Today, we’re bringing you the latest in AI-powered marketing and business strategies. Here’s what’s inside:

🚨 AI Top Story: When AI makes things faster, should they be cheaper?

🎥 YouTube Resource Of The Week: Chris Prouty on how to use LinkedIn to build trust, not chase leads.

🎯 AI Case Study Of The Week: Can AI sell wanderlust? Agoda’s testing it

🌟 Creator Spotlight: Florian Camiade shares tips for a smarter, softer approach to LinkedIn outreach.

AI Makes It Faster, So Should It Be Done Cheaper?

Modern Marketing Needs Modern Pricing

AI isn’t just changing how agencies work—it’s changing how they get paid. The classic hourly model, where time equals money, is starting to fall apart in a world where AI can reduce a full day’s work to a few clicks.

That shift might look like a win for clients, but it creates a new kind of tension: if the work takes less time, should it cost less? Some clients think so. But the agencies navigating this moment well are reframing the conversation entirely.

ob Hall, CEO of creative agency Verb, summed it up best: “A seasoned director using AI tools can create a brand film in half a day instead of a month, but that’s due to their 20 years of filmmaking experience, not just the AI. It’s like the plumber who charges £100 to hit a boiler with a hammer - £10 for the hit, £90 for knowing where to hit.” That’s the mindset shift agencies need to lead their clients through. The value isn’t in the time spent; it’s in the expertise, the strategic thinking, and the ability to use AI as a multiplier - not a replacement.

That’s why more agencies are moving away from hourly billing and toward flat fees, subscriptions, or hybrid models that focus on outcomes. Some are bundling strategy and AI-enabled execution into monthly retainers, while others are anchoring pricing in the results they deliver.

But changing the pricing model is only half the battle. The real work is in how you explain it. These conversations aren’t about defending AI or justifying your fees. They’re about clearly communicating what clients are actually buying: your judgment, your creative instinct, your ability to steer the machine.

Clients might see AI as a shortcut, but what they really need is a guide. And if you can position yourself as that guide, someone who knows where to hit and why - you’ll not only justify your value, you’ll deepen the trust that keeps great partnerships going.

🤖 Here's an exclusive look at the pitch deck that landed AI agent startup Auxia $23.5 million in funding - Auxia uses AI agents to automate personalised marketing—and investors are backing it with $23.5M.

🔧 Here Are the Best Ways to Use AI to Benefit Influencer Marketing - From content creation to targeting, AI is reshaping how influencer campaigns are planned and executed.

🎨 Generative AI: The Next Evolution In Product Design And Marketing - Generative AI is speeding up product design and helping marketers tailor experiences at scale.

🔗 OpenAI to start testing ChatGPT connectors for Google Drive and Slack - ChatGPT is getting smarter - Soon it’ll pull context straight from your Drive and Slack chats.

Turn LinkedIn Prospecting into a Scalable System with Waalaxy

If you’ve ever tried doing cold outreach on LinkedIn manually, you know the drill: search, click, scan, message… repeat. It’s slow, it’s repetitive, and it’s way too easy to drop the ball.

Waalaxy makes the process smoother by blending AI with automation—helping you find better leads, send smarter messages, and stay consistent with your outreach. It’s built for teams and solo operators who want scale and personalisation, without getting bogged down in busywork.

Whether you're trying to book more meetings or just stop copy-pasting intros, Waalaxy gives you the systems (and the smarts) to do it right.

Why It Stood Out

Waalaxy doesn’t just automate outreach, it helps you optimise it. With built-in AI that suggests leads, drafts tailored intros, finds emails, and cleans your lists, it’s like having a mini SDR in your browser.

Standout Features:

AI Message Redactor (Waami) – Craft personalised, natural-sounding messages in seconds with AI-generated suggestions.

AI Prospect Finder – Identify the most relevant leads based on your targeting criteria.

AI Prospect List Cleaner – Automatically remove duplicates and outdated entries to keep your outreach clean and efficient.

Email Finder – Discover verified email addresses to extend outreach beyond LinkedIn.

Automated LinkedIn Workflows – Schedule and send connection requests, follow-ups, and DMs hands-free.

Multichannel Campaigns – Combine LinkedIn messaging with email outreach in one seamless flow.

Integrated CRM & Inbox – Manage leads and conversations directly inside Waalaxy.

Pricing

Waalaxy offers a range of paid plans depending on your volume and team size, but it also includes a solid free option called the Freemium Plan.

With Freemium, you get:

- 80 LinkedIn invites per month
- 25 email credits
- Access to core outreach features
- No credit card required

Perfect for individuals or small teams testing the waters before scaling up.

Click here to give it a go!

Florian Camiade - Some great points here to consider when scaling your outreach. Mass messaging only works if it still feels one-to-one.

Discover The Secret To Getting Pre-Sold Leads On LinkedIn.

Agoda Brings Travel Destinations to Life with Generative AI

The Overview

Agoda, the global travel platform known for helping people see the world for less, is testing out some pretty slick generative AI tools to bring its destination content to the next level. By tapping into Google Cloud’s Imagen and Veo - AI models built to generate images and video - Agoda is experimenting with ways to create unique, visually stunning content that showcases travel spots around the globe.

The Implementation

Instead of relying on stock images or sending teams around the world with cameras, Agoda’s content teams are using Imagen to create realistic, AI-generated photos of destinations. These aren’t just random images—they’re tailored to match specific hotels, experiences, or campaigns. Once the images are created, they’re being fed into Veo to test the generation of full-on travel videos, built entirely with AI.

The goal being to speed up the creative process, cut down production costs, and give users a more exciting, personalised view of where they could go next. It also gives Agoda the freedom to experiment with different styles and ideas - without the usual production grind.

The Results

Agoda’s still in the testing phase, so we don’t have hard numbers yet—but the potential is big. This kind of AI-generated content could help the brand:

Produce high-quality visuals faster and cheaper

Show off destinations in fresh, creative ways

Run more localised and personalised campaigns

It’s a great example of how AI isn’t just about automation, it’s also unlocking creative possibilities that marketing teams couldn’t easily pull off before.

Note: Agoda hasn’t released specific performance data from these tests just yet.

Explore the tools they’re using:
👉 Imagen - Text To Image Model
👉 Veo 2 - Video Generation Model

Enjoy your conversations! 💬