Monetizing AI innovation: How to make money with AI for agencies

AI is changing how businesses and agencies operate—which means more revenue opportunities for you.

make money with AI

Here are some things you’ll learn about how to make money with AI:

  • Understanding AI’s increasing importance and its potential to generate income across various industries
  • Exploring how AI revolutionizes marketing strategies by improving efficiency, providing data-driven insights, and automating repetitive tasks
  • Delving into the complexities and challenges of implementing AI in digital marketing
  • AI tools and strategies that marketing agencies can leverage to generate income, spanning writing services, app development, and more
how to make money with AI
Step 1 Choose an AI-powered platform

Step 1 - Choose an AI-powered platform:

Select a website builder that integrates what works best for you.

Step 2 Define your website's purpose

Step 2 - Define your website's purpose:

Come prepared by clearly outlining the goals and functionalities your website will serve.

Step 3 - Input your preferences

Step 3 - Input your preferences:

Provide information about your design preferences, color schemes, and content style.

Step 4 - Customize AI suggestions

Step 4 - Customize AI suggestions:

Once the design is finished, tailor the AI-generated suggestions to align with your brand identity and specific needs.

Step 5 - Content and features

Step 5 - Content and features:

Incorporate text, images, and additional features to enhance the website’s appeal and functionality. Some options to streamline this process include:

  • Leveraging AI content generators like ChatGPT to generate the website copy.
  • Using platforms like DALL-E, Midjourney, and others to generate images.
  • Enlist the help of AI chatbot tools for an improved customer experience.
Step 6 - Optimize for mobile

Step 6 - Optimize for mobile:

Ensure your AI-built website is responsive and optimized for various devices.

Step 7 - Review and publish

Step 7 - Review and publish:

Thoroughly review the website and make necessary adjustments. Once everything looks good to go, you’re ready to publish it.

How to make money with AI-powered website services

  • Time savings: AI truly helps to streamline the website development processes, saving valuable time for your agency’s team to focus on other revenue-generating activities.
  • Resource efficiency: Reduce the need for extensive manual labor and resources in website creation. AI helps to optimize operational costs and increase profitability.
  • Scalability: Scale operations more easily with the ability to efficiently build and manage multiple websites all at once, expanding your agency’s client portfolio without significant overhead.
  • Competitive advantage: Gain a well-needed edge by offering faster turnaround times and lower costs compared to competitors using traditional website development methods.
  • Client satisfaction: Impress your clients by delivering 24/7 instant chatbot customer support and high-quality websites in less time. this can lead to increased client retention and referrals, ultimately boosting revenue for the agency.

12. Provide AI integration services

AI marketing integration for business refers to using artificial intelligence to improve how companies work. AI integration services involve using AI tools and techniques to make tasks easier, analyze data better, and make smarter decisions.

Businesses become more efficient, save time, and grow faster by using AI to automate tasks like customer service, analyzing data, and managing operations. This adds immense value to local businesses and is something you should start capitalizing on.

Different ways to offer AI integration services

  • Platform integration: You can integrate AI solutions into existing platforms, such as CRM systems, to enhance their functionalities and insights.
  • Custom solutions: Design tailor-made AI solutions for your clients’ specific business needs and integrate them into their existing workflows.
  • Consultation and training: Offer consultation services on AI adoption strategies and provide training sessions or webinars to help participants make the switch effectively.

How to market and promote AI integration services

  • Educational content: Create content that educates businesses on the benefits of AI integration, showcasing real-world examples such as case studies.
  • Networking: Establish connections within industries to showcase your expertise and offer insights into AI’s capabilities.
  • Build up your online presence: Maintain a professional website, actively participate in forums, and utilize social media to showcase your AI integration services.
  • Client testimonials: Last but not least, feature success stories and testimonials from businesses that have experienced positive outcomes through your AI integration services.

How to make money with AI integration expert services

With inflation nearly halved from this time last year (6.04%), companies are still feeling the pinch but can breathe somewhat of a sigh of relief (YCharts). However, 3.15% is still higher than many folks would like, and businesses are desperately looking for ways to stretch every penny because the cost of pretty much everything remains high. This is where AI integration experts come in handy.

Here’s how you can make the most of this opportunity:

  • Industry-specific solutions: Specialize in AI integration for specific industries. Catering to unique challenges and situations in these high-demand fields gives you leverage to tout a higher price tag.
  • Collaboration with AI providers: Don’t have experts in-house? Partner with AI solution providers to offer integration services as part of your clients’ overall packages.

13. Provide AI consulting services

AI consultants are trusted guides who help businesses navigate the complexities surrounding artificial intelligence. They help various industries embrace AI technology and offer valuable insights that enable a more calculated approach to implementation. This ensures the AI strategy chosen best aligns with the business’s goals.

