Glow https://getglow.io/ Fri, 02 May 2025 15:11:32 +0000 en-GB hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.8.5 https://getglow.io/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/cropped-glow-manage-multiple-wordpress-sites-favicon-pink-bg-32x32.png Glow https://getglow.io/ 32 32 How to create beautiful WordPress client reports https://getglow.io/client-report/ https://getglow.io/client-report/#respond Tue, 18 Mar 2025 18:20:10 +0000 http://getglow.io/?p=9310 Why Client Reports Matter for WordPress Agencies For agencies managing multiple WordPress websites, delivering clear and comprehensive client reports is essential. These reports showcase the work done, reinforce the value provided, and help build trust with clients. Regular reporting maintains transparency and fosters long-term client relationships. Key Elements of a Client Report An effective client […]

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Why Client Reports Matter for WordPress Agencies

For agencies managing multiple WordPress websites, delivering clear and comprehensive client reports is essential. These reports showcase the work done, reinforce the value provided, and help build trust with clients. Regular reporting maintains transparency and fosters long-term client relationships.

Key Elements of a Client Report

An effective client report should include:

  • Website Performance Metrics: Uptime statistics, page load times, and performance improvements.
  • Security Updates: Details of security scans, vulnerability fixes, and enhancements implemented.
  • Plugin and Theme Updates: Information on updates applied to plugins, themes, and the WordPress core.
  • Backup Summary: Confirmation of backups performed, including dates and storage locations.
  • Support Tickets: Summary of support requests handled and resolutions provided.
  • Content Updates: Any changes or additions made to the site content.

Tools for Creating WordPress Client Reports

Several tools and plugins can help agencies generate detailed client reports:

Best Practices for Creating Client Reports

To make your client reports more effective:

  • Keep it Clear and Concise: Use straightforward language and organise information logically.
  • Customise the Report: Include your agency’s branding and tailor the content to the client’s needs.
  • Highlight Achievements: Showcase significant improvements or achievements during the reporting period.
  • Provide Recommendations: Offer insights or suggestions for future improvements.

Enhancing Client Reports with Glow

Glow simplifies the process of creating comprehensive client reports by automatically syncing support tickets and maintenance activities. This integration ensures that all work done for the client is reflected without manual effort.

With Glow, agencies can:

  • Automate Reporting: Schedule reports to be sent regularly, saving time and ensuring consistency.
  • Customise Reports: Brand reports with agency logos and colours for a professional appearance.
  • Demonstrate Value: Clearly show clients the work being done on their websites.

“We have 30+ reports to produce monthly. It used to be a manual process and is now much simpler. Glow has saved us a lot of time.” – Georgia Robertson, Production Manager, Zap Creative

Download a Free Website Report Template

Download our free website report template from https://getglow.io/temps/website-maintenance-report-template/ and enhance your client reporting process.

About Glow

Almost all agencies need the same core set of tools to efficiently manage multiple WordPress sites: a support system, a maintenance system, client reporting, team collaboration and time tracking. And with traditional WordPress management software, you can get some of those tools, but not all.

“We used to have time tracking, tickets & reporting across different tools. Glow centralises all this into one easy to use dashboard.”– Rick Makin, Head of Web Design, 21 Degrees Digital

Glow is the only product on the market that combines WordPress support, maintenance and reporting into one powerful dashboard.

Here are five things that make us different from legacy WordPress management providers:

  • 1. Fast, always-human support: Whenever you need us, it’s us you’ll chat to. Not AI. Not a chatbot. Actual humans
  • 2. Maintenance and support ticketing in a single platform: Streamline your workflow by managing everything in one place.
  • 3. Flexible pricing: All features are included in every plan, with the option to extend your existing plan by adding more websites on a pay-as-you-go basis, making it cost-effective for agencies of all sizes.
  • 4. Leading industry reporting: Provide your clients with detailed and professional reports effortlessly, helping you to consistently prove the value of your service.
  • 5. Free white glove migration service: Transition to Glow smoothly with expert onboarding assistance at no extra cost.

Download our free website report template https://getglow.io/temps/website-maintenance-report-template/ and see what Glow can do for you.

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The 7 Best White Label WordPress Plugins For Your Website https://getglow.io/white-label-wordpress/ https://getglow.io/white-label-wordpress/#respond Mon, 17 Mar 2025 18:02:54 +0000 http://getglow.io/?p=9369 The 7 Best White Label WordPress Plugins White label WordPress plugins allow agencies to rebrand and adapt the WordPress admin area with their own logos, colour schemes and labels. This creates a more professional, cohesive experience for clients, while helping to remove unnecessary menus and features. Our Recommendations Below are seven white label WordPress plugins […]

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The 7 Best White Label WordPress Plugins

White label WordPress plugins allow agencies to rebrand and adapt the WordPress admin area with their own logos, colour schemes and labels. This creates a more professional, cohesive experience for clients, while helping to remove unnecessary menus and features.

Our Recommendations

Below are seven white label WordPress plugins that can help you offer a streamlined, brand-centric WordPress experience to clients.

White Label CMS

White Label CMS is ideal for anyone wanting a straightforward approach to rebranding. You can swap out default WordPress logos, customise the login page, rearrange menus and even create a custom dashboard for clients.

Adminify

Adminify provides white label capabilities alongside performance, security and admin customisation tools. You can tweak admin pages, footer text, logins and more, with role-based settings for different users. This makes it a solid all-in-one ops solution for agencies.

White Label WordPress

White Label WordPress helps you rename menus, remove certain widgets and add custom branding across the admin area. It includes options for personalising welcome panels, login pages and creating dashboards based on user roles.

Branda from WPMU DEV

Branda is known for its wide range of branding modules: headers, footers, email templates, maintenance modes, login page customisations, form styling and more. It also handles admin bar options and other handy tweaks.

Absolutely Glamorous Custom Admin (AGCA)

Absolutely Glamorous Custom Admin makes it simple to adjust your WordPress dashboard’s look without coding. You can change colour schemes, replace logos, edit footers and hide unneeded admin elements to keep things clean and client-friendly.

Custom Login Page Customizer

Custom Login Page Customizer focuses on giving you control over everything related to the login page. Adjust backgrounds, logos, layout and more to make the first step into your WordPress dashboard feel perfectly on-brand.

Glow

Glow is a comprehensive platform designed for agencies that need more than just a white label plugin. Alongside rebranding options, it handles WordPress support tickets, maintenance tasks, and automated client reporting all in one place. You can present Glow’s features under your own brand to give clients a single, seamless interface.

“We were previously using different tools to manage support and website updates. Having it all in one place makes life much easier.” – Jake Saunders, Founder, Saunders Digital

FAQs

  • What is a white label WordPress plugin?

