Keap (fka Infusionsoft) Review

Many CRM systems make a sincere effort to be more than simple data-entry apps or hosted spreadsheets. They claim that their system can actually improve a business and save time, rather than just be a repository for customer data. Business intelligence is becoming a pivotal aspect of CRM apps and despite this popular claim that ‘they will make your business grow, save you time, and eliminate staff costs’, CRM apps are still having trouble meeting these guarantees. Most CRMs, that is. After spending time evaluating Infusionsoft I must say – this system actually does stand up to its claims; it actually can grow and improve your business.

Keap CRM provides a range of useful features for businesses, including built-in invoicing, payment processing integrations, and checkout cart functionalities. These features are designed to enhance conversion rates and increase average cart values. By automating tasks like sending texts and email follow-ups, as well as recording new leads, Keap saves customers approximately 10 hours per week. Setting up the CRM is a quick process, thanks to the assistance of a dedicated customer success manager and user-friendly drag-and-drop sales pipeline builders. These tools help businesses stay organized and gain a clear understanding of their business opportunities.

Why Chose Keap ?

Keap is a simple all-in-one, easy to use,  CRM platform with sales and marketing automation features that are easy to set up and use. The platform is designed to grow your business, with the assumption that you’re not necessarily an expert in the sales pipeline or CRMs. After starting with a pre-built sales pipeline template, you can automate emails, notifications and tasks with automatic triggers for when you move a deal from one stage to another. Keap helps business owners measure success effectively, with analytics and reports for list growth, email marketing performance and revenue trends over time.

Keap stores all of your customer contact information and activity in one place. All of your interactions with a contact are automatically added to their account for quick review by anyone on your team. You can organize information by category or chronologically to get the context you need at a moment’s notice. From the contact dashboard, you can quickly call, text, email, book an appointment, process a purchase, add an invoice and much more with one click. You can also segment your contact list by groups to easily trigger automated actions based on a group member’s activity.

Usability

Keap stands for its exceptional ease of use, making it an ideal choice for businesses seeking a user-friendly CRM platform. Whether you’re new to sales pipelines and CRMs or not, Keap simplifies the setup process and ensures a seamless user experience. The platform provides pre-built sales pipeline templates that allow you to start off quickly. Additionally, you can automate various tasks such as emails, notifications, and assignments by setting up automatic triggers for different stages of your deals.

One of the key advantages of Keap is its comprehensive customer contact management system. All customer interactions and details are consolidated in one place, making it effortless for your team to access and review. The platform conveniently organizes information by category or chronology, enabling you to retrieve the context you need at a moment’s notice. The contact dashboard offers a range of actions at your fingertips, including calling, texting, emailing, booking appointments, processing purchases, and generating invoices with just one click.

Keap allows you to segment your contact list into groups, facilitating the implementation of automated actions based on specific group members’ activities. This level of customization enhances your ability to engage with contacts in a targeted and effective manner.

Keap also excels in providing insightful analytics and reports. You can effectively measure the success of your business by monitoring list growth, email marketing performance, and revenue trends over time.

Keap’s intuitive interface, streamlined contact management, and robust automation capabilities make it an excellent choice for businesses looking to simplify their CRM processes while achieving growth and maximizing customer interactions.

Keap Features

Keap offers two comprehensive CRM products that provide all the necessary tools for lead management, sales pipeline progression, and successful sales transactions. These products come equipped with built-in invoicing and payment processing capabilities, ensuring a seamless end-to-end experience. In comparison to other providers, Keap stands out by offering an impressive array of features even in their entry-level plans.

It’s worth noting that some of the most valuable features, such as e-commerce functionalities and lead scoring tools, are exclusively available in the higher-tier Max plan. While the standard plans provide a solid foundation for lead capture and sales management, those seeking advanced e-commerce capabilities and more precise lead evaluation may find the additional features in the Max plan particularly beneficial.

Automation: Keap simplifies the process of automating repetitive tasks by providing a wide selection of premade templates. This feature allows users to streamline their workflow and save time by automating routine actions.