Skills and knowledge required for AI consulting:

  • Deep technical understanding: You need to have a comprehensive grasp of AI technologies, algorithms, and their applications.
  • Business acumen: The ability to align AI strategies with business objectives.
  • Communication skills: You should be able to easily articulate complex AI concepts in a way that is accessible to non-technical stakeholders.
  • Continuous learning: Invest time in staying updated on evolving AI trends, technologies, and industry applications.

How to find clients as you build an AI consulting business

  • Networking: Attend industry events, connect with professionals, and leverage online platforms to expand your network.
  • Specialization: Focus on specific industries or AI applications to tailor your services and stand out in the market.
  • Online presence: Establish a strong online presence through a professional agency website, blog, and social media to showcase your expertise.
  • Client testimonials: Feature success stories and testimonials from people and businesses that have benefited from your AI consulting services.

Successful AI consultant examples

  • Quantum Black: A part of McKinsey’s AI consulting branch, originally rooted in data and analytics for Formula One racing. They use a method called Hybrid Intelligence, blending tech with human insights to tackle client problems. They rely on machine learning and their unique Brix code-sharing platform to provide customized solutions (Forbes).
  • IBM: A longstanding leader in business computing, they offer robust AI solutions for companies. Their offerings range from chatbots and computer vision to machine learning. They also assist in scaling AI initiatives from pilot projects to full implementation (Forbes).

14.  Create and sell digital products or courses with AI tools

Today, people are shirking traditional learning routes and seeking more flexible options to grow their skills. From coding to communications, graphic design to pottery throwing, users are looking online for the information they need to achieve their goals.

Businesses are searching for ways to serve these folks better, and that’s where your skills with AI can help. AI brings efficiency to digital product and course creation. It streamlines content generation, creates design elements, and personalizes experiences for a broader audience.

If you are interested in making money through selling digital products and courses with AI tools, here’s what you need to know:

AI’s role in content creation and design

  • Automated content generation: AI-powered tools can write articles, generate graphics, and even compose music, saving time and ensuring a constant flow of fresh content businesses can leverage.
  • Design enhancement: AI aids in creating visually appealing designs, suggesting layouts and color schemes, and these algorithms can even adapt to user preferences.
  • Personalization: AI analyzes user behaviors to tailor content and course materials, providing a highly personalized learning experience.

Examples of successful businesses utilizing AI tools

  • Canva: Integrates AI for design suggestions, helping users create visually stunning graphics without extensive design knowledge.
  • Coursera: Utilizes AI algorithms to recommend personalized courses based on user preferences and learning history.
  • Jukedeck: Employs AI to compose unique music tracks for various digital products and creative projects.
AI-powered email marketing services

15. AI-powered email marketing services

AI plays a large role in email marketing by helping businesses send better emails that customers actually want to read. With AI, emails can be personalized based on what customers like and when they’re most likely to open them. This makes emails more engaging and increases the chances of customers buying something. 

AI also helps figure out which subject lines and content work best through testing, so businesses can send emails that get noticed.

Overall, AI makes email marketing smarter and more effective, helping businesses connect with customers in a way that drives results. In the following sections, we’ll explore the benefits of AI for both you and your clients.

Unlocking customer insights

AI utilizes trained algorithms to analyze customer behavior and preferences. This in-depth understanding allows businesses to craft highly targeted and personalized email campaigns. By deciphering patterns and trends, AI enables marketers to send the right message to the right people at the right time, significantly increasing the chances of getting a conversion.

Dynamic content personalization

Let’s be honest, no one likes being sold to. So, how can you soften the message and convince people to buy? AI-powered email marketing services bring a more personal touch to the content you create. 

Through machine learning, your AI email marketing services can analyze vast datasets to discern individual customer preferences, and then tailor your email content accordingly. From subject lines to product recommendations, every element can be perfectly optimized for maximum impact.

Automated campaign optimization

AI doesn’t stop at personalization—it continually optimizes campaigns based on the data coming in real time. By assessing these user interactions and responses, AI adapts strategies, fine-tuning future email campaigns for improved effectiveness. This automation cuts out the guesswork and ensures that marketing efforts can always be aligned with customer behaviors, preferences, and market trends.

Boosting revenue for businesses

The integration of AI into email marketing services translates into tangible benefits for businesses seeking to generate revenue. The precision of targeted campaigns increases conversion rates, while personalized content fosters stronger customer relationships. Additionally, the automation of campaign optimization allows businesses to operate more efficiently, concentrating their efforts where they’ll yield the most returns.

So, in a nutshell, AI-powered email marketing services are a great asset for businesses and an even greater offering to add to your repertoire.

16. AI-powered YouTube content optimization

What do people like to stream on YouTube? What are they interested in, and how can you get them to watch videos from your YouTube channel? Trying to make sense of this platform can be frustrating at times. Just like everything on social media, things can and will change quickly, and that includes how YouTube likes to promote its content. 