    It’s a plugin that lets you replace default WordPress branding with your own. Everything from the login page to admin menus can be refined to match your business identity.

  • Is it only for large agencies?

    No. White labelling can benefit agencies of all sizes by reinforcing their brand identity and preventing clients from getting lost in generic WordPress settings.

  • Do these plugins impact performance?

    Most are designed to stay lightweight. If you enable only the features you need, you generally won’t see a significant performance slowdown.

  • Can I hide WordPress settings from clients but still access them myself?

    Yes. You can usually give administrators full access to all WordPress features, while limiting what clients can see or edit.

  • How does this differ from WordPress Multisite?

    Multisite allows you to run multiple websites in one WordPress install. White labelling is focused on rebranding and adjusting the admin experience for each site and user role.

The Future of WordPress Management

Advancements in WordPress management mean agencies are looking for platforms that handle more than just plugin updates. White label capabilities, client support, team collaboration and automated reporting are becoming standard expectations. An integrated approach saves time, keeps processes consistent and improves the client experience.

About Glow

Almost all agencies need the same core set of tools to efficiently manage multiple WordPress sites: a support system, a maintenance system, client reporting, team collaboration and time tracking. And with traditional WordPress management software, you can get some of those tools, but not all.

“We used to have time tracking, tickets & reporting across different tools. Glow centralises all this into one easy to use dashboard.”– Rick Makin, Head of Web Design, 21 Degrees Digital

Glow is the only product on the market that combines WordPress support, maintenance and reporting into one powerful dashboard.

Here are five things that make us different from legacy WordPress management providers:

  • Fast, always-human support: Whenever you need us, it’s us you’ll chat to. Not AI. Not a chatbot. Actual humans
  • Maintenance and support ticketing in a single platform: Streamline your workflow by managing everything in one place.
  • Flexible pricing: All features are included in every plan, with the option to extend your existing plan by adding more websites on a pay-as-you-go basis, making it cost-effective for agencies of all sizes.
  • Leading industry reporting: Provide your clients with detailed and professional reports effortlessly, helping you to consistently prove the value of your service.
  • Free white glove migration service: Transition to Glow smoothly with expert onboarding assistance at no extra cost.

Download our free website report template https://getglow.io/temps/website-maintenance-report-template/ and see what Glow can do for you.

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The Top WP Toolkit Alternatives for WordPress Management https://getglow.io/wp-toolkit-alternatives/ https://getglow.io/wp-toolkit-alternatives/#respond Sun, 16 Mar 2025 22:00:14 +0000 https://getglow.io/?p=9714 If you’re currently relying on WP Toolkit within cPanel to manage your agency’s WordPress sites, you might have encountered some limitations, particularly around managing client support requests, collaboration tools and customised reporting. For agencies managing multiple WordPress websites, it’s essential to have a comprehensive solution that tackles these challenges effectively. Limitations of WP Toolkit for […]

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If you’re currently relying on WP Toolkit within cPanel to manage your agency’s WordPress sites, you might have encountered some limitations, particularly around managing client support requests, collaboration tools and customised reporting. For agencies managing multiple WordPress websites, it’s essential to have a comprehensive solution that tackles these challenges effectively.

Limitations of WP Toolkit for cPanel

WP Toolkit for cPanel is effective at simplifying basic tasks, such as plugin installations and core updates. However, it falls short of meeting the broader requirements of most WordPress agencies, specifically:

  • No built-in client support ticket system to streamline client communications.
  • Lacks deeper workflow integrations including team collaboration and time tracking.
  • Limited or non-existent options to generate customisable and branded client reports.

These limitations prompt many agencies to seek more integrated and flexible alternatives.

Best WP Toolkit for cPanel Alternatives: Quick Comparison

We’ve compiled this brief comparison of popular WP Toolkit alternatives to help you select the most suitable solution for your agency.

NameDescription
GlowA comprehensive WordPress management platform that integrates support, maintenance, collaboration, and client reporting.
mysites.guruPlatform offering site audits, security and performance management tools for multiple websites.
Modular DSA digital operations management tool designed mainly for digital studios and creative teams.
SiteRackWordPress maintenance platform dedicated to security monitoring and updates.
WP Project ManagerA WordPress-focused project and team collaboration management plugin.
GoDaddy ProIntegrated hosting and client management platform for WordPress use.
WP BlazerPlatform simplifying backups, updates and malware protection for agencies managing multiple websites.
VultrCloud hosting and infrastructure provider offering specialised WordPress resources.
Divi DashA management dashboard specifically tailored for WordPress sites built on Divi.
BlogVaultReliable solution specialising in WordPress backup, migration and security.
WP DependAutomates plugin and dependency updates alongside site maintenance.

How to Evaluate WP Toolkit Alternatives for Your Agency

When looking at WP Toolkit replacements, consider these critical factors:

Robust Client Support and Ticketing

You should look for effective support management features, specifically:

  • An intuitive ticketing system that allows clients to raise requests via email without needing to log in.
  • Built-in team collaboration tools to resolve client tickets efficiently.
  • Centralised support dashboard integrated with your workflow.

Simplified Maintenance and Security Management

The ideal WP Toolkit alternative should offer centralised WordPress maintenance tools to streamline your management tasks, including:

  • Core, theme and plugin update control across multiple sites from a single place.
  • Scheduled backups, uptime monitoring and performance optimisation.
  • Built-in vulnerability scanning to ensure your clients’ websites are secure.

Branded and Customisable Client Reporting

Professional client reporting is essential to show ongoing value clearly:

  • Ability to create visually impressive, branded reports customised to your agency.
  • Automated report scheduling to reduce monthly manual tasks.
  • Integration of maintenance, security and client support activities directly into reports.

Why Agencies Prefer Glow as Their WP Toolkit Alternative

Glow specifically addresses the challenges of managing multiple WordPress sites at scale by integrating support, maintenance and reporting into one powerful platform. Here’s how Glow stands apart:

  • Integrated Client Support: Manage client tickets seamlessly with integrated email ticketing, central collaboration tools, instant notifications and simplified tracking.
  • Centralised Maintenance Management: Effortlessly keep sites updated and secure—perform website backups, plugin/theme updates, uptime monitoring and vulnerability scans—without switching tools or platforms.
  • Professional Client Reports: Generate impressive, white-labelled client reports to demonstrate the measurable value your agency delivers, ensuring client satisfaction and retention.
  • Flexible Pricing Model: Cost-effective plans with scalable “pay-as-you-grow” pricing suitable for WordPress agencies of all sizes.
  • Smooth Free Migration: Our expert-led migration support ensures a frictionless move to the Glow platform with no disruption or hidden costs.

