A Journey from VHS to Go High Level
So why read on? What makes what I have to say important? Well, to start with, I’ve been in the marketing trenches for over two decades. We’re talking about a time when VHS tapes were our bread and butter, and a successful marketing campaign was less about click-through rates and more about hoping someone didn’t accidentally tape over your commercial with the latest episode of Friends. I spent more time breaking off the VHS protection tab than anything else.
Fast forward 20 years, and we’re in a different universe. No more waiting for the tape to rewind. Now, the digital landscape is a maze of email campaign software, social media planners, automation software, landing page builders, and CRM systems. Each with its own login, monthly subscription and, on occasion, a learning curve steeper than a cliff face.
The Traditional Software Landscape: A Potpourri of Tools
When taking on a client, I’ve experienced the pain of onboarding them to each software, ensuring that I’m not out of pocket due to the software costs and that everything can work together. I’ve built flow chart after flow chart to make sure that nothing is missed and that I’m sure that I can get the results I promised. Each time I ponder whether I sign them up in their own name, knowing they can walk away whenever it suits them with all my hard work, or if I do it in my name with yet another Google email address I’ve had to create. That’s the 52nd email address that I’ve needed to remember. Thank god for LastPass.
So what are the software solutions that digital marketers have to play with each and every day? What software do we rely upon and have no choice to use? Those that we use to deliver our marketing services and make it work.
Email Campaign Software: An Unavoidable Expense
When it comes to keeping customers engaged and in the loop, email campaign software has long been a stalwart in the marketer’s arsenal. But this essential tool comes with its fair share of expense. Every template, automated response, and little ‘ping’ that announces, “You’ve got mail,” in your client’s inbox counts up. Let’s not forget the resources invested in training to use these platforms effectively. Email software is second to none and one of the most essential pieces to deliver a well-thought-out marketing campaign, but as mentioned, something which can start off as little as £10 per month, per client, can quickly mount up to £50, £80 without control. Sometimes we’re stuck with the bill.
Social Media Planners: Necessary but Pricey
The explosive growth of social media has ushered in a new era of digital marketing. With it came the rise of social media planning tools – indispensable, but they carry their own hefty price tag. But they are an avoidable cost; you could post natively on each platform. That is, if you’re ok wasting your time hopping from one platform to another, scheduling posts, analysing engagement, and trying to remember which password goes where. For me, as an agency owner, the best solution is social media scheduling, but once you have more than 5 clients, you’re looking at £150+ for anything capable.
Automation Software: Handy, Yet Costly
Automation software is the golden child of efficiency. A dream come true for streamlining processes, but also a nightmare when it comes to the monthly bills. Your clients are essentially paying a premium to take tasks off their own hands. But, as any fan of ‘Spiderman’ will tell you, with power (or, in this case, automation) comes responsibility (and in our world, that equates to money). Additionally, when something breaks between your socials, emails, website and feedback forms, how do you find it? I’ve had more success finding my car keys in the dark.
Landing Page Builders: Effective but Expensive
Landing page builders are the cherry on top of a digital marketing sundae. They’re the first impression, the shop window, the ‘meet-cute’ in a rom-com. Some agencies won’t need them if they have built the website, as it can be done directly on the site. For those that need landing pages built, the last thing you’ll want is to go rummaging around in someone’s backyard (website). If something breaks, it’s all on you.
Often you can create landing pages within the email software you’re already using but with extreme limitations. You want to build a slick Apple-style landing page, and instead, you only have the capabilities to create something that looks like it loaded on dialup.
CRM Software: Integral and Inevitably High-priced
Finally, we have the mighty CRM. The gatekeeper of customer relationships, the repository of precious data, and the tool that extracts insights from every customer interaction. As invaluable as it is, it comes with a price tag to match. Investing in a CRM system feels a bit like buying a round at the pub. Essential for good vibes and future success, but you can’t help wincing when you see the total on the bill. I have seen free versions on the internet. Great for sole traders and small businesses without the desire to ever grow because when you do, you’re stung with a massive upgrade cost. They have your data; they know you don’t have the time or ability to switch, so they can charge what they want. Crafty!
The Challenges of Using Multiple Tools: Navigating the Digital Labyrinth
Unfortunately, before now, there has never been an alternative to using all these individual apps. Zoho has something, Hubspot too, but the cost is endless, costing more and more every time you take on a client. I tried apps meant to oversee everything and help manage the workflow, but they cost an additional fortune and something else that I needed to learn.
