#305 · do automation agencies still work in 2026?

youtube ↗Niches

Do automation agencies still have a chance to be successful, especially when targeting property managers, or is the issue the niche versus the service?

He explains that it's rarely the business model itself that fails after a few months of no results; it's usually the tactical implementation. He advises committing to outreach channels for at least 90 days, testing and iterating to maximize volume and effectiveness, treating the process like a scientific experiment—sending many emails to test different offers and picking the better performer. He emphasizes expected value per outreach action, noting that even if early results are zero, each effort has a small expected return that compounds over time, and you must keep improving until you see momentum before comparing to other mechanisms.

automation agencyproperty managersniche vs service

Related answers

youtube ↗Agency Operations

If you're running a marketing agency, what does your thought process look like and how do you structure systems to manage teams and projects?

All agencies share the same fundamental shape: lead generation at the top (via ads, cold emails, cold calls, etc.), which funnels into a sales event (typically a discovery or closing call). From there you onboard the client, fulfill the promised service, and manage the client—checking in on progress—before delivering the project, possibly with a revision cycle that leads to another transformation event where you resell them. I’ve documented this shape in the three automation agency sales flows and a roadmap to $25k/month automation that you can download for free. The real key to success isn’t becoming a top AI or automation specialist; it’s becoming a good business person who understands the container (the agency model) and what you put inside it. This mindset can be learned in a couple of weeks, and you don’t need to be expert at the specific service you’re offering.

agency structurelead generationfulfillmentclient management
youtube ↗Agency Operations

Nick, I'm 18 and live in a country where small and medium‑sized businesses are far behind with AI and automation; they don't know Zapier or Make. Is it smart to build an automation agency here now to make money during the lag period and level up systems thinking before the window closes?

He says yes, it's smart to start an automation agency now to capture the lag, but you should focus on delivering strategic outcomes and consulting rather than just selling tools. You can still make money with tools, but the real value is in helping clients achieve business results. He also notes that if you're not making $10k/month yet, focus on reaching that income first, and that many traditional businesses (web design, clay pottery) still thrive, so it's not all black‑and‑white.

automation agencylag marketsystems thinking
youtube ↗Agency Operations

What's my plan if automation advances make my automation business redundant—what should I pivot to?

I haven't thought about that in detail, so I don't have a detailed backup plan. I expect the core work of running an automation agency to remain viable for at least three to five years. Over that period the work will evolve—no‑code AI tools like pre‑draft generators will make many tasks more efficient. That doesn't mean you won't be able to run an agency; agents and other services will start to infiltrate the business model soon, but the model itself remains sound because the same shift will happen across the industry.

automationpivotfuture
youtube ↗Agency Operations

What are your plans when the viability of automation agencies gets more saturated and declines like SMMA's?

Um, I don't necessarily think that the decline of automation agencies is inevitable. While SMMA's definitely experienced that fate, I don't believe the automation agency industry will decline simply because there won't be time for the same thing to happen to AI automation—by the time we reach that point, AI will be so good it will do the vast majority of the work for us. It's not just our industry that will decline; every industry on Earth will face decline. So this is still a market opportunity. Right now we're probably filling about 60% of the opportunity with the technology stack I use, but new technologies and approaches emerge daily, so there's still plenty of space. If you're not already in it, don't wait on the sidelines—jump in, take action, start a business, and begin doing stuff.

automation agencymarket saturation