“We moved to Glow after using ManageWP for 5 years. Support ticketing + time tracking are great features we’ve not found elsewhere.” – Jag Panesar, Founder, Xpand

Which WP Toolkit Alternative Suits Your Agency?

If you’ve outgrown WP Toolkit for cPanel and want to streamline your agency’s workflow further, Glow offers a more comprehensive and integrated solution. By unifying all vital WordPress management components—support, maintenance, collaboration and client reporting—in a single intuitive dashboard, Glow helps WordPress agencies deliver consistent client value and boost overall productivity.

About Glow

Almost all agencies need the same core set of tools to efficiently manage multiple WordPress sites: a support system, a maintenance system, client reporting, team collaboration and time tracking. And with traditional WordPress management software, you can get some of those tools, but not all.

“We used to have time tracking, tickets & reporting across different tools. Glow centralises all this into one easy to use dashboard.”– Rick Makin, Head of Web Design, 21 Degrees Digital

Glow is the only product on the market that combines WordPress support, maintenance and reporting into one powerful dashboard.

Here are five things that make us different from legacy WordPress management providers:

  • Fast, always-human support: Whenever you need us, it’s us you’ll chat to. Not AI. Not a chatbot. Actual humans
  • Maintenance and support ticketing in a single platform: Streamline your workflow by managing everything in one place.
  • Flexible pricing: All features included in every plan, with an option to extend your plan by adding more websites on a pay-as-you-go basis.
  • Leading industry reporting: Provide your clients with detailed, professional reports effortlessly.
  • Free white glove migration service: Transition to Glow smoothly with expert onboarding assistance at no extra cost.

Download our free website report template here and see what Glow can do for you.

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The 10 Best WordPress Client Portal Plugins https://getglow.io/client-portal-plugins/ https://getglow.io/client-portal-plugins/#respond Sun, 16 Mar 2025 21:56:34 +0000 http://getglow.io/?p=9398 What is a WordPress Client Portal? A WordPress client portal is a secure area on your agency’s website where clients can find documents, project updates and resources that are unique to them. Only authorised users can view this content, so it keeps client work private and organised. It also reduces the need for long email […]

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What is a WordPress Client Portal?

A WordPress client portal is a secure area on your agency’s website where clients can find documents, project updates and resources that are unique to them. Only authorised users can view this content, so it keeps client work private and organised. It also reduces the need for long email threads or multiple communication platforms.

The 10 Best WordPress Client Portal Plugins

1. SuiteDash

SuiteDash combines customer relationship management, project management and invoicing in one solution. You can create password-protected client portals to share files, discuss projects and collaborate without switching between multiple tools.

2. Client Portal

Client Portal is straightforward but powerful. It lets you present project deliverables in a streamlined, branded interface. It integrates with popular page builders, making it easier to match the portal’s appearance to the rest of your WordPress site.

3. WP Client Portal

WP Client Portal offers file-sharing, messaging and even payment options under one roof. It gives you the flexibility to assign user roles and permissions, helping agencies create a customised experience for each client while still working smoothly with other WordPress tools.

4. Propovoice

Propovoice is built for managing proposals, invoices and projects. Its interface helps you keep track of budgets and deadlines, while clients can log in to stay updated on progress.

5. WP Customer Area

WP Customer Area lets you restrict and share content in a flexible way. It’s modular, meaning you can add features like private pages or project management only if you need them, keeping things focused and efficient.

6. Support Candy

Support Candy is a help desk plugin that includes a ticketing system. If you need support functionality within your client portal, this plugin centralises all communications, cutting down on messy email chains.

7. Jetpack CRM

Jetpack CRM (formerly Zero BS CRM) makes it easier to oversee leads, create invoices and track customer interactions. You can grant clients access to their own data, showing relevant information such as invoicing history.

8. Awesome Support

Awesome Support is another help desk plugin that features automated emails, file attachments and saved replies. If you want help desk functionality in your client portal, Awesome Support offers a robust toolkit within WordPress.

9. Membermouse

Membermouse is commonly used for membership sites but can be adapted to function as a client portal. By assigning roles and controlling access, you only show the resources each client needs to see.

10. Glow

Glow stands out by combining WordPress support, maintenance and reporting into one platform. It offers:

  • Ticketing: Clients can submit support tickets via email, with no login needed.
  • Maintenance: Manage updates, backups and performance monitoring from a single dashboard.
  • Reporting: Generate customisable reports that can be fully branded to your agency.

These features help agencies save time, give clients faster responses and centralise essential tasks. It’s designed for WordPress agencies managing multiple sites, making their workflows simpler and more profitable.

The Future of WordPress Management

WordPress management is moving towards integrated solutions that unite support, security, maintenance, reporting and team collaboration. Agencies want to cut down on manual tasks and subscription juggle, freeing them up to focus on delivering high-quality work to clients. Tools that address multiple needs within a single dashboard are where many see the biggest efficiency gains.

“Glow is easy to use and has been simple to integrate into our current processes (making things faster and therefore more profitable).” – Elise Servan, Web Designer, Unbranded Digital

About Glow

Almost all agencies need the same core set of tools to efficiently manage multiple WordPress sites: a support system, a maintenance system, client reporting, team collaboration and time tracking. And with traditional WordPress management software, you can get some of those tools, but not all.

“We used to have time tracking, tickets & reporting across different tools. Glow centralises all this into one easy to use dashboard.”– Rick Makin, Head of Web Design, 21 Degrees Digital

Glow is the only product on the market that combines WordPress support, maintenance and reporting into one powerful dashboard.

Here are five things that make us different from legacy WordPress management providers:

  1. Fast, always-human support: Whenever you need us, it’s us you’ll chat to. Not AI. Not a chatbot. Actual humans
  2. Maintenance and support ticketing in a single platform: Streamline your workflow by managing everything in one place.
  3. Flexible pricing: All features are included in every plan, with the option to extend your existing plan by adding more websites on a pay-as-you-go basis, making it cost-effective for agencies of all sizes.
  4. Leading industry reporting: Provide your clients with detailed and professional reports effortlessly, helping you to consistently prove the value of your service.
  5. Free white glove migration service: Transition to Glow smoothly with expert onboarding assistance at no extra cost.

Download our free website report template https://getglow.io/temps/website-maintenance-report-template/ and see what Glow can do for you.