Lead scoring: With Keap, users can effectively prioritize their leads by utilizing automatic lead scoring. This functionality enables businesses to identify and focus on the most promising opportunities, optimizing their sales efforts and increasing overall efficiency.

E-commerce payments: Keap offers built-in features for invoicing and payment processing. This capability allows businesses to seamlessly manage their e-commerce transactions within the platform, simplifying the payment process for both the business and its customers.

Integrations: Keap supports integration with over 2,500 popular software applications, both through native integrations and via Zapier Premium. This extensive integration capability ensures compatibility with various tools and platforms, providing users with flexibility and the ability to connect Keap with their preferred software ecosystem.

Automation

Keap empowers users with the ability to automate complex tasks, relieving them from repetitive and time-consuming activities. The platform achieves this through its user-friendly automation system, which is built on “when-then scenarios.” By setting up these scenarios, users can create automated actions based on specific triggers. For instance, when a public form is submitted, Keap can instantly send a notification to the user and a confirmation email to the new contact.

The range of automation options in Keap is extensive, limited only by the user’s imagination. The platform offers a variety of pre-built templates designed for different purposes, such as managing leads from landing pages, sending invoice reminders, and presenting deal offers. These templates serve as a convenient starting point, allowing users to customize and tailor the automation to meet their specific needs. With Keap’s automation capabilities, users can streamline their workflows, enhance communication efficiency, and focus on more critical aspects of their business.

Lead Scoring

Unlocking the Power of Lead Scoring with the Max Plan

With Keap’s Max plan, you gain access to powerful lead-scoring capabilities. This feature evaluates the level of interest exhibited by each prospect based on various engagement metrics, such as submitted web forms, clicked links, opened emails, and applied tags. The lead-scoring system is highly customizable, allowing you to assign specific weights or values to different variables. Additionally, you can deduct points based on specific criteria, such as when a contact fails to engage with a new email campaign. By leveraging lead scoring alongside your team’s expertise, you can optimize efficiency and drive revenue by focusing your efforts on the most promising leads.

E-Commerce Payments

Streamlined Invoicing and Secure Payment Processing

Keap offers native invoicing and payment processing tools that facilitate faster payment collection and provide secure options for your customers. You can accept payments via debit cards, credit cards, PayPal, Venmo, and other popular payment platforms. Keap has established dedicated, partnership-level integrations with leading payment processors, including PayPal, Stripe, WePay (Chase), EVO Payments, Eway, and Nexus Merchants. Processing rates and terms vary depending on the chosen provider, with some offering same-day deposits. In addition to accepting payments, you can boost your average cart value by offering upsells or promotional offers during checkout. Moreover, Keap allows you to implement abandoned-cart automations, enticing customers to return and complete their purchase.

Keap’s new email builder –  Available in Pro, Max, and Max Classic

Keap’s new email builder is now available when sending broadcasts in Max Classic. The new builder enhances your experience when creating and sending emails. The all-new email builder seamlessly integrates into Max Classic’s broadcast functionality, enhancing your email creation and sending experience.

• A Plentiful Array of Templates: The choices are as vast. Select from a vriety of email templates that suit every taste and purpose, ensuring your messages stand out in their own right.
• Embrace Multi-Column Mastery: Unleash your creativity with the power of multi-column support. Craft engaging layouts, organize content with ease, and captivate your audience.
• The Beauty of Text-Only: Sometimes, simplicity speaks volumes. Embrace the elegance of the text-only option, enabling you to convey your message with a raw and unfiltered charm, capturing the interest of recipients effortlessly.
• A Gateway to Digital Treasure: The new file download button opens doors to a world of exclusive content. Share valuable resources, essential documents, or captivating multimedia, enticing your subscribers to venture deeper into your offerings.
• Countdown Timer: Sense anticipation with the countdown timer feature. Build excitement and create urgency, and among your subscribers, urging them to act swiftly.

