Designing A Marketing System For Trade Professionals
Designing A Marketing System For Trade Professionals
Creating workflows that make marketing accessible, scalable, and simple to use.
Role
System Architect
Duration
4 months
Tools
Notion, Framer, GPT-4, Beam AI
Focus
Marketing Engine and Delivery System
Context
Context
Tradesmark provides trade professionals with accessible marketing support. Many lacked time or technical knowledge to manage websites and client communication. We built a system that delivered predictable results through simple tools, making adoption easy for less technical users.
Tradesmark provides trade professionals with accessible marketing support. Many lacked time or technical knowledge to manage websites and client communication. We built a system that delivered predictable results through simple tools, making adoption easy for less technical users.
Impact Highlights
Impact Highlights
30
30
%
%
MoM MRR growth over 3 months
MoM MRR growth over 3 months
3
3
clients onboarded in first month
clients onboarded in first month
40
40
%
%
reduced admin work through GPT-4 integration
reduced admin work through GPT-4 integration
Marketing Without A System
Trade professionals knew they needed marketing, but traditional agencies felt expensive and confusing.
Most lacked the technical skills or time to manage websites, campaigns, and materials. Without a simple, repeatable system, marketing was inconsistent and unsustainable.
Clarity Over Complexity
Clients consistently emphasized the importance of simplicity and trust in how services were delivered.
Clear communication mattered more than complex features
Retainer models succeeded when paired with transparency
Tools needed to work smoothly for less technical users
“
“All I want to know is what’s next”
“I find it frustrating when I have to do extra work to find to track your work.”
Why Linear Flows Work
Marketing systems fail if users feel lost. Research shows that linear tunnel navigation, where each step is guided in sequence, significantly improves usability for less technical users.
In a 2021 study, middle aged and older adults completed tasks more accurately and with less cognitive load when using linear flows. The structure provided clarity, reduced overthinking, and gave participants confidence in their progress.
For Tradesmark, this meant structuring onboarding as a clear step by step process rather than dropping clients into a complex system.
Dekkers, T., Melles, M., Vehmeijer, S. B. W., and de Ridder, H. (2021). Journal of Medical Internet Research, 23(3), e15846.
TUNNEL (LINEAR)
MATRIX
HEIRARCHICAL
Building The System
Outreach Workflow
Beam AI automated lead nurturing and follow ups, reducing manual effort and making inbound conversion smoother.
Onboarding Workflow
Intake form to auto-populated client checklist.
Request Workflow
Clients submit jobs in Notion, GPT-4 structures them into tasks.
Delivery Workflow
Completed assets uploaded into the same client portal, with Slack notifications to close the loop.
Start
End
A System You Can Work In
The final output was not just a brand presence but an operating system for marketing. At its core was a Notion based client portal connected to workflows designed for onboarding, requests, outreach, and delivery. Clients had a single place to track progress while the team managed intake, automation, and communication behind the scenes.
Scaling With Confidence
3 clients onboarded in first month
100% client retention maintained
40% admin work saved with GPT-4 task structuring
Outreach staffing cut from 3 → 1 via Beam AI
~30% MoM MRR growth tracked from retainers
Month 0
Month 1
+33%
Month 2
+25%
Month 3
Designing Businesses
Like Products
This case study reinforced that my role is not just designing interfaces but designing systems. I learned how to balance simplicity for trades professionals with scalability for the business. AI was most valuable when it remained invisible, streamlining workflows without adding complexity for clients.
Marketing Without A System
Trade professionals knew they needed marketing, but traditional agencies felt expensive and confusing.
Most lacked the technical skills or time to manage websites, campaigns, and materials. Without a simple, repeatable system, marketing was inconsistent and unsustainable.
Clarity Over Complexity
Clients consistently emphasized the importance of simplicity and trust in how services were delivered.
Clear communication mattered more than complex features
Retainer models succeeded when paired with transparency
Tools needed to work smoothly for less technical users
“
“All I want to know is what’s next”
“I find it frustrating when I have to do extra work to find to track your work.”
Why Linear Flows Work
Marketing systems fail if users feel lost. Research shows that linear tunnel navigation, where each step is guided in sequence, significantly improves usability for less technical users.
In a 2021 study, middle aged and older adults completed tasks more accurately and with less cognitive load when using linear flows. The structure provided clarity, reduced overthinking, and gave participants confidence in their progress.
For Tradesmark, this meant structuring onboarding as a clear step by step process rather than dropping clients into a complex system.
Dekkers, T., Melles, M., Vehmeijer, S. B. W., and de Ridder, H. (2021). Journal of Medical Internet Research, 23(3), e15846.
TUNNEL (LINEAR)
MATRIX
HEIRARCHICAL
Building The System
Outreach Workflow
Beam AI automated lead nurturing and follow ups, reducing manual effort and making inbound conversion smoother.
Onboarding Workflow
Intake form to auto-populated client checklist.
Request Workflow
Clients submit jobs in Notion, GPT-4 structures them into tasks.
Delivery Workflow
Completed assets uploaded into the same client portal, with Slack notifications to close the loop.
Start
End
A System You Can Work In
The final output was not just a brand presence but an operating system for marketing. At its core was a Notion based client portal connected to workflows designed for onboarding, requests, outreach, and delivery. Clients had a single place to track progress while the team managed intake, automation, and communication behind the scenes.
Scaling With Confidence
3 clients onboarded in first month
100% client retention maintained
40% admin work saved with GPT-4 task structuring
Outreach staffing cut from 3 → 1 via Beam AI
~30% MoM MRR growth tracked from retainers
Month 0
Month 1
+33%
Month 2
+25%
Month 3
Designing Businesses
Like Products
This case study reinforced that my role is not just designing interfaces but designing systems. I learned how to balance simplicity for trades professionals with scalability for the business. AI was most valuable when it remained invisible, streamlining workflows without adding complexity for clients.
© 2024 Jonathan Chon
© 2024 Jonathan Chon