In this episode we sat down with Andrew Bolis, an AI & Marketing Consultant and former CMO who now helps growth-stage companies put AI to work - optimizing their marketing and growing revenue
A tech nerd turned digital marketer, Andrew built a 25k-follower LinkedIn audience in a single year by going early and deep on AI for marketers. He's based outside Chicago and moonlights in the live comedy scene
This one is a clinic on audience-building - how Andrew picked a growing niche before it got noisy, the exact stack he runs his content on, and why he still thinks there's room for newcomers willing to do the work
Key takeaways:
Foundation before niche - Andrew spent six months building a marketing network before pivoting to AI, so the audience was already there when the niche took off
Pick a growing category - moving to AI for Marketers took him from 6k to 12k followers in three months on the back of two viral posts
Quality is the moat - most of his posts are mini guides, and he invests a ridiculous amount of time in each one
The market is noisy, not crowded - vast opportunity remains for anyone willing to create genuinely high-quality content
Who's the real Andrew behind the LinkedIn stats
"I'm a tech nerd turned digital marketer who eventually became a CMO at a Series B tech company and more recently shifted to an AI and Marketing Consultant. I help companies leverage AI tools, optimize their marketing and grow their revenue. I mostly work with marketing teams at growth-stage companies. I'm based in Chicago. I'm a big fan of live comedy - standup, improv, sketch. At one point, I did improv comedy classes. I wasn't that good, but it was a fun experience."
Name three secret weapons in your LinkedIn growth strategy
#1 Building a solid foundation. "I started posting on LinkedIn in December of 2022. I only had 1k connections then. For the first 6 months, I posted about marketing topics and built a strong network of professional marketers. It was slow and steady, but I constantly experimented with post formats and learned a lot. By June of 2023, I had 6k followers."
#2 Picking a growing niche. "In July, I started covering AI for Marketers. My first 2 AI posts went viral. I went from 6k followers to 12k followers in 3 months. I realized that there was a lot of demand for AI content. My deep marketing experience made it easy for me to get a lot of traction on LinkedIn with marketers."
#3 Laser focus on quality content. "It's now been a year since I started posting on LinkedIn, and I have 25k followers. I invest a ridiculous amount of time in my LinkedIn content. Most of my posts are mini guides. I'm regularly networking with other AI creators and collaborating with them, which I've found to be mutually beneficial."
My first 2 AI posts went viral. I went from 6k followers to 12k followers in 3 months.
Where do you use AI the most in your content strategy
Andrew runs a broad stack across research, writing, and production. The regulars: ChatGPT for research, ideation, content writing and custom GPTs; Claude for research, ideation and content writing; Wordtune for text editing and rephrasing; DALL-E for image generation; Canva Magic Studio for design and editing; Descript for audio and video editing; Notion AI for templates and content management; Otter.ai for meeting transcription; and Copy.ai for workflow automation.
Has AI transformed your productivity, or added complexity
"AI has made me more productive when it comes to repeatable processes. But it also takes time to learn how to leverage different AI tools and stay up to date on their latest features. But overall, AI has certainly transformed my life and my business productivity."
The market isn't crowded. If anything, the market is noisy, with a lot of low-quality content and repetitive advice.
Which are your go-to AI tools right now, and why
The daily drivers stay tight: ChatGPT and Claude for research, ideation and writing; Wordtune for editing and rephrasing; DALL-E for images; Canva Magic Studio for design; Descript for audio and video; Notion AI for templates and content management; Otter.ai for transcription; and Copy.ai for workflow automation.
What advice would you give someone just starting with AI, and is the market already crowded
"I don't think the market is crowded. If anything, the market is noisy, with a lot of low-quality content and repetitive advice. Anyone who enjoys using AI tools and is willing to put in the work to create quality content should go for it. Like any other field, it comes down to your work ethic. Also, the opportunities in AI are vast. It's a thriving industry and a growing category."
Favourite song, show, and quote
Music: "No particular song comes to mind; I'm a fan of hip-hop and rap music."
TV Show: "Mad Men, Curb Your Enthusiasm."
Quote: "Your time is limited, so don't waste it living someone else's life."
AI Central Voices is where the AI Central team sits down with the founders, executives, and builders shaping AI - going behind the scenes of how they operate, what they're betting on, and where the industry goes next.
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