AI algorithms excel at discerning user preferences and predicting content trends. This capability allows YouTube to serve more accurate and personalized video recommendations to users. For content creators, this means they need to appeal to these algorithms by optimizing their content to increase the odds of it getting recommended. So how can your digital agency make money from YouTube content optimization? Let’s take a look:

Leveraging AI-powered tools for maximum revenue

As a consultant, you can employ AI-powered tools to help your clients get the best outcomes for their channel. These include offering:

  • Optimized thumbnails: AI can analyze the elements that resonate with viewers and suggest thumbnail designs that capture attention, leading to higher click-through rates.
  • Content insights: AI tools can provide insights into trending topics and formats, helping creators align their content with what’s currently popular, and increasing their chances of relevance and discoverability.
  • Ad placement optimization: AI can analyze viewer behavior to recommend optimal ad placements within videos, helping to strike a balance between monetization and delivering a quality viewer experience.
Use AI for automated lead generation

17. Use AI for automated lead generation

AI acts as a major catalyst in lead generation by automating labor-intensive tasks, including data collection and analysis. With machine learning algorithms at the helm, businesses can swiftly process vast datasets to identify patterns, behaviors, and potential leads. This saves time and allows sales teams to focus more of their efforts on cultivating relationships and closing deals. 

Benefits of AI-powered lead generation tools

The incorporation of AI into lead generation comes with a whole host of advantages.

AI tools excel at sifting through immense amounts of client relationship management (CRM) data to identify quality leads. This targeted approach ensures that sales teams are engaging with prospects that are more likely to convert, helping them to better optimize their time and resources.

On top of that, AI-driven insights provide sales teams with a deeper understanding of customer preferences, enabling them to have more personalized and meaningful communications.

How to make money with AI lead-generation

Businesses looking to grow can use AI to find and close new customers in a fraction of the time. By offering AI-powered tools and advice for lead generation, you help your clients turn more leads into paying customers. This leads to more money coming in and a stronger sales process. Since your clients count on your help to keep their sales flowing, they’ll be happy to stick with you for their lead generation needs.

Examples of AI success in lead generation

  • Facebook: Facebook’s “Lookalike Audience” is a notable example of AI in action. Using machine learning algorithms, this feature scrutinizes a company’s current customer base to identify other users who share similar traits. From there, businesses can direct their ads at these “lookalike” users, broadening their outreach (Medium).
  • HubSpot: A prominent customer relationship management (CRM) platform, Hubspot employs AI-driven chatbots to deliver round-the-clock customer support. These chatbots adeptly manage routine inquiries, allowing human agents to prioritize more intricate issues. This dual approach enhances both customer satisfaction and operational productivity (Medium).

In essence, AI lead generation is not just about efficiency—it’s about optimizing the entire sales process. By offering automated lead generation tools, businesses can ensure that their sales efforts are targeted, data-driven, and poised for sustainable growth.

18. Collect, manage, and analyze data with AI

Right now, more than ever, data reigns supreme. In many ways, the insights gathered from this data act as a compass that can better help you guide strategic decisions. However, analyzing data is no small feat. Depending on the amount that needs to be processed, extracting insights from data is extremely resource-intensive, especially for a small team such as a local business. Utilizing AI in collecting, managing, and analyzing data can be the difference between rapid growth and the difficult choice of shutting down permanently for a small business owner. 

AI’s role in mastering data

AI streamlines the process of collecting data, automating tasks that would be time-consuming and prone to errors if handled manually. Moreover, AI excels at managing large datasets efficiently, ensuring that businesses have a comprehensive and organized view of their information landscape.

Unlocking valuable insights

The real power of AI in data lies in its analytical potential. AI algorithms can sift through mountains of information, identifying patterns, trends, and correlations that might elude their human counterparts. These insights are valuable assets, providing a foundation for businesses to make decisions that best align with market demands, customer preferences, and emerging trends.

How to make money with AI data-driven decisions

So, now that we have talked about how awesome AI is for decision-making, how can you make money from it? The use of AI in data analytics creates multiple revenue avenues for your digital marketing agency:

  • Targeted marketing: AI-driven insights enable you to identify and target specific customer segments for your clients, optimizing marketing efforts for increased effectiveness.
  • Operational efficiency consulting: Streamlined data management enhances your clients’ operational efficiency, leading to cost savings and improved resource allocation.
  • Product innovation consulting: Data analysis guides your clients through the development of products or services that precisely cater to customer needs and preferences, meaning your insights help them to stay agile and competitive.
  • Customer retention: Understanding customer behaviors and preferences allows you to implement strategies that enhance your clients’ customer satisfaction and loyalty.

The combination of AI and data is a catalyst for business growth and helps you and your clients generate more revenue. By embracing AI to collect, manage, and analyze data, you can help local businesses better position themselves to navigate the complexities of the modern online (and offline) market.

