My first build! · AI Automation Agency Hub

My first build!

So I’ve built my first automation and wanted to share where I’m at. I did some of the free Make Academy to get started because I find visual builders easier to learn with, though I plan to pick up n8n further down the line. I’ve decided to target local tradespeople as my first niche. I’ve worked in that world and I know a few people I can warm pitch and test on cheap or free. The plan is to put the feelers out this weekend and next week and hopefully get one or two to say yes!

The build itself was fairly straightforward — missed call triggers a webhook, OpenAI generates a message, SMS fires back to the customer within seconds. The stumbling block for me was getting a UK inbound number without being a registered business. Ofcom regulations here in the UK are tight right now because of spam crackdowns, and most providers need KYC docs or a registered company. So for now I’m working around it with a developer-friendly provider while I test the concept — and once I’m confident it works and I’ve got a client or two, I’ll register as a sole trader and migrate to something like Twilio properly. No point paying for compliance before I’ve proven the model.

I know this has been done a lot, but I genuinely think it’s a solid entry point — learn the fundamentals, get a real client, build from there. My plan is to bundle in a Google Reviews prompt and a follow-up quote SMS as an upsell further down the line. Longer term my roadmap goes from this into voice automation, and eventually into warehouse and logistics where I’ve spent the last 10 years in management so I know that world inside out. That said, I’m happy to pivot at any point if a different opportunity opens up or I see something that interests me.

My question for anyone who’s been here — did you hit similar walls starting out in the UK? And do you think this is a worthwhile entry point or would you focus energy elsewhere like agents straight away? I’ll get there eventually, but this feels like the right foundation for me. If you guys had to start again what would you do first?

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My first build!