Email Health dashboard widget – Available in Max Classic

Seize email deliverability control with the Email Health dashboard widget. Gain insights and advice to monitor and enhance your deliverability. Follow best practices for inbox success, ensuring your emails land in recipients’ inboxes effortlessly.

Extensive Integration Options

Keap stands out among CRM providers with its vast integration capabilities, connecting with over 2,500 platforms and tools. This extensive integration support ensures that businesses can operate efficiently and seamlessly across various applications. Keap’s marketplace offers a wide range of integration options, including partner-level, certified, and third-party integrations. These integrations cover areas such as email, lead generation, specialty apps, pre-built campaigns, and much more. With Keap, businesses can leverage a diverse ecosystem of interconnected tools to enhance their operations.

Consideration of Pricing

It’s important to note that Keap’s integration options are among the pricier ones compared to other CRM providers we reviewed. While the platform offers an impressive selection of integrations, the associated costs should be taken into account when considering budgetary considerations. However, the added value and efficiency gained through seamless integration with essential business tools may outweigh the higher cost for some organizations. Evaluating the benefits and costs of these integrations is crucial to determine their overall impact on your business’s operations and bottom line.

Keap’s Unique Contact-Based Pricing Structure

Keap offers a distinct pricing model based on the number of contacts, with two core plans available: Pro and Max. These plans start at $159 and $229 per month, respectively, when billed annually. The Pro plan includes two user seats and allows for up to 1,500 contacts, while the Max plan provides three user seats and accommodates up to 2,500 contacts. For businesses with larger contact lists, Keap can handle more than 25,000 contacts with a higher monthly base.

Additional users can be added to either plan for $29 per month per user, irrespective of the number of contacts. This pricing structure provides flexibility for businesses to scale their team while maintaining a consistent cost per user.

To help you assess the platform’s suitability for your business needs, Keap offers a 14-day free trial. We recommend taking advantage of this trial period to experience and evaluate the platform’s features firsthand.

For more information on the Max Classic Plan please visit and contact sales.

Comparison of Plans and Features

The following chart provides an overview of the starting prices per month per user and the features included in each plan:

• Plan Starting Price Features
  • Pro $159 for 2 users, $29 for each additional user Dedicated phone line, mobile app, automated lead capture and follow-up, 100 custom fields, 150 text messages, email marketing, payments, invoicing, appointments, landing pages, sales pipelines, advanced automations, text marketing.
  • Max $229 for 3 users, $29 for each additional user Everything in Pro, 2,500 contacts, marketing analytics, promo codes, checkout upsell, 150 custom fields, 250 text messages, lead scoring, customer subscription management.
  • Max Classic visit the website for details

By comparing the starting prices, features, and additional capabilities offered by each plan, you can make an informed decision about which plan aligns best with your business requirements and objectives.

Seamless Setup Process with Keap

Setting up Keap is a straightforward and hassle-free experience, primarily due to the inclusion of a dedicated customer success manager with every plan. Even the free option offers a basic contact import feature, allowing small teams to quickly get started. This feature is complemented by 10 items and one landing page, providing the essentials for initiating operations.

When it comes to configuring your sales pipeline, Keap offers intuitive drag-and-drop tools and a Kanban system. These features enable you to easily organize and manage your sales process. The platform also provides automations that facilitate instant communication with new leads, laying the foundation for cultivating successful relationships.

For more intricate setup requirements, such as integrating with other tools or systems, professional paid support is available. This additional support ensures that businesses can seamlessly implement more complex elements and maximize the functionality of Keap.

Overall, Keap’s setup process is designed to be user-friendly, efficient, and adaptable to the needs of businesses of all sizes. The inclusion of a dedicated customer success manager, along with various tools and support options, ensures a smooth onboarding experience.

Keap’s Customer Service

Keap provides above-average customer service, offering U.S.-based phone support on weekdays and 24/7 chat support via the mobile app for both plans. Customers in the United States can access phone support from Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. ET. Support is also available for subscribers in the U.K. and Australia. Additionally, Keap distinguishes itself by including a dedicated success manager with all plans, a feature that sets it apart from many competitors.

