Choosing the Right AI Tools for Your Agency

Every week there's a new AI tool promising to revolutionize your workflow. The reality? Most of them won't survive the year, and even fewer will actually solve the problems your agency faces.

Choosing the right tools isn't about finding the most advanced AI — it's about finding the right fit for your team, your clients, and your workflows.

Start with the problem, not the tool

The biggest mistake agencies make is starting with a tool and looking for problems to solve. Flip that approach. Document the specific workflows that are costing you time and money, then evaluate tools based on how well they address those pain points.

Key evaluation criteria

When assessing any AI tool for your agency, consider:

• •Integration: Does it work with your existing tech stack? Tools that require you to change your entire workflow create more friction than they save.
• •Reliability: AI tools that work 80% of the time aren't good enough for client work. Look for tools with consistent, predictable output quality.
• •Scalability: Will this tool still work when you have 10x the volume? Some tools are great for demos but fall apart at scale.
• •Data privacy: Your clients trust you with their data. Make sure any AI tool you adopt meets your security and privacy standards.

Build vs. buy

Sometimes the best solution isn't an off-the-shelf tool — it's a custom automation built specifically for your workflow. Custom solutions cost more upfront but often deliver better long-term value because they're designed for exactly how your team works.

Our recommendation

Start with one tool that solves one clear problem. Use it for 30 days, measure the results, and then decide whether to expand. This incremental approach reduces risk and builds confidence across your team.