Until recently, like the last eight years or so, there wasn’t a one-stop shop for digital marketers to sell their products.
You had to use a combination of different software programs just to make a sale.
It was extremely frustrating for the technically challenged getting all those platforms to work together.
But now, we have PayKickStart. It’s a software platform that truly understands and takes into account the many decisions you must make when selling products and services online.
What is PayKickStart?
PayKickStart is a web-based shopping cart and sales funnel builder that provides all the bells and whistles you need and have been searching for, but in one place.
In addition to being web-based, PayKickStart offers mobile accessibility for both iOS and Android devices. Keep track of performance and sales activity anytime, anywhere.
PayKickStart launched in 2014 and is the brainchild of Mark Thompson and Mat Callen. These guys are online marketers, so they know what’s needed. They included proven conversion boosters to make it easy for you to sell.
They didn’t stop with the shopping cart, they added a sales funnel builder that rivals Click Funnels in functionality. And they added a robust affiliate program that makes managing affiliates a breeze.
How PayKickStart Works
While I was researching this product, several people expressed frustration with not knowing what to do first or next, once they hit the dashboard.
It seems that PayKickStart was reading those comments as well.
When I logged into the dashboard, I felt as if they were taking me by the hand and showing me exactly what to do.
One window stays up the entire time you are creating your first campaign so you don't get frustrated with the steps.
There's another smaller window that appears in the corner of the screen that goes through the steps as well, until you create your first campaign.
The instructions walk you through the entire process of setting up your campaign, adding a product, creating the funnel, integrating the payment gateway, and even testing the Live link.
I did all that in about 10 minutes.
Now, of course, I was only setting up a test campaign, but that’s still pretty quick.
When you’re setup up an actual campaign, it will obviously take more time because you’ll be entering real information.
I also like that during the setup process, I never felt overwhelmed or lost.
Key Features of PayKickStart
Once I went through the whole set up process, I went back through the features so I could tweak things.
Here are the key features that make PayKickStart worth the effort and the investment.
Integrations
One of the things that gets my blood boiling is having to jump around to six or seven different platforms to make a sale.
PayKickStart takes that challenge head on by offering a host of different integrations that cover most or all of your marketing and technology needs.
Email Marketing
Choose from 16 trusted email marketing partners.
Webinars
You have 6 webinar platforms to choose from.
Payment Gateways
Whether you use Stripe, Paypal, Authorize.net, or Braintree, PayKickStart has you covered.
Memberships
PayKickStart integrates with the most popular membership platforms and CRMs (Customer Relationship Management): OntraPort, Innerspire, Send Link, Infusionsoft (Keap), Fresh Member, Wishlist Member, Kajabi, Amember, and Member Mounts.
Fulfillment
If you ship physical products, you’ll be able to use 3rd party fulfillment services like ShipOffers and ShipStation.
If you use a system or program you don’t see listed, PayKickStart unlocks more integrations with Zapier. If you’re the techy type, they even offer an API with complete documentation.
Conversion Boosters
For digital marketers and online entrepreneurs, the whole point of having a website is to sell. PayKickStart makes it super easy for you to sell to buyers.
1-CLICK UPSELLS
Customers only need to enter their billing details once. The software handles the rest. If your customer purchases within a funnel, they don’t have to fill out another checkout page form.
SUBSCRIPTIONs, TRIALS, AND MORE
PayKickStart offers complete payment flexibility.
You can accept one-time subscriptions, recurring payments, and even “try before you buy.” If your customers want to upgrade or downgrade their subscription, no problem.
You’re able to be as flexible as you want to be with payment plans.
Installments can be set up for weekly, monthly, annual, or custom intervals.
PayKickStart doesn’t charge any transaction fees, so you keep more of the money you’re bringing in.
Checkout Page Templates
I love a good, solid design. Although PayKickStart probably won’t win any design contests, they got me with their clean and simple checkout templates.
Whether you want multi-step or single-step checkout pages, you’ll find them in PayKickStart. They have over thirty templates, which are also fully customizable so they fit in with your brand.
Funnel Building
PayKickStart’s funnel building is actually a sales path you create for each product.
The visual funnel builder allows you to send prospects down a path of products, upgrades, and add-ons that vary depending on how your prospect responds to your initial offer.
You can make each funnel as simple or complicated as you wish.
This is also where you can include order bumps, exit intent popups, thank you pages, upsells, downsells, etc.
Affiliate Program
Having an army of affiliates to promote and sell for you can be a game changer. PayKickStart has a robust affiliate center included in the platform.
Even though the affiliates have to set up their own account, you aren’t able to add them yourself, it’s still a great value-add.
They’ve even set it up so you can run an affiliate contest that updates stats in real time. Nothing like a little competition to get your affiliates excited to sell for you.
And yes, PayKickStart also offers their own affiliate program for you to join as well. You earn a recurring 40% commission on each sale.
Tracking and Reporting
Reporting and tracking are integrated throughout PayKickStart.
You can keep tabs on any of the following areas:
- Sales: Both gross and net revenue.
- Funnels: Track which funnel is generating the most money.
- Commissions: See which affiliates are selling the best.
- Traffic: Analysis of the top 5 products' traffic.
- Subscription: Track recurring income.
Drill down in each of these sections to get more detailed information.
Support
During my research, I didn’t find any negative reports about PayKickStart’s customer service. All the reports I read rated them really high.
They do have a support center where they offer an extensive knowledgebase of articles and tutorials.
In addition, the have both a Facebook group and a Skype group.
If that isn’t enough, they have a 14-part video walk-through series, the Power Seller Bootcamp.
PayKickStart Pricing
Starter
Best for new companies just getting started.
$
99
/mo
Growth
Best for high-growth companies, looking to improve revenue workflow & inefficiencies.
$
199
/mo
scale
Best for companies with sophisticated revenue operations.
299
/mo
PayKickstart Pros and Sons
Pros
Cons
Conclusion:
I’m going to come right out and say that I love this software. Whether you’re techy or not, you’ll love it too.
It’s extremely easy to setup. The guided setup support is excellent. It steps you through everything you need to do to get your first product ready to sell.
The conversion boosters: exit intent popups, 1-click upsells, order bumps, etc., plus the numerous integrations did it for me.
Yes, the checkout page templates are a little dry, but they work.
There’s really nothing more to say, but go buy it.