How We Plan, Scope & Sell AI Projects in our 100k+/Mo AI Agency
AI Summary
Video Summary: Planning and Scoping AI Automation Projects
Introduction
- The video provides a four-step framework used by the presenter’s AI agency for planning and delivering AI automation projects.
- The presenter, Ben, has been running an AI agency since 2023 and also manages a community in the AI space.
Disclaimer
- The methods described are based on the presenter’s experience and may not be the only way to plan and deliver AI automation systems.
Framework Overview
- Project Scoping
- Define the problem or need.
- Clarify objectives, specific requirements, and metrics.
- Gather necessary information to design the system and judge feasibility.
- Limit the scope to essential information to avoid complexity.
- Aim to complete scoping within the first two meetings before client payment.
- System Design
- Design and establish a process to be automated.
- Create a roadmap and proposal.
- Break down projects into smaller parts or phases.
- Use diagramming software for planning (e.g., FigJam, Whimsical, Lucidchart).
- Development
- Build, test, and debug step by step.
- Implement error handling.
- Deploy and optimize based on real-world usage and feedback.
- Deployment and Optimization
- Iterate and improve the automation system.
- Maintain open communication with clients, preferably through a platform like Slack.
Example Project
- A coaching business needed to automate the process of handling LinkedIn ad leads.
- The agency broke the project into phases: lead research, lead qualification, and voice agent/email sequences.
- The initial phase provided immediate value by enriching CRM data with lead information.
- The project evolved based on client needs, eventually focusing on email sequences for unqualified leads instead of a voice agent.
Proposal and Pricing
- The proposal includes a breakdown of phases with estimated timeframes and dependencies.
- Subscription-based pricing is recommended for flexibility and ease of adding improvements.
Development Tips
- Use error handlers like “break” modules in automation software (e.g., make.com) to retry failed API calls.
- Test the system with a sample of 10 to 100 examples for debugging.
Conclusion
- The presenter emphasizes the importance of quick wins, client communication, and an MVP approach.
- Future content will cover the onboarding process and automation of agency steps.
Notes
- No detailed instructions such as CLI commands, website URLs, or specific tips were provided in the transcript.
- The video is focused on client projects but the framework is applicable to personal automation projects as well.