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The Top WatchTowerHQ Alternatives for WordPress Management https://getglow.io/watchtowerhq-alternatives/ https://getglow.io/watchtowerhq-alternatives/#respond Sat, 15 Mar 2025 16:22:51 +0000 https://getglow.io/?p=9710 Introduction to WatchTowerHQ WatchTowerHQ provides tools for WordPress agencies to manage client websites efficiently. With features designed for updates, support, and client reporting, WatchTowerHQ helps streamline daily tasks. However, WordPress agencies may find limitations within the system regarding integrations, flexibility and support. Because of this, many agencies start looking into other options better suited to […]

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Introduction to WatchTowerHQ

WatchTowerHQ provides tools for WordPress agencies to manage client websites efficiently. With features designed for updates, support, and client reporting, WatchTowerHQ helps streamline daily tasks. However, WordPress agencies may find limitations within the system regarding integrations, flexibility and support. Because of this, many agencies start looking into other options better suited to their specific needs.

Common Reasons Agencies Seek WatchTowerHQ Alternatives

Agencies managing numerous WordPress websites often need expanded functionality beyond WatchTowerHQ’s capabilities. Typical reasons for evaluating alternatives include:

  • Lack of advanced, customisable client reporting
  • Limited or no built-in support ticketing systems
  • Needing one integrated solution to replace multiple separate tools
  • Scalability and pricing structures not aligned with agency growth
  • Insufficient onboarding and customer support

Top Alternatives to WatchTowerHQ for WordPress Management

The following platforms offer effective alternatives for WordPress website management:

NameDescription
GlowCombines support, maintenance and reporting into a single intuitive dashboard.
mysites.guruFocussed on auditing, update tracking and security monitoring.
Modular DSBuilt primarily for managing plugin and theme updates.
SiteRackHelps agencies handle backups, updates and client collaborations.
WP Project ManagerOffers project management tools specifically for WordPress site projects.
GoDaddy ProSuitable for freelancers and smaller agencies managing updates and hosting.
WP BlazerAutomates common tasks such as backups, cloning and updates.
VultrCloud hosting provider targeting WordPress applications.
Divi DashAn option tailored for Divi-based agencies, assisting maintenance, reporting and client support.
BlogVaultSpecialises in secure backups, staging and migrations for WordPress sites.
WP DependTracks and monitors plugin and theme usage across multiple sites.

Why Agencies Choose Glow as a WatchTowerHQ Alternative

WatchTowerHQ users often switch to Glow because they need a more streamlined and centralised approach to maintenance, reporting and client support. Glow combines these crucial capabilities into a single intuitive dashboard offering clear advantages:

All-in-One Dashboard

Glow integrates support ticketing, WordPress maintenance and agency reporting, helping teams save time and improve efficiency. Everything is in one place, eliminating the need for multiple logins and subscriptions.

“We used to have time tracking, tickets & reporting across different tools. Glow centralises all this into one easy to use dashboard.” – Rick Makin, Head of Web Design, 21 Degrees Digital

Simple Client Communication

Clients can raise support requests and reply via email without needing to log in, simplifying and speeding communication. Meanwhile, your team manages everything easily within Glow.

Easy Migration and Onboarding

Glow provides free, hands-on migration from WatchTowerHQ or other platforms. Our experts guide agencies through a simple onboarding process, ensuring minimum disruption to client services.

Transparent and Scalable Pricing

Glow’s clear pricing structure includes every feature as standard, with upfront billing and no hidden surprises. Adding more websites is easy with our straightforward, pay-as-you-go approach, keeping costs predictable as your agency grows.

Professional and Customisable Client Reports

Show clients the value of your work with automated, sleek and white-labelled reports, customised to clearly communicate your agency’s impact every month.

Selecting Your Ideal WatchTowerHQ Alternative

When considering an alternative to WatchTowerHQ, look closely at your agency’s key needs. Prioritise platforms that integrate multiple functionalities like reporting, maintenance and support into one place. Check the responsiveness and quality of customer support, ease of onboarding, and ability to scale with your agency. Doing so ensures the best outcome, helping your team become more streamlined, efficient and productive.

About Glow

Almost all agencies need the same core set of tools to efficiently manage multiple WordPress sites: a support system, a maintenance system, client reporting, team collaboration and time tracking. And with traditional WordPress management software, you can get some of those tools, but not all.

“We used to have time tracking, tickets & reporting across different tools. Glow centralises all this into one easy to use dashboard.”– Rick Makin, Head of Web Design, 21 Degrees Digital

Glow is the only product on the market that combines WordPress support, maintenance and reporting into one powerful dashboard.

Here are five things that make us different from legacy WordPress management providers:

  • Fast, always-human support: Whenever you need us, it’s us you’ll chat to. Not AI. Not a chatbot. Actual humans
  • Maintenance and support ticketing in a single platform: Streamline your workflow by managing everything in one place.
  • Flexible pricing: All features are included in every plan, with the option to extend your existing plan by adding more websites on a pay-as-you-go basis, making it cost-effective for agencies of all sizes.
  • Leading industry reporting: Provide your clients with detailed and professional reports effortlessly, helping you to consistently prove the value of your service.
  • Free white glove migration service: Transition to Glow smoothly with expert onboarding assistance at no extra cost.

Download our free website report template https://getglow.io/temps/website-maintenance-report-template/ and see what Glow can do for you.

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MainWP vs ManageWP: Which Tool Is Right for Your Agency? https://getglow.io/mainwp-managewp/ https://getglow.io/mainwp-managewp/#respond Sat, 15 Mar 2025 16:18:44 +0000 http://getglow.io/?p=8612 Introduction “The state of WordPress management today is all about integration and efficiency. Agencies and developers are seeking platforms that not only handle updates and security but also streamline client communication, reporting, and team collaboration into one unified dashboard. The demand is for comprehensive solutions that can adapt to the evolving needs of WordPress professionals, […]

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Introduction

“The state of WordPress management today is all about integration and efficiency. Agencies and developers are seeking platforms that not only handle updates and security but also streamline client communication, reporting, and team collaboration into one unified dashboard. The demand is for comprehensive solutions that can adapt to the evolving needs of WordPress professionals, helping them save time and enhance productivity.” – Phil Storey, Founder of Glow

Let’s dig in.

Why Use a WordPress Management Tool

At Glow, our software manages hundreds of WordPress websites, and we speak to WordPress agency owners every day. The top three reasons we see agencies investing in WordPress management are:

  • Keeping on top of WordPress updates – Many agencies and teams still handle WordPress updates manually, logging in and out of each website to run updates.
  • Handling support requests from clients – Many agencies still use email for handling support requests from clients, which is far from an ideal solution for a team of developers.
  • Business growth – Agencies are increasingly realising how they can grow the care plan side of their business through the use of modern WordPress management platforms.

If we had to pick one word to summarise the value these platforms provide, it would be efficiency. The way we have seen successful agency owners grow their businesses is by improving efficiency and leveraging technology and automation.

