Sell AI to local businesses without saying "AI": pitch results, take a cut
boringmarketer · x · 2026-09-22
An AI-services seller shares a playbook for selling to local small businesses: never say "AI" — owners don't care about the tech, they just want more jobs.
Core flow:
- Lead with the result: open with "I'll get you more jobs," skip the tech explanation.
- Free audit as the hook: dig through their site and ads to find missed jobs; if you find something, you talk — they keep the findings either way.
- Performance-based pricing: no retainer, take a cut of booked jobs so you only get paid when they do. A community member 3x'd a mobile detailing shop this way.
On the supply side: target higher-ticket businesses, niche down until it's uncomfortable, land one case study, build lead-gen systems, then productize over time.
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