I’ve been diving deep into the world of AI automation and intelligent systems recently. While the technology seems really promising, I’m struggling to figure out practical ways to turn this knowledge into actual revenue streams. I’m curious about real-world success stories from this community. For those who have managed to monetize AI-powered solutions, what specific approaches or business models have worked for you? Are you offering services to clients, building your own products, or finding other creative ways to generate income? I’d love to hear about your experiences and maybe get some guidance on where to focus my efforts. Any insights on the most profitable niches or common mistakes to avoid would be super helpful too.
Been making decent money from AI automation for about 2 years now. Started small with local businesses needing customer service chatbots.
My main income comes from three areas:
Custom automation for SMBs - Small businesses pay surprisingly well for simple stuff like automated email responses, lead qualification, and basic data entry. I charge $2k-5k per project plus monthly maintenance.
No-code automation consulting - Teaching business owners how to set up their own workflows using Zapier, Make, or Latenode. I get $150-200 per hour.
SaaS micro-tools - Built a few small apps that solve specific problems. One does automated social media scheduling for restaurants, another handles appointment reminders for dentists. Each brings in $1k-3k monthly.
The key was starting with problems I actually understood. I wasted months trying to build the next big AI thing before realizing businesses just want their boring tasks automated.
Biggest mistake I see people make is going too complex too fast. Start with simple automation that saves someone 2 hours per week. They’ll pay for that.
Local networking events are goldmines. Business owners there have real problems and budgets to solve them.