I was beginning to feel like participating in a relay race, but each team member spoke a different language. The baton passes are awkward between each piece of software, instructions get lost in translation, and I spend more time checking everything. Soon, everyone’s running in circles, wasting time. Despite the brilliance of each piece of individual software, getting them to work in harmony is as tough as explaining the rules of American Football to a British person or Rugby to an American.
Let me break it down a little further.
The Integration Dilemma
I talked about automation but what about intergration. Each software has its own unique strengths, interfaces, and jargon. They’re like characters from different British soaps suddenly having to coexist in one crossover episode. EastEnders meets Coronation Street if you will. Needless to say, chaos ensues. The email software says it will give the CRM this, but the CRM can only accept that. You wouldn’t believe the amount of time I’ve wasted trying to figure out how to make export and import fields match. Zapier helps, but that isn’t cheap.
The Hefty Price Tag
Then there’s the financial factor. We’ve talked about how each tool carries its own price tag. But when you add them all up, the total can make your eyes water. It’s like shopping at Harrods on a Primark budget. Sure, You’re getting quality, but your bank balance looks decidedly peaky. You try to charge the clients, but when you give them options, they always look for a cheaper alternative. You offer them the M&S of software; they’re telling you to use KwikSave. And that’s after KwikSave closed down.
The Time Drain
Let’s not forget the sheer amount of time required to manage these different systems. Between setting up, troubleshooting, and updating each platform, you or your clients might find their day consumed by software maintenance. You’re supposed to be running a business, growing your client base, not starring in a never-ending episode of ‘The IT Crowd’.
Data Inconsistency: The Hidden Menace
Finally, there’s the risk of data inconsistency. With different tools handling different parts of the customer journey, ensuring a unified customer profile can feel like a herculean task. It’s like trying to piece together a complete picture of a ‘Love Island’ relationship based solely on tabloid snippets. Not the most reliable or easy endeavour, to put it mildly.
So there you have it. The labyrinth that is the traditional software landscape. But what if I told you there’s a way out of this maze? A solution that doesn’t require a trail of breadcrumbs or a magical thread to navigate?
The Go High Level Solution: Unleashing the Power of Unified Marketing
Enter Go High Level – the Swiss Army knife of marketing and CRM software. No, it doesn’t come with a miniature corkscrew or a pair of tweezers, but what it does have is a range of tools that could give James Bond’s gadget collection a run for its money. I’ve been using this software for several years, making my life so much easier. Weirdly it was recommended to me by a client with several brands. They were looking for an all-in-one solution that enabled them to flick quickly between brands. I told them it probably wouldn’t work because what they offered seemed too good. For $297, you can have as many brands as you need all in one place with the ability to switch between them all. Plus, you could control email, landing pages, courses, social media, analytics and a CRM in one place. So everything I had been looking for was right there, ready to use. I thought nothing ever worked out that well. But several years later, here I am, an advocate recommending it to others.
A Single Platform to Rule Them All
Go High Level takes the chaos of the traditional software landscape and gives it all in one style of makeover. The result? A smooth, well-structured, multi-layered gateau of marketing tools. Email campaigns, social media planning, automation, landing pages, CRM – it’s all baked into one easily digestible platform.
Cutting Costs Without Cutting Corners
Then, there’s the matter of cost. We’re not discussing a ‘wait till payday’ kind of purchase here. For less than £300 a month, your clients get access to a suite of tools that could rival the gadget lab in Q’s secret MI6 basement. And the best part? They’ll be saving hundreds of pounds each month by consolidating their tools into this single platform. So instead of your client paying other platforms hundreds of pounds combined for other software, they pay you. Or if you’re giving it away free as part of your marketing service, then every client you take on spreads the cost, so the software becomes cheaper with each client, not more expensive.
Efficiency, Delivered
With Go High Level, gone are the days of juggling multiple systems, dealing with conflicting data, and trying to remember a dozen passwords. It’s like hiring a competent butler who takes care of everything – from tidying up the marketing mess to serving a neatly prepared report at the end of the month.
White Label Magic: Your Agency, Your Brand
Finally, with Go High Level’s white-label solution, agencies can offer this platform under their own brand. You can swoop in like Sherlock Holmes, solving your clients’ marketing mysteries while your brand gets all the credit. And the only sidekick you need? Go High Level, of course. Personally, I like to say it’s Go High Level that’s developed my CRM and marketing tool. But that’s partly because I act as an affiliate, making my marketing less confusing. But also, it’s great to say that my small company is supported by one of those massive Silicon Valley-type businesses.
