Building and managing a digital agency requires more than just talent; it requires a seamless workflow. After years of testing different platforms, I have finally settled on a stack that powers my two main projects: OWP (White-label web development and marketing) and my specialized marketing agency for e-learning and course creators.
In this post, I’m breaking down every tool I use for web development, CRM, project management, and AI.
Full Disclosure: Some of the links below are affiliate links. If you choose to support the channel by using them, I truly appreciate it. If not, no worries—the goal here is to show you what actually works in a real agency environment.
LINKS OF THE TOOLS MENTIONED BELOW:
GO HIGH LEVEL https://www.gohighlevel.com/?fp_ref=tengo-academia ETCHWP https://outwp.com/tools/etchwp/ FLUENT CART https://outwp.com/tools/fluent-cart/ FLUENT CRM https://outwp.com/tools/fluent-crm/ FLUENT FAMILY https://outwp.com/tools/fluent-family/
Website foundations: WordPress and the best builders
As a developer, WordPress remains my non-negotiable core. I’ve experimented with “all-in-one” platforms like GoHighLevel (GHL) for web hosting, but honestly? It was a pain. For a professional, high-performance site, stick to WordPress.
The battle of the builders: Bricks vs. HWP (Edge)
I don’t stick to just one builder; I choose the best tool for the specific project:
- Bricks Builder: My go-to for WooCommerce sites. The integration is incredibly deep and stable. I even offer a Masterclass on performance optimization specifically for Bricks.
- HWP (Edge): I’ve started using this for corporate sites and landing pages. I love how it handles HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. It feels more “dev-focused” and integrates beautifully with AI workflows.
- Automatic CSS (ACSS): This is the “secret sauce” I use with both builders to maintain scalable, consistent styling across all client projects.
High-performance hosting
I migrated everything from Cloudways to GridPane. While Cloudways is popular, I found my sites getting inexplicably slower over time. GridPane is faster, more secure, and gives me better control over my servers, even if the learning curve is a bit steeper.
E-commerce and LMS: How I build learning platforms
Since I specialize in the e-learning niche, my Learning Management System (LMS) stack is critical.
Selling courses and products
- WooCommerce: The old reliable. I use it when a client needs deep flexibility and established integrations.
- Fluent Booking & Fluent Cart: I’m moving more towards the Fluent “suite.” Fluent Cart is fantastic because it has built-in subscriptions, saving you from buying extra plugins.
Choosing the right LMS
- LearnDash: The industry standard. I recommend this for formal institutions or universities that need traditional course structures.
- Fluent Community: This is my new favorite for 2026. If your client wants an “Inner Circle” feel with a community area and integrated courses, this is the fastest, cleanest UI on the market.
CRM and lead generation: Why I moved to GoHighLevel
For years, I used Fluent CRM. It’s a great tool for email automation inside WordPress, but let’s be honest: it’s not a true CRM. It lacks a visual pipeline to manage sales opportunities.
The GoHighLevel (GHL) Advantage
I now use GoHighLevel as the “brain” of my agency for:
- Pipelines: Tracking leads from first contact to closed deal.
- Reputation Management: Automating Google reviews for my clients.
- Unified Conversations: Managing WhatsApp, SMS, and Social Media DMs in one dashboard.
Note: I still use Fluent Forms on my WordPress sites for lead gen, but I sync the data to GHL via webhooks.
Project management: Why I stay with ClickUp
I’ve been using ClickUp for over a year. While it can sometimes feel “bloated” with too many AI features, it remains the best tool for high-level agency management.
- Internal Docs: It has replaced Notion for me. Having my SOPs (Standard Operating Procedures) right next to my tasks is a game changer.
- Time Tracking: Essential for budgeting and billing clients accurately.
- Native Video Recording: It replaces Loom for internal team updates, saving me a significant monthly subscription fee.
Design, AI, and SEO tools
No agency stack is complete without the “creative” side of the business.
Design and UX
- Canva Pro: I use this for YouTube thumbnails and quick social assets. It’s a massive timesaver.
- Figma: The standard for UX/UI design. It’s getting expensive, but the plugins (like the ACSS sync) make it worth the investment.
- Affinity Designer: For when I need professional vector work that Canva can’t handle.
SEO strategy
I’ve moved away from simple plugins. My current SEO stack is:
- Rank Math: The best SEO plugin for WordPress, hands down.
- SE Ranking: My professional-grade tool for keyword tracking and competitor analysis.
- Ubersuggest: I still keep a lifetime deal here for quick research on smaller projects.
My AI workflow
I don’t just use ChatGPT. My workflow involves:
- NotebookLM: To transcript my videos and summarize the core ideas.
- Gemini (Google Workspace): For drafting content and integrating with my emails/docs.
- ClickUp AI: For summarizing meeting notes and creating task lists from audio.
Summary of the stack
| Category | Primary Tool | Alternative |
| CMS | WordPress | – |
| Page Builder | Bricks / HWP | – |
| Hosting | GridPane | – |
| CRM | GoHighLevel | Fluent CRM (Automation only) |
| Project Management | ClickUp | Google Workspace |
| LMS | Fluent Community | LearnDash |
| SEO | SE Ranking | Rank Math |
What does your current stack look like? If you’re looking to optimize your WordPress performance or want to learn how to master Bricks Builder, check out my Masterclass at OWP.
Leave a comment below: Should I do a deep dive into how I integrate GoHighLevel with WordPress? Let me know!