This Boring AI Skill Will Create Millionaires in 2026
What Makes an AI Service Worth Selling?
Introduction to AI Services
- The speaker, Jordan, suggests that starting an AI agency in 2026 should focus on a specific skill that businesses already understand and want, rather than flashy automation promises.
- He emphasizes that many new AI agencies will fail because they offer services too distant from generating revenue.
Importance of Revenue Proximity
- Jordan shares his experience running successful agencies and mentoring others, highlighting the importance of selling services closely tied to revenue generation.
- He invites viewers to share their goals for 2026 for a chance to win a strategy call with his team.
Agency Service Trends
- The speaker notes that many agency service trends have come and gone over the years, stressing that the viability of an agency depends on its service offerings.
- A good service must deliver clear results and remain desirable even after initial hype fades away.
Case Study: Social Media Marketing
- Jordan reflects on the social media marketing boom in 2017 when companies rushed to advertise online; despite reduced hype today, his agency continues to thrive due to its direct link to revenue.
Understanding Client Needs
- He contrasts two types of agencies reaching out to businesses: one focusing on efficiency through AI automation versus another emphasizing revenue generation through AI sales systems.
- This concept is referred to as "revenue proximity," where services closer to revenue are perceived as more valuable by clients.
Challenges Faced by AI Agencies
Value Perception Issues
- Many AI services struggle because they do not directly address urgent business needs; clients prioritize immediate financial concerns over nice-to-have features.
Historical Context: Chatbot Agencies
- Chatbot agencies initially gained traction but often provided indirect value—saving time without directly impacting revenue during tough months for businesses.
Market Saturation and Pricing Pressure
- The rise of SaaS solutions has made it easier for businesses to access tools at lower costs, increasing pricing pressure on traditional agency models.
The Future Focus: Lead Generation
Shift Towards Revenue Generation Solutions
- Despite the popularity of automation tools like NA10 or Zapier, many workflows created lack practical application in real business scenarios.
Conclusion: Emphasizing Practicality Over Hype
- Jordan argues that successful agencies should focus on lead generation using AI as it directly correlates with increasing client revenues.
AI Lead Generation: Transforming Business Revenue
The Challenge of Converting Leads
- Businesses traditionally rely on agencies for lead generation through paid traffic or outbound sales, but the real struggle lies in converting these leads into revenue.
- Many businesses lack the time or resources to effectively follow up on inquiries, leading to lost opportunities.
Intent Decay and Its Impact
- A scenario illustrates how potential customers lose motivation to purchase when they don't receive timely responses from businesses, highlighting a common issue known as intent decay.
- Research from Harvard Business Review indicates that contacting a lead within five minutes significantly increases the likelihood of making contact compared to waiting longer. Over 50% of companies take over an hour to respond.
The "Leaky Bucket" Concept
- The metaphor of a "leaky bucket" describes how efforts in lead generation can be wasted if there are delays in follow-up, resulting in lost sales opportunities.
- AI can address this problem by immediately reaching out to new leads, qualifying them through conversation, and booking appointments without delay. This allows business owners to focus on running their operations rather than managing leads directly.
Simplifying Sales Processes with AI
- Agencies offering AI-driven lead generation services provide a straightforward solution that appeals directly to business owners' understanding of leads and revenue without needing complex explanations about technology.
- The service model is repeatable; while messaging may vary per client, the core system remains consistent—traffic input leads to AI-managed conversations resulting in qualified appointments output.
Future Prospects for AI in Sales
- Looking ahead, AI's role will expand beyond just booking appointments; it may eventually handle more aspects of sales conversations and transactions autonomously as public comfort with AI selling evolves. Compliance issues will need addressing before full implementation occurs.
- Positioning oneself within the evolving landscape of AI lead generation offers longevity due to its ability to solve persistent problems faced by businesses historically reliant on traditional methods for generating revenue.