The blind leading the blind · AI Automation Society

The blind leading the blind

I've realized that in this space it feels like the blind leading the blind. The post below from a Redditor, followed by a bunch of "helpful tips," makes me believe that most of the advice out there is not good.

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I've been building AI automation systems for months now. 6 working systems. Good engagement on Reddit. People ask for demos. But I haven't crossed the line from "looks cool" to "here's my money."

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Here are a few of the so called helpful tips:

"Don't do Upwork or Fiverr, it's way too saturated now."

"Reach out through platforms like LinkedIn, Instagram, email, etc."

"Sorry to say but Upwork and Fiverr are a race to the bottom."

If you have ever tried cold outreach, you know how hard it is. I've read plenty of stories of people being in this space for 6 months with zero results. It's more common than people think, it might even be the norm. So when I read comments like those, I roll my eyes because they're making it harder for people who are already struggling.

I'm not saying don't do cold outreach. A lot of people make it work. But saying Upwork sucks is like saying don't go to Barcelona because there are too many tourists. Two things can be true at the same time. Yes, Upwork is competitive. But there are also clients there who will pay well. And people will always try to get the best price, whether that's on Upwork or LinkedIn. That's human nature.

Upwork is actually easier in one important way. It solves the hardest problem, which is not knowing what to sell. The person going there already knows they have a problem and needs someone to fix it. That's where you come in.

But it's not as simple as pitching and hoping for the best. You need to understand how to negotiate and close. That skill is far more valuable than knowing how to automate or use AI. Upwork works well for me. I have a system and get daily leads. Not every lead works out, but I'd rather pitch 10 times and miss 10 opportunities than not pitch at all. Because not pitching guarantees nothing will change.

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