EP 15: Can AI Replace Your Agency

🎙 Robyn Johnson & Abe Chomali break down where AI enhances agency work and where it falls short. They share real-world examples across images, copywriting, advertising, and brand ideation, emphasizing how AI supports — but does not replace — human expertise and strategy.

🔑 Key Takeaways

🖼️ AI in Images: Helpful, but Risky
• Great for quick lifestyle images and background enhancements for small brands.
• Not reliable for strict brand guidelines, proportions, or avoiding copyright risks.

📝 Copywriting with AI: A Strong Start
• AI drafts titles, bullets, and callouts well — but humans must edit for accuracy and compliance.
• Prompt engineering and tools like Character.AI and custom GPTs improve results.

📈 AI & Advertising: Only Half the Job
• AI ad tools help with data summarization but don’t outperform human ad managers.
• Rule-based PPC tools (like Optimizer or PPC Profit) are still preferred for control and consistency.

💡 AI for Ideation and Strategy
• AI shines in generating brand names, new ideas, and article drafts.
• Use AI for brainstorming and summarizing, not final decisions or strategy setting.

⚙️ Best Tools and Approaches Mentioned
• ChatGPT (especially with custom GPTs) – For content, prompts, and communications
• Claude – Better for technical writing, programming support, and detailed analysis
• Canva Pro – Easy creative tools with layered AI assistance
• Character.AI – Customer avatar creation and ideation training
• Rule-based PPC software – For safer ad management (vs. "auto AI" ad tools)

⚖️ AI + Agency Expertise: Hybrid is Best
• AI saves time on tedious tasks, but human review is essential.
• Agencies provide deeper customer understanding, legal compliance, and strategic decision-making that AI alone can't match.

🧩 Final Advice for AI Beginners
• Start by using AI to draft, not finalize — especially for copy and ideation.
• Learn basic prompt engineering or ask AI to create the best prompts for you.
• Treat AI like a team assistant, not a team replacement.

🔗 Useful Links Mentioned

• Character.AI – Build customer avatars and ideate with AI characters
• ChatGPT Explore GPTs – Browse and create custom GPTs
• Claude by Anthropic – Advanced AI for programming, writing, and analysis
• Canva Pro – AI-assisted creative tools for image generation
• Make.com – Workflow automation platform
• Otter.ai – Record and transcribe outlines for article writing
• Google Workspace – Built-in AI tools for documents and spreadsheets
• Optmyzr - Rule-based PPC management tool

Chapters

• 0:08 Can AI Replace Your Agency?
• 0:55 Where AI Helps: Knowing the Limits
• 1:39 Using AI for Images: Pros and Cons
• 3:34 AI Struggles with Branding and Copyright
• 6:36 Common AI Image Fails to Watch For
• 8:08 How to Use AI to Draft Amazon Copy
• 11:43 Copywriting Risks: Accuracy, Liability, and Compliance
• 12:34 Advertising with AI: Does It Work?
• 14:08 AI for PPC Management: Where It Fails and Helps
• 16:38 Using AI for Brand Ideation and Naming
• 18:05 Writing Articles and Content with AI
• 19:43 Using AI to Improve Image Prompts
• 23:01 Improving Communications with AI Tone Adjustment
• 26:24 Best Places for Beginners to Start Using AI
• 27:56 Tools Like Character.AI and Custom GPTs
• 30:02 Investing Time to Learn AI Properly
• 32:00 One Thing at a Time: How to Get Started
• 32:28 AI as a Team Assistant, Not a Replacement