So there you have it. A solution that finally brings order to the chaos, like a particularly satisfying episode of ‘Grand Designs’. With Go High Level, the days of traversing the treacherous terrain of disjointed marketing tools are well and truly behind us. From the client’s perspective, the convenience is unparalleled. They get access to an array of marketing tools in one place, all branded under a name they trust – yours. Everything they need is thoughtfully curated and served up under one roof.
Setting Up Go High Level: A Seamless Transition
The Initial Setup: Simpler Than You Think
Embarking on the Go High-Level journey might seem daunting initially. But in reality, the setup process is straightforward and fast. Within a few hours, your agency can have the software up and running. It’s a surprisingly swift transition with minimal disruption to your day-to-day operations. You can tailor the platform to reflect your agency’s brand identity, from logos and colour schemes to your unique selling points.
Signing Up and Adding Clients
So the initial agency is set up; now it’s a matter of creating your client sub-accounts. What you and they will use to access their marketing information. Again, this has been thought about, allowing you as the agency, to create their profile information from its Local Search (Google My Business) integration. From there, you can create each client’s framework from pre-made customisable snapshots.
Billing: Flexibility and Profit
When it comes to billing your clients, Go High Level offers in-built payment processing via Stripe, so you can charge your client additionally to what you’re doing with their marketing. Take on clients for just the marketing tool, or you can choose to take payment via alternative ways. Additionally, you can offer Go High Level as a SaaS platform, letting clients take control from set up to management; or provide a fully managed service. Having Stripe connected makes it quick and convenient if you charge the client for their email and text message usage. This can also be done with one-click text messages.
Keeping Track: Notifications and Support
Once set up, you can configure notifications based on specific triggers, keeping you in the loop when your clients need support. This helps ensure your clients feel cared for and reassured, knowing that expert assistance is always on hand.
Additional Services: Messaging and Email
Additional services such as text messaging and email carry a separate charge, as hinted at in the billing information above. This is where you can easily generate an extra revenue stream, particularly in Saas mode. For example, when charging your client £97 per month, you might include up to 5,000 emails free of charge. Should clients need more, you can create higher tiers, adjusting the charges accordingly. It’s a win-win scenario: your clients get the services they need, and you make additional income the more successful your platform makes them.
Overall, the setup process of Go HighLevel is designed to be as efficient and flexible as possible, mirroring the ethos of the software itself. It’s a platform that works for you and your clients, and the benefits are clear both in terms of operations and revenue.
Conclusion: Amplifying Success with Go High Level
Adopting Go High Level is more than just a software change – it’s a strategic move that can significantly advance the services a digital marketing agency provides. By consolidating multiple tools into one comprehensive platform, Go High Level simplifies and enhances the way agencies operate. It also offers clients a more streamlined, effective experience.
Not only does Go High Level’s range of features impress, but its financial benefits for agencies are hard to overlook. The affordability of the software, combined with the potential for increased profit, creates a compelling argument for adoption. Through the flexibility of the white-label model, agencies can set their pricing, offering a range of plans to suit client needs and budgets while also boosting their own recurring revenue.
Just consider this profitable scenario:
If you were to transition just 10 clients to your £97 per month, plan on your white-label Go High Level account, that would translate to an easy £970 a mont. And that’s for doing exactly what you’re already doing, just under a more streamlined and efficient system.
So, if you’re an agency looking to improve your service offering, increase your revenue, and give your clients a superior, unified marketing platform, Go High Level could well be the perfect fit. It’s about more than just cost-saving – it’s about fostering a more efficient, profitable, and client-friendly business. A move to Go High Level is a step towards the future of digital marketing.
Take the Next Step with Go High Level
If everything you’ve read has resonated with you and you’re ready to explore the possibilities with Go High Level, I’m here to make your transition as smooth as possible. I believe in the power of support and the value of shared knowledge, so I’m offering a little extra for those who use my affiliate link.
By choosing to move forward with Go High Level through my link, you gain access to me. You can use my time to ask questions, allow me to share experiences and help you develop.
Additionally, I’m also offering an onboarding course. This step-by-step guide will walk you through setting up Go High Level for your agency and clients. It’s a quick and easy way to get up to speed with Go High Level, ensuring you can benefit from the software immediately.
Don’t miss out on this opportunity to revolutionise your agency’s operations and boost your profit. Take the leap with Go High Level today and discover the potential of a more unified, efficient, and profitable approach to digital marketing. Your journey to success starts here.
