and several thousand dollars per month, depending on their needs and volume of services required. Our primary goal is to provide a positive return on investment, which encourages clients to maintain ongoing contracts with us.

The Road Ahead

Our focus is to keep refining the offerings to ensure that our AI solutions remain relevant and effective in solving business challenges. We’re continually exploring new technologies and improvement pathways, demonstrating that innovation never stops.

Keywords

AI agency, automation, lead generation, appointment setting, YouTube marketing, SaaS, testimonials, open-source tools, follow-ups, client acquisition.

FAQ

Q1: How long did it take to establish your AI agency?
A1: It took about 18 months to build and scale my AI agency, AI Answers.

Q2: How did you generate leads for your business?
A2: Most of our leads came from YouTube, where I established credibility through educational content.

Q3: What services does your agency provide?
A3: We automate appointment setting through AI phone calls, SMS, and email communication.

Q4: What is the revenue model for your services?
A4: We typically charge between $ 1,500 to several thousand dollars per month depending on client needs.

Q5: What tools did you use to build your platform?
A5: We utilized tools like Bubble.io for no-code development and Rag Flow for document processing to create our operational solutions.