WP Remote vs InfiniteWP

When it comes to managing multiple WordPress websites, WP Remote and InfiniteWP are two popular tools that agencies consider. Both platforms offer features designed to simplify WordPress maintenance tasks.

WP Remote

WP Remote provides a central dashboard to monitor and update multiple WordPress sites. It’s designed to be user-friendly, enabling agencies to handle updates, backups, and security scans efficiently.

  • Pros:
    • Easy-to-use interface suitable for beginners and experts alike.
    • Automated backups and update management.
    • Security scanning features to protect your sites.
  • Cons:
    • Limited customisation options for client reporting.
    • No ability to handle client support requests.
    • Does not offer team collaboration features within the platform.

InfiniteWP

InfiniteWP is a self-hosted WordPress management solution that allows agencies to control their WordPress sites from a single dashboard. It offers a range of plugins and add-ons to extend its functionality.

  • Pros:
    • One-time purchase options available, which can be cost-effective in the long run.
    • Customisable with various add-ons to suit your needs.
    • Full control over your data since it is self-hosted.
  • Cons:
    • Requires technical expertise to set up and maintain the server.
    • No ability to handle client support requests.
    • Initial setup can be time-consuming compared to SaaS alternatives.

Which Is Right for You?

When evaluating WordPress management tools, ensure you consider everything you need—both today and in the future.

Many of the tools tend to be somewhat similar when it comes to common features and functionality, such as:

  • WordPress updates
  • Backups
  • Uptime monitoring
  • Security vulnerability monitoring
  • Performance monitoring

Where you tend to find more differences are behind the scenes, so be sure to ask about:

  • Client reporting – Are they well-designed, automated, and customisable?
  • Integrations – Does the tool play nicely with other business apps your team uses in their day-to-day?
  • Secure access – Can it provide secure access to client sites for your team?
  • Complete solution – Does the product include support, maintenance, and reporting without requiring multiple plugins?
  • Pricing – Is pricing flexible and granular enough to grow with your business?
  • Whitelabelling – If agencies outsource their website management and maintenance to you, do they properly cater for this?
  • Deployment – Is it SaaS (like Glow, WP Umbrella, and ManageWP) or a self-hosted solution (like MainWP and InfiniteWP) that you have to manually set up on your own server?

More About Glow

Almost all agencies need the same core set of tools to efficiently manage multiple WordPress sites: a support system, a maintenance system, client reporting, team collaboration, and time tracking. With traditional WordPress management software, you can get some of those tools, but not all.

“We used to have time tracking, tickets & reporting across different tools. Glow centralises all this into one easy-to-use dashboard.” – Rick Makin, Head of Web Design, 21 Degrees Digital

Glow is the only product in the market that offers the ability to handle your entire WordPress care plan and support plus maintenance service from one dashboard. Here are five reasons why Glow stands out as a top alternative:

  1. Fast, always-human support: Whenever you need us, it’s us you’ll chat to. Not AI. Not a chatbot. Actual humans.
  2. Maintenance and support ticketing in a single platform: Streamline your workflow by managing everything in one place.
  3. Flexible pricing: All features are included in every plan, with the option to extend your existing plan by adding more websites on a pay-as-you-go basis, making it cost-effective for agencies of all sizes.
  4. Leading industry reporting: Provide your clients with detailed and professional reports effortlessly, helping you to consistently prove the value of your service.
  5. Free white glove migration service: Transition to Glow smoothly with expert onboarding assistance at no extra cost.

Click here to download our free website report template and see what Glow can do for you.

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The Top Vultr Alternatives for WordPress Management https://getglow.io/vultr-alternatives/ https://getglow.io/vultr-alternatives/#respond Sat, 15 Mar 2025 16:17:21 +0000 https://getglow.io/?p=9706 Vultr has built a reputation as a reliable cloud hosting provider among WordPress agencies looking for scalable infrastructure. However, managing WordPress sites efficiently requires more than just hosting servers. Agencies need integrated tools for client support, reporting, collaboration, and regular maintenance tasks. This article explores some of the best alternatives to Vultr that deliver the […]

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Vultr has built a reputation as a reliable cloud hosting provider among WordPress agencies looking for scalable infrastructure. However, managing WordPress sites efficiently requires more than just hosting servers. Agencies need integrated tools for client support, reporting, collaboration, and regular maintenance tasks. This article explores some of the best alternatives to Vultr that deliver the comprehensive functionality WordPress agencies require.

Common Limitations Agencies Face With Vultr

If your agency manages multiple WordPress websites, Vultr’s infrastructure-only approach can sometimes fall short. Key limitations include:

  • No built-in support system for managing client requests.
  • Limited functionality around automated client reporting to demonstrate the value of your services.
  • No integrated features for team collaboration or time tracking.
  • Lack of automation tools for regularly scheduled backups and plugin/theme updates.

These functionality gaps require agencies to rely on additional software subscriptions and tools, leading to fragmented workflows and inefficiencies.

Top Alternatives to Vultr for Agencies Managing WordPress Websites

Here are some recommended alternatives to Vultr that integrate hosting with powerful WordPress management tools.

NameDescription
GlowComprehensive platform combining support ticketing, maintenance management, reporting, collaboration, and more.
mysites.guruSpecialised platform focusing on security auditing, bulk updates, and monitoring tools.
Modular DSDeveloper-centric tool streamlining WordPress deployments and server configurations.
SiteRackDashboard for WordPress updates management, backup automation and uptime checks.
WP Project ManagerCollaborative project management tailored specifically for WordPress teams.
GoDaddy ProBasic WordPress management platform integrating hosting, updates, and client access.
WP BlazerCentralised WordPress dashboard primarily focused on backups, security, and bulk updates.
Divi DashBuilt specifically for agencies managing Divi theme-based WordPress sites.
BlogVaultRobust platform offering backups, security and staging environments for WordPress sites.
WP DependTool that automates updates of WordPress core, themes and plugins.

Why Glow Is the Leading Alternative to Vultr for WordPress Agencies

Glow has been specifically designed to meet the needs of WordPress agencies by combining support, maintenance and client reporting into one easy-to-use dashboard. Here’s why agencies choose Glow:

Integrated Support and Maintenance

Glow includes an intuitive ticketing system for managing client support requests, alongside tools to seamlessly manage WordPress plugin and theme updates, backups, uptime and security monitoring. Clients can raise and reply to tickets directly from email without logging in—simplifying your communications workflow.

Automated Client Reporting

With Glow, your agency effortlessly creates customisable, agency-branded reports that clearly demonstrate the value delivered to your clients. Automate these reports to run on your schedule and stop manually compiling reports each month.

