TLDR;
This podcast episode features an interview with Danny, who builds voice agents for local businesses, particularly barbers. He discusses how he started this venture by creating a voice agent for his barber, the value these agents provide by handling missed calls and scheduling appointments, and his strategies for acquiring and retaining clients. Danny also shares his insights on pricing, the importance of solving real problems for businesses, and the potential for scalability in this niche.
- Danny started by building a voice agent for his barber, which led to a successful business.
- Voice agents help businesses capture missed opportunities by answering calls and scheduling appointments.
- Danny emphasises the importance of providing value upfront and solving tangible problems for clients.
- He suggests barbers, salons, and similar businesses are ideal targets due to their approachability and need for appointment scheduling.
Introduction: Danny's Voice Agent Business [0:00]
The podcast introduces Danny, who creates voice agents for barbers. Danny initially built a voice agent for his own barber for free, which significantly improved the barber's business by handling calls and scheduling appointments. Now, Danny charges £2,500 to £5,000 upfront, plus monthly maintenance fees, for these voice agents. The agents can be easily trained using information from a business's Google Business Profile or website. The host highlights the potential of this business model, comparing it to past opportunities like optimising Yelp profiles.
The Barber's Perspective: Implementing a Voice Agent [1:50]
Danny explains how he offered to rebuild his barber's website and implement a voice agent using GoHighLevel. His barber, who is typically very busy, found the AI agent invaluable for capturing missed calls and scheduling appointments. The voice agent provides a scheduling link via text message, allowing clients to book appointments directly. The agent is designed to sound like a real person, and clients generally don't realise they are interacting with an AI.
Logistics and Metrics: How the Voice Agent Works [5:18]
Danny details the technical setup, explaining that the voice agent replaces the barber's voicemail. If the barber doesn't answer, the call is routed to the agent. While precise metrics are still being tracked, the barber reports increased efficiency and a reluctance to answer calls himself, trusting the agent to handle inquiries effectively. The host notes that voice agents are a practical application of AI, providing tangible benefits to small businesses.
The Yelp Moment: Opportunity and Longevity [7:17]
Danny compares the current opportunity with voice agents to the early days of Yelp, Google Business Profile, Facebook ads, and Google Ads, when early adopters could gain a significant advantage. While these windows of opportunity don't last forever, they often persist longer than expected. He notes that even today, people are starting web design agencies and finding success, demonstrating the enduring nature of some business opportunities.
Value and Pricing: What Barbers Are Willing to Pay [8:13]
Danny discusses how he initially provided his services to his barber in exchange for free haircuts. He estimates that his barber would be willing to pay £2,500 upfront and £200 per month for the website and voice agent services. Pricing can vary from £1,000 to £5,000 depending on the client's understanding of the value and their current business phase. Danny emphasises the importance of not overcharging struggling startups but offering guidance instead.
Sales Strategy: Providing Value Upfront [10:35]
Danny shares his sales strategy, which involves creating a website mockup for potential clients before the first meeting using Replet and ChatGPT to identify flaws in their existing website and suggest improvements. This proactive approach impresses clients and demonstrates a genuine interest in their business. By showing tangible work upfront, Danny increases the likelihood of closing the deal and reduces the workload after the sale.
KPI Dashboards and Problem Solving [12:57]
Danny explains how he uses GoHighLevel and other KPI metrics to help clients improve their businesses. He uses ChatGPT to generate ideas for KPI dashboards tailored to specific industries, such as barber shops. He stresses the importance of solving current problems for businesses rather than trying to reinvent the wheel. By focusing on problem-solving, Danny can secure clients more quickly and learn more about their needs.
Understanding Client Goals and Building Rapport [14:54]
Danny describes his approach to understanding client goals, which involves having an initial conversation to learn about their business and objectives. He leverages his experience in e-commerce, mergers and acquisitions, and the stock market to gain insights into their needs. Building rapport and providing something tangible to showcase, such as a website mockup, are key to securing the sale.
The Barber Niche: Scalability and Approachability [16:42]
The host highlights the unique opportunity to sell to barbers while they are providing a service, creating a captive audience. While this approach may not be highly scalable, the potential revenue per client makes it worthwhile. Danny notes that barbers are approachable and don't require navigating through decision-makers, unlike some other industries. AI opens up agency services to solo businesses that previously couldn't afford them.
Demonstrating Value: Voice Agents in Action [18:36]
Danny suggests demonstrating the value of a voice agent by calling the barber shop and having the barber interact with it. He has even done this in front of other salon owners, leading to new leads. Danny emphasises the importance of having a finished product to showcase, including a well-designed website and effective SMS marketing. He recommends creating the voice agent for a potential client to test before closing the deal.
Customisation and Real-Time Updates [20:31]
The host suggests customising the voice agent in real-time by changing the business name to the barber's business name before calling. Danny confirms that this is easily done and can impress potential clients. He also mentions that the voice agent can extract information from the business's website, including FAQs and opening hours, to provide more informed responses.
KPIs and the Impact of AI [21:52]
The host explains that KPIs (Key Performance Indicators) were once limited to large companies but are now accessible to small businesses like barber shops thanks to AI. Danny shares that his partner manages the KPI dashboards. He shows a missed call section in GoHighLevel, revealing 125 missed calls that were captured by the voice agent. These "formerly missed calls" are now being converted into bookings.
Referrals and Business Growth [24:12]
Danny explains that his free customer, the barber, has generated more barbershop customers through referrals. This success has led to a pause to dedicate time to learning GoHighLevel. Danny emphasises the importance of starting with your circle of influence and providing a product that delivers tangible results. If the product is effective, it will generate referrals and further business growth.
Diversification and Future Plans [25:35]
Danny is now working with clients in various industries, including home inspections, drone washing, and remodeling. He plans to use the income from his agency to fund larger projects, such as app development and AI businesses. He advises aspiring entrepreneurs to start quickly, get their hands dirty, and focus on helping people.
Pricing and Contact Information [26:30]
Danny states that his pricing ranges from £2,500 to £5,000 upfront, with monthly fees of £200 to £500, depending on the client's needs. He aims to build a passive income stream to fund his other business ideas. Danny can be contacted at [email protected].
Community and Closing Remarks [27:43]
The host mentions that Danny is a member of his paid community, TK Owners, and presented this interview to his Playmakers community, which focuses on building AI automation agencies. He encourages listeners to check out playmakersai.com or tkowners.com for more information.
