# I’d Start These AI Agencies If I Was Broke

Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yok2p_ecQ3Q
Recap page: https://rapidrecap.app/video/yok2p_ecQ3Q
Generated: 2026-01-09T19:01:58.47+00:00

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## Quick Overview

The speaker recommends starting an AI Agency focused on YouTube thumbnail creation, local SEO, and general AI services in 2026, suggesting that the most effective initial client acquisition method will be cold email outreach, specifically targeting businesses that are already spending money on digital marketing, like those mentioned on Reddit or Twitter threads discussing their successful strategies.

**Key Points:**
- The speaker suggests starting an AI Agency focused on YouTube thumbnail generation as a strong money-making method for 2026.
- Initial client acquisition should heavily rely on cold email outreach, mentioning the necessity of using multiple domains for this process.
- The speaker advises against focusing on highly competitive niches like general AI or automation agencies initially, suggesting more niche or execution-focused roles like a 'reply guy' or video editor.
- A key strategy mentioned for cold email is to focus on businesses already spending money on digital ads, citing examples from Reddit discussions.
- The speaker strongly recommends creating a simple, high-converting sales page that clearly outlines the offer, similar to the one shown in the video (jackc.co/hres).
- The speaker highlights the importance of consistency, mentioning the need for short-form video content creation every day, even if it is just repurposing existing content.

![Screenshot at 0:04: The speaker introduces the topic by mentioning a previous tier list on the best money-making methods in 2026, which is heavily geared towards agency models targeting businesses.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/yok2p_ecQ3Q/00-00-04.jpg)

**Context:** The speaker is presenting a tier list and strategy guide for starting various types of agencies in 2026, focusing on which business models are most likely to be profitable given the expected market trends, particularly the rise of AI tools. The discussion centers on practical, actionable steps for agency owners, emphasizing client acquisition via cold outreach and leveraging existing marketing trends seen on social media platforms like Reddit and X (formerly Twitter).

## Detailed Analysis

The speaker outlines the best agency models to start in 2026, heavily favoring niche execution over broad AI services. The top recommended agency is a YouTube Thumbnail AI Agency, followed by a Local SEO agency and a general AI agency/VA. The speaker stresses that the type of agency matters less than the execution, noting that the core of the business, regardless of the niche (Reddit marketing, AI automation, Local SEO, or YouTube thumbnails), will boil down to sales. The primary client acquisition method advocated is cold email outreach, emphasizing the need to warm up multiple domains for this purpose. Specific advice for cold email includes creating high-converting landing pages (like jackc.co/hres), sending high volumes of emails (up to 100 leads per vertical daily), and using short-form video content creation daily, even if it's repurposed. The speaker also references social proof from Reddit/X, noting success stories from businesses already spending significant amounts ($50k-$100k/mo) on local marketing, suggesting these are warm leads. Other potential niches mentioned include AI receptionists, VAs, and e-commerce focused roles, but the speaker suggests focusing on the execution first (like cold email) before scaling into broader services. The biggest missed opportunity the speaker identifies is not starting these execution-focused ventures earlier.

### Agency Tiers for 2026

- AI Thumbnail Agency (Top Tier)
- Local SEO Agency
- General AI Agency/VA
- AI Receptionist/VA
- E-commerce Agency

### Client Acquisition Strategy

- Primary focus on cold email outreach using multiple domains for warming up
- Secondly, engaging on social media (Reddit/X) by commenting on posts from businesses already spending on marketing
- LinkedIn outreach is suggested as manual-only unless you have no money

### Cold Email Execution

- Create a landing page (e.g., gethstoria.com) for each domain, warm them up, and send emails
- Aim for 100 leads from each vertical daily, split-testing for best conversion
- Cold email copy should be very short (3-5 sentences max)

### Content Strategy

- Short-form video content creation every day, even if it is just repurposing existing material
- Long-form video (YouTube) is also recommended but should be approached with a 'day in the life' style approach.

### Referenced Success Stories

- The speaker references a comment about a client whose rankings improved significantly using these methods, showing before/after heatmaps of local rank improvements.

![Screenshot at 0:04: The speaker introduces the concept of tiering money-making methods for agencies in 2026, signaling the video's focus on strategic business choices.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/yok2p_ecQ3Q/00-00-04.jpg)
![Screenshot at 0:38: The speaker holds up a container of creatine while discussing sales, illustrating a break in the typical business talk.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/yok2p_ecQ3Q/00-00-38.jpg)
![Screenshot at 1:31: A screen capture displaying a list of public references \(links to past episodes/content\) with the banner 'Here's to us. Money wins.'](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/yok2p_ecQ3Q/00-01-31.jpg)
![Screenshot at 2:02: The speaker transitions to showing the Indexsy landing page, which guarantees ranking in 3 days, as an example of a tool/service being discussed.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/yok2p_ecQ3Q/00-02-02.jpg)
![Screenshot at 3:09: The main focus shifts to a detailed Notion page outlining revenue tracking and specific marketing/client acquisition ideas for an 'AI Agency to $10k/mo'.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/yok2p_ecQ3Q/00-03-09.jpg)