“We have 30+ reports to produce monthly. It used to be a manual process and is now much simpler. Glow has saved us a lot of time.” – Georgia Robertson, Production Manager, Zap Creative

Clear Team Collaboration and Time Tracking

Glow incorporates built-in collaboration tools and time tracking features so your agency teams can easily coordinate work on client websites and support requests.

Flexible Pricing Tailored for Agencies

Glow’s pricing scales effortlessly with your needs. All core features are included in all plans, and additional websites can be added flexibly, meaning costs stay predictable as your agency grows.

Pain-Free Migration and Expert Support

Glow offers a free white glove migration service to smoothly transition your agency from other platforms. Expert human support ensures you are fully up and running in no time.

Selecting the Best Alternative to Vultr for Your Agency

When considering alternatives to Vultr for WordPress management, it’s important your chosen solution covers more than hosting alone. Agencies require comprehensive workflows around client support, site maintenance, reporting, collaboration and more within one centralised platform.

Glow stands apart as the leading tool that seamlessly integrates these essential activities into a single dashboard—reducing reliance on multiple subscriptions, increasing operational efficiency and helping you to clearly demonstrate value to clients.

About Glow

Almost all agencies need the same core set of tools to efficiently manage multiple WordPress sites: a support system, a maintenance system, client reporting, team collaboration and time tracking. And with traditional WordPress management software, you can get some of those tools, but not all.

“We used to have time tracking, tickets & reporting across different tools. Glow centralises all this into one easy to use dashboard.”– Rick Makin, Head of Web Design, 21 Degrees Digital

Glow is the only product on the market that combines WordPress support, maintenance and reporting into one powerful dashboard.

Here are five things that make us different from legacy WordPress management providers:

  • Fast, always-human support: Whenever you need us, it’s us you’ll chat to. Not AI. Not a chatbot. Actual humans
  • Maintenance and support ticketing in a single platform: Streamline your workflow by managing everything in one place.
  • Flexible pricing: All features are included in every plan, with the option to extend your existing plan by adding more websites on a pay-as-you-go basis, making it cost-effective for agencies of all sizes.
  • Leading industry reporting: Provide your clients with detailed and professional reports effortlessly, helping you to consistently prove the value of your service.
  • Free white glove migration service: Transition to Glow smoothly with expert onboarding assistance at no extra cost.

Download our free website report template https://getglow.io/temps/website-maintenance-report-template/ and see what Glow can do for you.

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The top mySites.guru alternatives for WordPress Management https://getglow.io/mysites-guru-alternatives/ https://getglow.io/mysites-guru-alternatives/#respond Sat, 15 Mar 2025 16:11:37 +0000 https://getglow.io/?p=9703 What is mySites.guru? mySites.guru is a cloud platform that helps WordPress agencies manage multiple websites efficiently in one centralised dashboard. It simplifies tasks such as plugin and theme updates, backups, performance tracking and security scans. However, while mySites.guru covers some essential management functions, it does not offer deeper capabilities for comprehensive client support, detailed reporting […]

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What is mySites.guru?

mySites.guru is a cloud platform that helps WordPress agencies manage multiple websites efficiently in one centralised dashboard. It simplifies tasks such as plugin and theme updates, backups, performance tracking and security scans.

However, while mySites.guru covers some essential management functions, it does not offer deeper capabilities for comprehensive client support, detailed reporting and streamlined team collaboration. Many agencies find themselves juggling multiple tools to fill these gaps, which can be inefficient and costly.

If you find mySites.guru is missing important features your agency needs, several alternative WordPress management platforms may be a better fit for your requirements.

Reasons to Consider Alternatives to mySites.guru

Many WordPress agencies managing multiple client websites need solutions that can handle more than just routine maintenance tasks.

Agencies often look for:

  • Centralised client support and ticket management
  • Professional, customisable client reporting
  • Effective team collaboration workflows within the platform itself
  • Flexible pricing structures suitable for different agency sizes and growth stages
  • Reliable human-focused customer support

Top Alternatives to mySites.guru for WordPress Management

NameDescription
GlowAn all-in-one WordPress management platform for client support, maintenance, reporting and team collaboration.
Modular DS alternativesReplacements for Modular DS focusing on efficient WordPress website maintenance.
SiteRack alternativesAlternative solutions providing reliable WordPress hosting and site management.
WP Project Manager alternativesAlternatives for WordPress-focused agencies needing improved project management capabilities.
GoDaddy Pro alternativeTools replacing GoDaddy’s WordPress management services specifically designed for agencies.
WP Blazer alternativeAlternatives to WP Blazer offering similar site management and monitoring functionalities.
Vultr alternativesCloud hosting services serving as strong alternatives to Vultr.
Divi Dash alternativesReplacement options for agencies running Divi-focused WordPress websites.
BlogVault alternativesRobust backup and security solutions similar to BlogVault for WordPress websites.
WP Depend alternativesSolutions for enhanced WordPress dependency and package management.

Key Features to Look for in Alternatives to mySites.guru

When exploring other WordPress management platforms, consider prioritising these crucial features:

  • Integrated Ticketing System: Streamlined management of client support requests without needing external tools.
  • Efficient Maintenance Capabilities: Easily manage plugin updates, backups, security, vulnerability scans and monitoring across multiple websites without logging into individual WordPress dashboards every time.
  • Advanced Client Reporting: Provide customisable, agency-branded client reports that demonstrate tangible value.
  • Built-in Team Collaboration: Support simplified internal workflows and communication.
  • Flexible and Cost-effective Pricing: Scalable pricing plans to match the budget and needs of agencies of all sizes.
  • Reliable Human Support: Prompt access to real human assistance, not automated bots.

Why Glow is the Ideal Alternative to mySites.guru

Glow is specifically designed to help WordPress agencies simplify their workflows by combining essential management features into one intuitive platform. Unlike specialised maintenance-only tools like mySites.guru, Glow integrates client support, WordPress website maintenance, detailed reporting, team collaboration and even time tracking—all in a single dashboard.

With Glow your agency can:

  • Manage all your clients’ WordPress sites centrally—this includes updates, backups, uptime monitoring, security scans and performance monitoring.
  • Centralise client support requests via an intuitive ticketing solution, eliminating the inefficiencies of manual email-based support.
  • Create and automate professional, branded reports that clearly show clients the work you’re performing and demonstrate your value transparently.

Here’s what a Glow customer says:

“We used to have time tracking, tickets & reporting across different tools. Glow centralises all this into one easy to use dashboard.” – Rick Makin, Head of Web Design, 21 Degrees Digital

Glow’s flexible pricing, human-focused customer support, integrated approach and streamlined workflows make it an excellent solution for WordPress agencies seeking an alternative to mySites.guru.

