#154 · The 3 AI Agency Models (Updated for 2026)
He recommends columns for each lead‑gen activity (Upwork proposals, cold emails, communities) with sent, interviews, calls, closed, plus replies/positive replies, and a revenue column; keep it simple, track daily counts, and calculate ratios (interview‑to‑proposal, close‑to‑call, revenue‑per‑proposal, etc.) to measure performance.
Sure. I use a deliverable tracker. I haven't used this personally, but here's how it works: each hour I note what I accomplished—e.g., created a hiring pipeline, updated a content calendar, added templates, etc. I let AI itemize it into a big sheet. The tracker lists all expenses and tasks, so I can quickly see what I did in the first hour, second hour, and so on. It serves as an accountability metric and I share it with others for transparency.
Well, this is an established system, so you have a couple of options. You could develop a brand‑new system because the client is unhappy with the current manual process, which is prone to dishonest reporting and hurts margins. Expect resistance from low‑level workers when you change the workflow, and the transition may initially feel worse than the current setup. People are often the bottleneck, so consider simplifying the process first. For example, replace manual Excel entry with an OCR solution that lets clerks upload scanned timesheets. You could also add barcodes or QR codes to each employee’s sheet; a clerk photographs the code, OCR converts it to data, and the information is uploaded automatically. Payments could be processed on a bi‑weekly basis with a quick audit to catch major issues. If you want a more robust solution, install NFC/RFID tags for each worker. They tap in and out, and you enforce rules such as a required tap‑out time or a maximum shift length. Pair the RFID system with a camera to verify taps and resolve disputes quickly. Disputes will still happen—perhaps once a week—but you can review the footage and the tap data to settle them fast. Enforce an SOP that unpaid overtime is forfeited if the worker fails to tap out. This physical, hardware‑based approach isn’t as simple as a cloud‑only solution, but modern phones can read RFID/NFC, and platforms like UniFi can trigger webhooks when a tag is scanned. Those webhooks can feed into a central employee database and automatically generate timesheets in tools like ClickUp, Toggl, Harvest, or any other system you prefer. This should give you a solid starting point for automating time‑sheet tracking in a mining operation.
Focus on revenue‑proximate automations—sales, marketing, and lead generation—because they directly increase income. Upwork is the simplest and most accessible platform, though it costs more than alternatives; its ease of use makes it a good starting point.
I always send Upwork proposals with a Loom video or a high-value personalized asset, such as a detailed Google Doc breakdown with an embedded personalized video. Giving away free, highly tailored value significantly boosts reply rates on Upwork to around 50–60%, meaning one out of every two people who view your proposal responds. As for guessing prospect problems, most service businesses within a niche struggle with the exact same core issues: 1) Reach: They lack brand visibility, so you pitch doubling their reach. 2) Lead Intent/Ads: Their ad conversion is low, so you offer to triple their ROI or reduce ad spend. 3) Conversion Process: They lack standardized sales scripts, proposal frameworks, and structured follow-ups. 4) Lifetime Value (LTV): Their Average Order Value equals their LTV because they only sell once to a client. If you help them drive repeat orders and raise LTV by 25%, you instantly increase their entire business revenue.