How I Built a 7-Figure Business in Less than A Year with AI | Ben Tossell (Ben's Bites)
Sep 29, 2024
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Ben Tossell, founder of Ben's Bites, has taken the AI world by storm, teaching over 10,000 people how to harness AI for business. He shares how he scaled to a 7-figure business in just nine months by automating tasks he dislikes. The conversation dives into the importance of finding the right balance between AI and human creativity. Tossell also offers insights on hiring online help and emphasizes building a community for enhanced learning and connections. He advocates for a business model that aligns with personal lifestyle goals, all without relying on venture capital.
AI serves as a supportive tool in content creation, emphasizing the need for human creativity and personality in the final product.
The shift to a paid educational platform reflects user demand for straightforward, ad-free access to valuable AI education and resources.
Deep dives
The Role of AI as a Co-Pilot
AI should be viewed as a supportive tool rather than a standalone solution in content creation. The discussion emphasizes that while automated systems can assist in various tasks, they cannot replace the need for human input and creativity. AI helps to streamline the workflow by breaking down larger tasks into manageable pieces, yet the refining and final touches must still come from people. The insistence on this collaborative approach underscores the importance of maintaining personality and taste in the content produced.
Transitioning from Free Newsletters to Paid Models
The shift from a free daily newsletter to a paid educational platform was driven by the desire to enhance value and reduce advertising clutter. Readers generally prefer straightforward access to content they can learn from, rather than being bombarded with ads. By offering a clearer value proposition—access to an expanding library of tutorials—the platform has grown significantly, drawing early members from the existing newsletter subscriber base. This strategic decision aligns with user preferences and has resulted in a more engaged and loyal audience.
Diverse User Base and Market Demand
The membership consists of a wide range of users, particularly professionals from marketing, sales, and customer support, indicating a growing interest in utilizing AI technologies in their fields. There is a noticeable demand for AI education as companies are increasingly encouraging employees to learn and adapt to AI tools. The platform's ability to meet this demand enhances its relevance and appeal among users who seek practical applications for AI in their work. The conversation emphasizes that those who effectively leverage AI tools can significantly increase their productivity, often taking on roles that previously required larger teams.
Community Engagement and Organic Growth
The community aspect of the platform is gradually becoming a significant driver of member engagement and retention, moving away from a purely transactional model. While not all members actively participate, there is a growing organic engagement that fosters collaboration and knowledge sharing. Users appreciate a more relaxed environment that allows them to learn at their own pace without constant pressure to engage. This approach positions the community as a supportive space rather than a crowded forum, contributing to a richer learning experience.
My guest today is Ben Tossell, founder of Ben's Bites.
Ben built a 7-figure business that has taught 10,000+ people how to use AI to save time and automate work. In less than a year, this business has already made more than his last exit (selling no-code platform MakerPad to Zapier).
Timestamps:
(00:00) AI is your co-pilot, it's not the end to end solution yet
(00:56) I scaled to $1M+ by avoiding things I hate doing
(03:11) Key drivers of growing to 7-figures in 9 months
(10:44) What to automate with AI vs. delegate to teammates
(15:30) How to find and hire help online
(17:22) Has the community been critical to the business?
(22:09) The art of writing great AI prompts
(25:42) Ben's bear take on Perplexity
(29:36) My defense of Perplexity
(33:18) Why all of us are winners from the AI race
(36:17) Underrated AI tools for illustrations, videos, and more
(40:02) How to build a business to suit your life, not vice versa
Get the takeaways: https://creatoreconomy.so/p/how-i-built-a-7-figure-business-with-ai-ben-tossell
Where to find Ben:
Website: https://bensbites.com/
X: https://x.com/bentossell
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