Picking the Right Alternative Tool for Your WordPress Agency

The right WordPress management software significantly impacts your agency’s efficiency, scalability and client relationships. When evaluating alternatives, consider what matters most to your team: unified maintenance management, client support processes, professional reporting, or simplified collaboration and time tracking.

Choosing an integrated platform like Glow could provide your team with greater productivity and better client value.

About Glow

Almost all agencies need the same core set of tools to efficiently manage multiple WordPress sites: a support system, a maintenance system, client reporting, team collaboration and time tracking. And with traditional WordPress management software, you can get some of those tools, but not all.

“We used to have time tracking, tickets & reporting across different tools. Glow centralises all this into one easy to use dashboard.”– Rick Makin, Head of Web Design, 21 Degrees Digital

Glow is the only product on the market that combines WordPress support, maintenance and reporting into one powerful dashboard.

Here are five things that make us different from legacy WordPress management providers:

  • Fast, always-human support: Whenever you need us, it’s us you’ll chat to. Not AI. Not a chatbot. Actual humans
  • Maintenance and support ticketing in a single platform: Streamline your workflow by managing everything in one place.
  • Flexible pricing: All features are included in every plan, with the option to extend your existing plan by adding more websites on a pay-as-you-go basis, making it cost-effective for agencies of all sizes.
  • Leading industry reporting: Provide your clients with detailed and professional reports effortlessly, helping you to consistently prove the value of your service.
  • Free white glove migration service: Transition to Glow smoothly with expert onboarding assistance at no extra cost.

Download our free website report template here and see what Glow can do for you.

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The Top JetPack for Agencies Alternatives for WordPress Management https://getglow.io/jetpack-alternatives/ https://getglow.io/jetpack-alternatives/#respond Mon, 10 Mar 2025 12:51:03 +0000 https://getglow.io/?p=9662 The Need for JetPack for Agencies Alternatives JetPack can be helpful for solo WordPress site owners, but agencies often have more demanding requirements. Managing multiple sites, creating custom reports, and dealing with regular client requests across a range of projects adds a layer of complexity that a single plugin may not cover. This is why […]

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The Need for JetPack for Agencies Alternatives

JetPack can be helpful for solo WordPress site owners, but agencies often have more demanding requirements. Managing multiple sites, creating custom reports, and dealing with regular client requests across a range of projects adds a layer of complexity that a single plugin may not cover. This is why many agencies look for more comprehensive or flexible JetPack alternatives.

Below, we explore a selection of platforms that offer crucial features such as multi-site management, reporting, and client support ticketing. Our aim is to simplify your decision-making process so you can choose the best fit for your agency workflow.

Criteria for Choosing an Alternative

When evaluating WordPress management solutions for agencies, keep these points in mind:

  • Centralised management: A unified dashboard that handles multiple client sites efficiently.
  • Client support systems: Ticketing facilities to streamline communication.
  • Reporting tools: Automated or customisable client reporting to showcase ongoing work.
  • Backup, security and monitoring: Robust backup options and malware detection features to keep sites secure.
  • Scalability and pricing: Flexible plans that grow with your client portfolio.

Top Alternatives to JetPack for Agencies

ManageWP

ManageWP is built for agencies looking after multiple sites. Its benefits include:

  • One-click updates for themes and plugins
  • Uptime monitoring
  • Backup services
  • Client reporting options

It’s a modular solution that lets you pay for specific features, which can be cost-effective for agencies with varied needs.

MainWP

MainWP offers a self-hosted approach. It provides full control over your management dashboard, giving agencies a high degree of autonomy. Key features include:

  • Unlimited site management without extra costs
  • Greater privacy for any client data
  • Flexibility through a range of extensions

WP Umbrella

WP Umbrella focuses on uptime and performance monitoring. It provides:

  • A single dashboard for updates
  • Performance monitoring and alerts
  • Automated reporting features
  • Malware scans and maintenance notifications

iThemes Sync

iThemes Sync equips agencies with various WordPress maintenance and security options:

  • A secure multi-site dashboard
  • Integration with iThemes Security
  • Comprehensive client reporting features

Glow

Glow combines support, maintenance, and reporting in a single dashboard. Designed specifically for WordPress agencies, it streamlines key tasks:

  • Support ticketing: A built-in help desk to handle client requests and collaborate with your team.
  • Maintenance: Centralised plugin updates, uptime monitoring, backups, and advanced performance scanning.
  • Reporting: Customisable, automated client reports that highlight the value you deliver.

Glow’s simple interface and team-focused features help agencies consolidate multiple services. One user comments:

“We moved to Glow after using ManageWP for 5 years. Support ticketing + time tracking are great features we’ve not found elsewhere.” – Jag Panesar, Founder, Xpand

The Future of WordPress Management

WordPress professionals increasingly look for integrated platforms that handle critical maintenance tasks alongside support, reporting, and collaboration. Saving time, reducing costs, and improving client satisfaction are top priorities. This trend shows a growing preference for all-in-one solutions that adapt to the evolving demands of modern agencies.

About Glow

Almost all agencies need the same core set of tools to efficiently manage multiple WordPress sites: a support system, a maintenance system, client reporting, team collaboration and time tracking. And with traditional WordPress management software, you can get some of those tools, but not all.

“We used to have time tracking, tickets & reporting across different tools. Glow centralises all this into one easy to use dashboard.”– Rick Makin, Head of Web Design, 21 Degrees Digital

Glow is the only product on the market that combines WordPress support, maintenance and reporting into one powerful dashboard.

Here are five things that make us different from legacy WordPress management providers:

  • Fast, always-human support: Whenever you need us, it’s us you’ll chat to. Not AI. Not a chatbot. Actual humans
  • Maintenance and support ticketing in a single platform: Streamline your workflow by managing everything in one place.
  • Flexible pricing: All features are included in every plan, with the option to extend your existing plan by adding more websites on a pay-as-you-go basis, making it cost-effective for agencies of all sizes.
  • Leading industry reporting: Provide your clients with detailed and professional reports effortlessly, helping you to consistently prove the value of your service.
  • Free white glove migration service: Transition to Glow smoothly with expert onboarding assistance at no extra cost.

Download our free website report template and see what Glow can do for you.

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11 Reasons Why Support Ticket Systems Beat Email https://getglow.io/11-reasons-why-support-ticket-systems-beat-email/ https://getglow.io/11-reasons-why-support-ticket-systems-beat-email/#respond Mon, 10 Mar 2025 12:47:58 +0000 http://getglow.io/?p=9236 Introduction How well you manage your clients’ website support requests is the number one reason that will dictate how long they remain a client. Not how you update plugins. Not how often you take backups. Not whether you track security vulnerabilities. All of those things matter, of course. But none of them trump support. So, […]

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Introduction

How well you manage your clients’ website support requests is the number one reason that will dictate how long they remain a client.

