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#142 · No-frills guide to your first AI automation agency client

youtube ↗Client Acquisition

As a beginner with $5,000 to invest, which community should I join to learn the basics from scratch and stay highly connected to you?

I am the most active member in both Maker School and Make Money with Make, so you’ll get direct access to me through text‑based support (no one‑on‑one video calls). Maker School is purpose‑built for beginners, teaching foundations by doing—not just templates—and I plan to add exclusive automation tutorials soon. The paid tier covers business, accountability, networking, and higher‑level templates, while the free YouTube content handles automation basics. I’m also integrating automation into Maker School to make it a one‑stop shop. Beyond the community, I advise focusing on learning core business concepts rather than a specific business model, because those fundamentals let you succeed in any model, from waste management to junk removal.

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Related answers

youtube ↗AI & Automation

Max Krueger asks: How'd you learn automation if you had zero dollars to start?

Great question. I would watch all of my own tutorials—like the 'make money with make' playlist and the NAN full course playlists I've set up. Not exactly playlists, but compilations. The simplest and easiest way to get up and running with the technical skills is to watch those. I'd also watch a few of my business videos, like the 80/20 summary of automation basics in less than an hour. I watch that, and a prompt engineering video—those together form the 80/20 curriculum I'd recommend. Once you know that, you actually get out there and start making Upwork applications, sending emails, sending cold DMs, reactivating your network if you're running a previous business, making community posts, and so on. Basically, you need to put yourself in front of customers as much as humanly possible. It doesn't even matter what your skill levels are.

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youtube ↗Client Acquisition

What is the best community to join?

Maker School is the best community by far—it offers high earning potential, covers basic to advanced monetization, sales call mastery, agent foundations, platform overview, government and payment basics (within my limits), and NN fundamentals. I answer about 90% of posts daily in the premium community, and I’m adding automation content to make it a one‑stop shop. While I can’t give legal or tax advice, the community provides the knowledge and network to start and grow your automation business.

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youtube ↗AI & Automation

What should I learn to get started with automation and making money as a beginner?

Yeah, that's fine. My recommendation is to join my school if you want to learn how to make money with this stuff. Start with the Make.com playlist I put together—it’s over 60 hours of video guiding you from start to finish, even if the audio is a bit rough. Walk through the first dozen videos to get comfortable, then keep going. If you’re still unsure, consider joining the school and putting yourself in front of customers; the more you do that, the faster you’ll learn.

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youtube ↗Lead Generation

As a high‑school student interested in automation, should I join Maker School or focus on other ways to get my first client?

Being 15‑20 gives you a mixed bag: younger people can be seen as inexperienced, but also as naturally tech‑savvy. I’d front‑load Upwork applications until you land your first client, and spend the first few weeks on community posting. You probably don’t have a full‑time job yet, so you can watch my videos, do direct outreach, and land that first client. Once you have a paying client and can justify the expense, consider joining Maker School. Until then, the free content should give you plenty of value.

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