Launch with AI: The Agile Path to Success

Maybe the algorithm is trying to tell me something, but I’ve heard a concept from multiple different people, in different ways over the last few weeks:

“Now Not How” – Noah Kagan

“Press Publish” – Colin and Samir

“Do It Now” – Brian Tracy

“Done is better than Perfect” – Sheryl Sandberg

“Start Before You’re Ready” – Marie Forleo

“Ready, Fire, Aim” – Michael Masterson

“Be Demand First, Not Supply First” – Jason Cohen

“Sharpen our ideas in the market; not in our minds” – Daniel Priestley

Just Do it. But starting something new is daunting. There’s a million things that need to be done and limited time to do it in. So where do you start? You start with selling.

Sell before the brand exists, before the domain is purchased, before the first line of code is written.

Sales is the process of asking questions and finding out what people want. You get a commitment from them (often money, but could just be an email address) and then you figure out how to deliver.

But this is a newsletter about AI. So I asked myself: Could AI take this advice and apply it in new and innovative ways to test demand even earlier, and reduce risk of failure even further?

Yes, of course! What kind of AI Newsletter would this be if the answer was no?

Some of best ways that AI can help de-risk a business or product as early as possible are:

Critique and Refine Ideas

AI is another voice to critique and refine ideas before presenting them to people. Ask what are the hard parts, what are the possible issues what are the steps to do it. Start your research with a chat. ChatGPT is often annoyingly positive, but the back and forth conversation can be a great way to help flesh out an idea, and discover things you hadn’t considered.

Data Mining

Some of the best business ideas are just improvements on existing products or services. Use AI to help comb through the competitors and find their pain points. What are the most important improvements that could give you an edge? AI can be great at helping with data analysis.

Do More Yourself

AI enables you to get more done yourself before needing to pay others. Get some initial copy written, gather some pain points and counter points for them, get brand ideas, color schemes, or suggestions about how to find and contact the target audience for your new idea.

Faster to MVP

When it is time to build, Auto-code, no-code solutions and AI tools make it easier to build a Minimum Viable Product. Use AI to think of brand names, domain names, or generate logos to bring your idea to life.

Craft your best message

Write better cold openers, more convincing emails, stronger arguments – not sure how to ask people to buy? Get some AI advice. You can get help building landing pages or writing video scripts. Because, how you present an idea can be more important than the idea itself.

Do you have an idea? It’s never been easier to develop an idea and make it real. With social media it’s never been easier to connect with people and build an audience.

With AI by your side, there are fewer excuses.

“Act Now, Build as You Go.” – Matt Warren