Week in the life at Launch Kit. See how we run a marketing agency with client shoots, website design, local SEO, and GoHighLevel CRM setups for growth.
Before we jump in, here is the video this post goes with:
This week felt like a perfect snapshot of what running a marketing agency actually looks like. A little bit of client work. A little bit of team life. A lot of systems and planning. And a reminder of why I care so much about helping local businesses get their online presence to match the quality of what they do in real life.
If you are a founder, a service business owner, or an agency owner trying to grow without chaos, this is basically my written journal entry version of the vlog.
We will hit three big things:
Sprinkled in: behind the scenes shoots, our simple content recipe, and some founder planning energy for 2026.
We started the week taking our Launch Kit Christmas card photo. Nothing fancy. Just sweaters, some laughs, and the usual “is everyone here yet” energy.
It is a small moment, but it matters.
One thing I have learned building this agency is culture is not a poster on the wall. It is the tiny stuff. Showing up. Being consistent. Being the kind of team that enjoys working together.
Then we got back to work.
Daniel showed me an edit that absolutely cooked.
It was from the Grand Rapids Home and Garden Show, and there was this booth that was insane. Waterfalls. Stone paths. Plants everywhere. A full ecosystem built inside a convention center.
The guy behind it is Cory. And here is the twist:
He is not running some massive corporate landscaping conglomerate.
It is just him and his sons.
That kind of team always gets my attention, because I will bet on the people who care. The people who show up. The people who outwork everyone.
So in 2025, Launch Kit teamed up with Cory and Outside Inc. to level up their online presence.
And step one was obvious.
This is one of the biggest problems I see with local service businesses:
Their work is elite.
Their website is mid.
Or worse, they do not really have a website at all. They are relying on word of mouth, referrals, and hope.
Here is the truth:
If your website does not reflect the quality of your work, you are losing deals you will never even know about.
People are searching. They are comparing. They are deciding if they trust you, and they are doing it in like 12 seconds.
On a Friday afternoon, Daniel and I hit the road. We bounced around to a few past project sites and captured photo and video content that actually showed the quality of the work.
Because stock photos do not build trust.
Real work builds trust.
Then we brought everything back to the office and handed it off to McKenzie, our web designer, to build a custom site that actually works for the business.
A good website is not just pretty. It should:
This is website design and local SEO working together.
Not design for design’s sake.
This is the part I am most excited about.
We built a portfolio system so Cory can showcase projects without lifting a finger.
All he has to do is send a voice memo describing the job, and we handle the rest.
Photos. Copy. Uploading. Formatting. Publishing.
Because if you are a founder, the last thing you want is another “marketing task” sitting on your plate forever.
Here is the mindset:
Your marketing should make your life easier, not add another job.
I said it in the vlog and I will say it here too.
Word of mouth is awesome. It is a great bonus. But it is not a plan.
If your online presence is weak, you are basically telling the internet:
“Do not take us seriously.”
That is harsh, but it is real.
If you are a local service business, a contractor, a builder, or any kind of home services company, your website and Google presence are your modern referral network.
People are searching for:
If you are not showing up strong, someone else is.
On Tuesday, McKenzie and I met with Easttown Construction at the chamber.
They have been a website client for a few years, and they upgraded to our growth website plan, which includes CRM.
We were setting up their GoHighLevel account:
And here is the key part:
They were not using anything before.
No real system.
Which means leads were probably getting lost, follow ups were inconsistent, and reporting was basically a guessing game.
If you are not using a solid CRM to track contacts, opportunities, leads, reporting, and email marketing, you are leaving money on the table.
Full stop.
And founders do not feel it right away, because you can survive for a while on chaos. You can survive on memory. You can survive on sticky notes.
Until you cannot.
A CRM is how you scale without dropping the ball.
Everything starts with:
Once those are dialed, you unlock:
It takes time to build, but it is worth it.
We had two shoots in one day, and it reminded me how simple good content can be when you have a system.
This is the recipe we use:
That is it.
B roll plus hook plus talking head equals a solid social video.
And even in winter months, when the “cool stuff” might be seasonal, your internet presence should not go dark.
There is always content to make.
I also started early annual planning for 2026. We are doing this with our clients too, and it is one of my favorite parts of the year.
It is where you zoom out and ask:
Also, yes, I am a notebook nerd. I picked up my 2026 Leuchtturm 1917 411, and I am irrationally excited about it.
451 numbered pages. Big boy energy.
Here are the takeaways I am keeping:
If you are a business owner and any of this is hitting home, that is the point.
Your brand deserves better than “good enough."
Each year, we take a fresh look at the various marketing efforts a small business can make. We've built this framework to get started optimizing your business's online presence.
