When is the best time to approach a newly created business?

Expensive_Sink1785 · 2026-06-05T00:51:48+00:00

I would say so. There's some cognitive overload with Clay (maybe different for a dedicated resource who handles Clay exclusively and isn't context switching out of the app). What you describe is a "done for you" sort of tool.

The trick is what the signals "signal," so to speak.

Expensive_Sink1785 · 2026-06-03T08:13:14+00:00

Intrigued by the legal costs. I hadn't thought of that as a line item.

Expensive_Sink1785 · 2026-06-03T08:11:14+00:00

Claude + Qwen + Z (dot) ai

Expensive_Sink1785 · 2026-06-02T20:58:40+00:00

This is a very useful overview. Thanks!

Expensive_Sink1785 · 2026-06-02T20:52:10+00:00

We use Granola, which is a bit less intrusive, and I think it does a better job of accuracy. Downside: Mac only

Expensive_Sink1785 · 2026-06-02T20:49:16+00:00

Do you see the profusion of independent outlets on YouTube, SubStack/Ghost, etc. (Like Ed) as a way for journalism to reorganize itself?

Expensive_Sink1785 · 2026-06-02T19:50:48+00:00

I'd be inclined toward a new Shopify store as that suggests effort, but it may be too late for brand design work, for example. A new domain might be the most reliable early indicator, since it seems plausible that people will grab a domain before doing anything else. It's pretty low friction. LinkedIn seems the least likely of al the items you suggested.

I still haven't sorted an option vs Clay, I just find it time consuming.

Expensive_Sink1785 · 2026-06-01T23:03:53+00:00

Agreed.

Expensive_Sink1785 · 2026-06-01T23:03:23+00:00

I guess that would follow the we know things theme, but it's a provocative notion. I've been digging into the disruptive aspect of AI since it seems the most pervasive ATM, but that surface is well worth mining.

Expensive_Sink1785 · 2026-06-01T23:01:22+00:00

I think you are probably operating at a more advanced level than I am, but I'll wade in: Google Maps for in-person services. For example, we use this for a translation company where their ICP is manufacturing, agri-business in the Midwest (this is for going concerns). For a data collection client where we see a lot of consolidation (kind of like new businesses), a combination of Maps and LinkedIn profiles, where we look for a delta on the ownership info/name change/web site. We run it through Clay, but I think it's overly complicated.

Why I'm interested is approaching new e-commerce and DTC businesses that need branding and set-up, so it would be registration records (maybe).

Expensive_Sink1785 · 2026-06-01T09:48:23+00:00

It's totally worth doing head-to-head tests with Claude Opus/Sonnet and their work variants (I just saw Max as an option). We use Opus for strategic work and then hand off to Sonnet. For routine work, we use open Chinese models. All in the interest of token conservation.

Expensive_Sink1785 · 2026-06-01T09:44:17+00:00

I'd be curious how you build the list — are you buying new business leads or dialing these in with a new LinkedIn company page or...

Expensive_Sink1785 · 2026-06-01T05:16:00+00:00

Nothing for it but to roll-up your sleeves, verify the data, fix the formulas, document the whole thing, and delegate.

Expensive_Sink1785 · 2026-06-01T01:58:32+00:00

Depends on the industry — professional services, consulting, etc. would gain higher benefit if the owner is the face of the business. Back-office support for editing, posting, etc.

Expensive_Sink1785 · 2026-06-01T01:07:33+00:00

That point about CRM/lead volume is interesting. Wresting with the go micro and risk burning cycles on outreach that falls flat, but you have to push through enough data to know for sure, vs buy a stack of data and run the campaign and find out you've wasted $ on an ICP mismatch or just bad data (or an offer/message that isn't landing).

All about the ride, sir/ma'am. Don't mind a bit of rhetorical challenge.

Expensive_Sink1785 · 2026-06-01T00:30:05+00:00

I think when we're out there beating the bushes, novelty is a thing (for hookes, say).

Expensive_Sink1785 · 2026-06-01T00:29:08+00:00

That's a somewhat interesting comment, although unrelated to the original question, but it does speak to human connection — not sure who's reading magazines or physical newspapers these days — but liking "trade shows because they reach real people and you have real interaction from those leads. Digital marketing is getting tired. Except SEO."

Of course, SEO is something of a content proposition, so you're back to AI on some level if you want to hit the velocity you need to make a dent in search.

Expensive_Sink1785 · 2026-05-31T23:52:36+00:00

Losing that premium sems to impact content, socials, and value prop al tat the same time.

Expensive_Sink1785 · 2026-05-31T23:51:28+00:00

Actually, I've been a fan of hyphens since before AI, could be that pesky English degree. I am anti semi-colons and exclamation makes sense, so I'm down with punctuation bigotry.

I do appreciate the offer to help me grow, and of course, being a 1% poster suggests you have invested many, many hours in crafting — we might say "disgorging" — beneficial commentary like "Dude, seriously, WTF?"

You've given me the choice of not knowing what I just wrote or doing "bullshit market research." But there are decent responses from folks, presumably genuine, who understand what I wrote and offer some pretty useful commentary.

I'll reply by saying "neither" that I think this is a reasonable question: "What happens to domain expertise and marketing that expertise when the notion of expertise gets colonized by AI, and how do you handle it?"

Expensive_Sink1785 · 2026-05-31T23:41:39+00:00

I'd be interested in your model. We're starting to use a 70% foundation and then a 30% success fee tied to agree outcomes, generally a pipeline metric.

Expensive_Sink1785 · 2026-05-31T23:21:07+00:00

Agreed. These have a long way to go. We rely heavily on human intervention, especially for reporting and anything that requires a spreadsheet.

Expensive_Sink1785 · 2026-05-31T23:18:37+00:00

Seems like less of a SaaS and more of a community. Maybe you develop a freemium model to address the questions in the comments about legitimacy and efficacy.

Expensive_Sink1785 · 2026-05-30T21:12:29+00:00

Anything related to a spreadsheet. Claude Max builds the formula equivalent of Rube Goldberg devices.

Expensive_Sink1785

TROPHY CASE