Quell Your AI Overwhelm: 3 Tips to Find Tools for Agency Teams

I do not envy agency planners right now. You already have a demanding role getting insightful client briefs out the door to win business. Maybe you’re managing a team on top of that. Then, sometime in the past two years, you were tasked with “figuring out AI.” In effect, you now have two full-time jobs. 

But how do you “figure out” AI? What does that even mean? And where does it fit into your carefully crafted strategic planning workflow? 

Consider our three tips for finding AI tools to test at your agency. Cut through the noise of AI news, make a manageable list of options to try, find a tech stack that works — and get back to your AI-optimized day job.

1. Follow Your AI North Stars

AI overwhelm is 100% understandable, relatable, and common. The pace of change is beyond breakneck. As recently as a few months ago, AI-driven desktop assistants capable of effective research were novel. Now? That’s table stakes for an AI tool.

You see, if you’re not paying attention to the latest AI news, then you’re catching up to news — and tech — that’s no longer relevant. 

And don’t even glance at your LinkedIn feed. Undoubtedly someone’s posting about XYZ AI technology you should have already mastered (Oh, have you not mastered AI agents yet?). Or your competitors are saying they have fully integrated tools that solve all their challenges. Whether that’s true or not is beside the point; the panic (guilt, even) is already bubbling.

But here's a liberating perspective: You don't need to know everything. You just need to know enough to impact your agency within your industry. 

The key is moving from AI anxiety to strategic curiosity. Instead of trying to consume every piece of information, focus on finding signals in the noise. This means identifying trusted voices in your space who can help translate the complex AI ecosystem into actionable insights. These aren't just random tech bloggers or viral LinkedIn personalities — the ones sparking the overwhelm in the first place. Look instead for genuine agency thought leaders who understand the nuanced intersection of technology and strategic planning. 

Let them break through some of the bull on your behalf, because you simply do not have time. Then, apply your own critical thinking to what your sources are saying so you can act on the parts that hold meaning for your team. 

2. Target Industry-Specific AI Solutions

So many folks make the mistake of starting their AI tool testing with large language models, or LLMs. The ones in the news every day (for better or worse). But we’ve already established that being at the forefront of all things AI — including these behemoth tools — is all but impossible. Instead, just as you should follow thought leaders in your space, find tools that’ll work in your world.

Do a Google search for agency AI tools that focus on strategy, biz dev, or whatever task you want AI to optimize for your team. Look for the ones presenting you with a familiar solution. These bespoke agency tools, when done right, are made to fit into and augment your existing workflows. They use vernacular you’re an expert in. And they have a manageable learning curve as a result.

You could pay $20 a month for ChatGPT Pro. But learning how to prompt such tools to build a brief, for example, is an area of expertise in and of itself. Prompting well is difficult (which is why, for what it’s worth, Magnolia requires no prompting to reach expert research). Learning AI is not easy magic. Not to mention these mainstream products were created for everyone. ChatGPT tries to be smart for FinTech professionals and insurance brokers and elementary school teachers alike. However, trying to be every solution for every industry means never being expert in any one space.

The short of it? Find agency-specific tools that fit into what you do for better results and faster time-to-tool ROI.

3. Look for Humans Behind the Tool

There’s no person behind tools like ChatGPT you can troubleshoot your product use with. That’s not so with bespoke tools built for your industry. With Magnolia, for instance, you can contact us any time. We also offer a recurring Demo for prospective users and recurring Office Hours for trial and paid subscribers — plus a robust FAQs page.

Beyond support for getting the most out of a product, look for peers who’ve already vetted it. Are there testimonials on a product’s site? Connections talking about certain solutions online? As is the theme here, cutting through AI noise happens when you listen to your people. The ones who understand the challenges of agency work. 

From Overwhelm to Opportunity 

Our goal here was to provide practical advice on narrowing your AI tool search to hone your research and find what works for your agency. Remember:

• Follow AI thought leaders posting productively about your industry to quiet the constant, anxiety-inducing white noise of worldwide AI news. 

• Search for industry-specific products built for agencies to avoid the steep learning curve of generalized AI tools trying to serve all industries (and serving few expertly as a result).

• Spot the people behind the product to validate its efficacy and intentions in your industry. 

More than offering tips, know that AI isn’t here to replace you. Because that’s a part of everyone’s overwhelm and anxiety, too. 

Your agency's strength has always been your unique perspective, your ability to craft compelling narratives and strategies. AI should amplify that strength, not overtake it. It's a collaborative tool, not a competitive threat.

The agencies that will thrive aren't those that chase every technological trend, but those that carefully, strategically integrate innovations that truly serve their core mission. Your job isn't to become an AI expert. Your job is to be an expert strategist who knows how to leverage the right tools at the right moment.