In terms of self-help resources, Keap offers valuable tools such as webinars and instructional articles. These resources guide users through various processes, including automating text messages and integrating the CRM software with WordPress. These self-help materials provide users with the information and guidance needed to maximize the potential of the platform.

Keap Drawbacks

One drawback of Keap’s contact-based pricing structure is its variability, which may pose challenges for growing companies aiming to have strict control over recurring software expenses. Increasing the number of contacts from 1,500 to 25,000 with the Pro plan results in a significant monthly base fee increase of 217%, from $129 to $409. Additionally, it’s important to monitor text message automations closely, as exceeding the allotted 150 or 250 text messages incurs an additional charge of 4 cents per marketable message.

Another limitation is the absence of a sales funnel feature that allows users to create and connect multiple landing pages to optimize lead conversion. While this capability is listed as “coming soon,” its current absence may be perceived as a missing element in an otherwise high-performing and automation-rich CRM.

Tip: As you explore Keap and its features, consider taking advantage of the available self-help resources to maximize your understanding and utilization of the platform.

Who is Keap for?

Keap is designed to cater to the needs of businesses across various industries. Its flexibility allows it to adapt to the specific requirements of different sectors when it comes to Customer Relationship Management (CRM) and sales and marketing automation. Whether you run a small business, a startup, or a larger enterprise, Keap can be customized and tailored to suit your business’s unique needs.

Regardless of the industry you operate in, Keap provides the tools and features necessary to streamline your sales and marketing processes, automate repetitive tasks, manage customer relationships effectively, and drive business growth. With its wide range of functionalities and customization options, Keap offers a versatile solution that can be adapted to meet the specific demands of your industry. Keap is suitable for the following industries Accounting, Automotive, Coaches, Consultants, e-Commerce, Education, Financial Advisors, Gym & fitness, Insurance, Marketing Agents, Non Profits/NPOs/Charities, Photographers, Professional Services, Real Estate, Startups.

Pros:

1. Comprehensive Sales and Marketing Automation: Keap offers a unified platform that combines sales and marketing automation capabilities. This integration allows for a seamless and streamlined approach to managing and optimizing your business processes.
2. Dedicated Customer Support: All Keap plans come with valuable customer support resources, including access to a customer success manager, U.S.-based phone support, and 24/7 chat support directly from the Keap app. This ensures that you have assistance readily available when you need it.
3. Efficient Lead Collection and Scoring: Keap provides automated lead collection and scoring features, enabling you to efficiently manage and prioritize your leads. This functionality helps you focus your efforts on the most promising opportunities and improve your sales process.

Cons:

1. Additional Fees for Software Integrations: While Keap offers extensive integration options, it’s important to note that some of these integrations may require additional monthly fees. Businesses should consider these costs when planning their budget for using Keap in conjunction with other software applications.
2. Limitations of Free Data Migration: The free data migration process provided by Keap is limited to migrating contacts, 10 items, and one landing page. If you require more comprehensive data migration, additional steps or resources may be necessary.
3. Contact-Based Pricing Structure: Keap utilizes a contact-based pricing model, which means that as your contact list grows, your monthly base price increases. This can result in higher costs for businesses with larger contact lists, and careful consideration of pricing and scalability is necessary to ensure it aligns with your business’s growth trajectory.

It’s essential to weigh the pros and cons based on your specific business needs and priorities to determine if Keap is the right fit for your organization.

Verdict

In conclusion, Keap (formerly Infusionsoft) is a highly recommended customer relationship management (CRM) platform, particularly well-suited for small business owners and those new to the CRM software category. With its seamless integration of sales and marketing automation, Keap offers an ideal all-in-one solution, particularly beneficial for new e-commerce ventures. The platform’s user-friendly interface and efficient features empower businesses to effectively organize leads, automate repetitive tasks, and expedite payment processing without relying on third-party tools. Keap is the comprehensive CRM solution that enables businesses to streamline their operations and achieve greater efficiency and success.

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