Engagement metrics analysis

19. Manage social media brands and accounts

Today, everyone is on social media—and we mean everyone. From your favorite soccer player to major brands like Zoom or Starbucks, everyone is trying to promote themselves on the world’s most popular platforms, including your clients. But with social media’s notoriously strict policies and differing algorithm preferences, how can a local business stay relevant and keep their brand message consistent across multiple platforms? AI is the answer.

AI’s important role in social media management

AI, in many ways, can become the backbone of efficient social media management by automating tasks that are generally time-consuming and prone to human error by taking on the role of a digital assistant. It can handle various aspects of brand presence, from content scheduling to engagement analysis, allowing businesses to focus on honing their strategy and being creative.

Automated content scheduling

AI-powered tools are great for automating the content scheduling process. They ensure that posts are strategically timed to deliver the biggest impact. By analyzing user behavior and engagement patterns over time, AI can recommend optimal posting times to best realize your clients’ visibility and engagement goals. This not only keeps posting patterns consistent but also does a great deal to foster better audience engagement.

Engagement metrics analysis

The cool thing about AI algorithms is that they can dig into the nitty-gritty of engagement metrics, decipher patterns, and uncover trends your team might have overlooked. From likes and shares to comments and click-through rates, AI provides you and your team with a clearer picture of how audiences interact with your clients’ content. The insights you share with them can empower these businesses to refine their social media strategies, creating content that better resonates with their target audience.

Optimizing social media strategies

The beauty of AI lies in its ability to learn and adapt. As it analyzes engagement metrics, AI can optimize social media strategies in real-time. This adaptability ensures that businesses can always stay ahead of trends, capitalize on emerging opportunities, and maintain a dynamic online presence that consistently captures the audience’s attention.

Chase Bank: Example of success with AI social media management

Chase Bank recently inked a five-year partnership with Persado, a New York-based firm specializing in AI-driven marketing creative (Persado). Through testing, Chase found that integrating machine learning into their copywriting yielded more engaging and human-like marketing content.

For example, one manually written ad went: “Access cash from the equity in your home.” On the other hand, Persado’s version read: “It’s true—you can unlock cash from the equity in your home.” In testing, Persado’s version outperformed the human-written content with their target audience (Social Media Strategies Summit).

This success has prompted other brands to explore Persado’s tech for AI social media services, with the company already collaborating with 250 marketers spanning the retail, finance, and hospitality sectors.

We want to hit home here that AI-driven social media management isn’t just a convenience—it’s a major strategic advantage over your competitors. By automating tasks, analyzing engagement metrics, and optimizing content strategies, you can simplify your workload all while helping local businesses elevate their online presence, foster audience connections, and pave the way for revenue growth. Now, that’s a win-win in our books.

20. AI-powered customer personalization solutions

To go the extra mile and win the hearts of customers, local businesses need to take a few steps to make the customer experience as personalized as possible. One of those important steps is enlisting the help of AI.

Personalized customer experiences

At the heart of customer personalization is designing interactions tailored to resonate positively with individual preferences. AI plays a big role in this by analyzing customer behaviors, preferences, past purchases, and interactions. This approach allows businesses to create personalized customer buying journeys, from product recommendations to targeted promos or email campaigns that help to foster a deeper connection with customers and provide them with value in the ways they want it.

The revenue potential of AI-powered personalization

Here’s how AI-powered customer personalization solutions translate directly into revenue growth for your clients (and you):

  • Increased conversion rates: Personalized experiences better resonate with your client’s customers, increasing the likelihood of customer conversion and repeat business for your consulting services.
  • Optimized marketing spending: AI ensures that marketing efforts are directed toward audiences most likely to engage, optimizing spending for better returns on investment. This means you can deliver better results for your clients faster and at a lower cost than the competition.
  • Enhanced customer loyalty: Your continuous efforts to deliver personalization foster a sense of brand loyalty for your client’s business, as customers feel understood and valued. This helps your clients by reducing churn and increasing customer lifetime value.
  • Cross-selling and upselling: AI-driven recommendations can strategically introduce customers to complementary or upgraded products, maximizing revenue per transaction for your clients. Giving your clients these context clues that lead to more sales means that they are more likely to stick with you in the long term.

AI-powered customer personalization is a revenue-generating engine. By leveraging AI to help your clients understand, anticipate, and cater to individual customer preferences, you can help these local businesses forge lasting connections, foster brand loyalty, and, in turn, unlock sustained revenue growth.

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Mary-Margaret-Bennett

About the author

Mary-Margaret Bennett is a Social Media Content Specialist at Vendasta, with a versatile background spanning business development, IT project management, and work as a writer and graphic designer across various industries. Outside of her professional endeavors, she enjoys birdwatching and crafting work for local art exhibitions.