Not how you update plugins. Not how often you take backups. Not whether you track security vulnerabilities.

All of those things matter, of course. But none of them trump support.

So, how do you handle website support requests in the most efficient way?

While email might seem like a simple and familiar tool for handling support requests, it falls well short when compared to ticket systems.

Let’s take a look at 11 reasons why …

1. Much easier to work with your teammates

Email is already a bit messy when there’s multiple people in a thread.

Some people using “Reply all”. Other people not using “Reply all” and then sending a reply only to some of the people in the thread.

Not good.

And the client experience is even worse, especially when there might be more than one person in your team who needs to take a look at the specific issue in question.

With a ticket system however, everyone is on the same page, literally.

It’s pretty common when you’re working in a team that a particular support request will be better handled by a particular person. The request might even need 2 or 3 people at various stages. Whatever the situation, it’s easily done in a ticket system, where you can quickly assign tickets (and notify those people) between teammates.

2. Instantly know which website a ticket is in relation to

Unless this is very clearly labelled in the email subject, which 9 times out of 10 it isn’t, then it’s often a challenge to quickly identify which website a particular email support request is related to.

And that’s pretty important when it’s a website support service that you’re providing!

When you’re using a support ticket system that’s built specifically for handling website support requests however, the website a particular ticket is allocated to is all handled automatically.

No confusion. No ambiguity. Just clear information that helps you and your team know exactly which client you’re looking after.

3. Very easy to view the status of a support request

Support ticket system have status options for a reason: so you can very quickly understand the progress being made on a particular request.

Emails don’t have this and they never will.

As your business grows and you start managing more websites and therefore more support requests from clients, being able to quickly identify and change the status of a support request will become more and more important.

This is a non-negotiable. To deliver the highest level of client support, you have to be able to quickly know the status of each request.

4. Easily view the time your team has spent on this ticket so far

You take your website support service to the next level when you combine a support ticket system with time tracking software.

If you want to grow your business profitably (which I really hope you do), then you need get an understanding on the time you’re taking to service client accounts.

By being able to quickly track time spent on support requests right from within your ticket system, you’ll be able to easily assess things like profitability per client and whether you need to increase your prices.

In email, you can’t do this and it’s not as easy to link it with time tracking software to get the above data.

5. Automatically bring all ticket info into your client reports

If you’re using a WordPress management tool to create and send client reports, chances are you’ll want to include information about the development work you’ve completed on your clients’ websites.

This makes sense, as it’s a great way to consistently prove the value of your service.

However if you’re using email to manage client support requests, you’ll need to manually add that development work information to your client reports.

This takes time and honestly, in my experience, it mostly just doesn’t get done. Therefore weakening the overall effect of your client reports.

To be honest, even when you’re using a ticket system that’s separate to your WordPress management software, this often still doesn’t get done because the two systems are separate and many WordPress management tools are limited in their ability to integrate with ticket system software.

The best setup is to use a WordPress management product that has an in-built support ticket system, like Glow.

6. Set priority levels to indicate urgency

Yes, priority levels can occasionally get abused by clients.

We’ve all seen those requests labelled as ‘urgent’ by clients that we review and think: “This ain’t urgent!”

They’re still helpful though and something that can’t be used if you’re managing support requests by email.

Having priority statuses help you as a team to decide on which tickets to work on and when.

If every support request had no indication of urgency, you could be working your way through low priority work while other clients are getting seriously worried about your lack of attention to their genuinely urgent request, such as a hacked site.

7. Really easy to keep track of interactions between you and your client

Email threads are nasty. And they get nastier the more people that are involved and the longer they go on for.

In contrast, threads in support ticket systems are very easy to track.

This is really important when you’re working in a team and need to quickly understand the progress on a support request.

8. Zero confusion over whether or not a ticket has been handled yet

Emails get read. They also get marked as unread, even after they’ve been read.

They get starred and unread. They get unstarred and read.

When you’re in a team managing multiple WordPress sites and requests from different clients, this confusion is not just unnecessary, it’s harmful to your ability to deliver outstanding levels of support.

Why would you even want to risk having that potential confusion?

With a support ticket system, there is literally never any confusion over whether a ticket has been handled or not. It’s right there in front of you, every time.

You’ll easily see replies from teammates and statuses (see number 6 above) add an extra level of clarity to establishing what the current state of play is.

9. Immediately see the ticket history for any client

This is particularly useful when you’re reviewing a client’s account and looking at how you’re currently servicing them.

It’s also helpful when you need to go back and see how a particular support request was handled previously.

With email, this is challenge. The best you could do is keep emails from the same client in a folder in your inbox. That’s at least more organised than not doing any kind of categorisation.

With a ticket system however, it’s all done for you. You don’t need to remember to move emails to different folders and you don’t need to setup the folders in the first place. Everything is automated.

Then you can just access that support request history when you need to.

10. No change for your client: they can continue raising tickets to you from their email

As much as support ticket systems beat email for teams handling website support requests, the best ones actually do a great job of integrating with email for the benefit of the client.

It’s never easy trying to educate your clients on using a new system you’ve introduced into the business. Behaviour changes can take ages and frankly, sometimes just never happen.

So whilst I’d always recommend using a ticket system to handle requests, I’d also always recommend that it be one that allows clients to raise tickets by sending an email.

On the whole, clients don’t want to change their behaviour. And when you use a ticket system like this, they won’t have to.

You still get all the benefits that come with a ticket system and they can still quickly fire off an email to you when they need to.

11. Quickly login to the website from the ticket

Generic support ticket systems won’t have this feature.

But ticket systems built specifically for handling website support requests, like Glow, will do.

It’s only a small thing but it’s powerful.

Generally, in the process of handling a website support request, you’ll need to login to the client’s website to fix or change something.

If the login to that website is right there in the ticket, it just saves you some time, instead of having to open a new browser tab, find the login information and then login.

1 click versus 3. No brainer.

Conclusion

Switching from email to a dedicated support ticket system will have a positive impact on how efficiently you manage website support requests and, ultimately, on the lifetime value of your support and maintenance clients. 

With features that improve organisation, accountability, collaboration, and response times, ticket systems offer a level of service that emails simply can’t match. You’ll be better equipped to meet your clients’ needs, manage requests efficiently and ultimately provide a much better support experience.

So, whether you’re managing 20 sites or 200, a support ticket system helps you stay on top of every request. Hello ticket system, bye bye email.

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