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Keap review | TechRadar
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Keap, formerly known as Infusionsoft, positions itself amongst the best CRM platforms on the market. The platform offers sales enablement and marketing automation for small businesses. With a focus on simplifying the growth process, Keap aims to provide entrepreneurs with the tools they need to capture more leads, manage customer relationships, automate follow-ups, and get paid faster.
What sets Keap apart is its commitment to combining essential business functions into one user-friendly interface. From contact management and appointment scheduling to email marketing campaigns and invoicing, Keap strives to eliminate the need for multiple software solutions by offering a comprehensive suite of features tailored to the needs of small business owners.
In this in-depth review, I’ll dive into the core features, ease of use, pricing, and overall effectiveness of Keap CRM. By the end, you’ll have a clear understanding of whether it’s the right fit for your small business needs.
Keap core capabilities
Keap offers everything you’d expect from one of the best small business CRM platforms. It allows users to easily store, organize, and manage customer information in a centralized database. I was impressed by the level of detail that can be captured for each contact, including personal details, communication history, and purchase records.
For managing your contacts, Keap provides tools to efficiently track and nurture leads throughout the sales process. I particularly appreciated the ability to assign lead scores based on predefined criteria, helping sales teams prioritize their efforts on the most promising prospects. Keap’s visual sales pipeline management feature offers a clear overview of the sales funnel, allowing users to drag and drop deals between stages and monitor progress towards closing.
The software provides insights into expected revenue based on the current pipeline and historical data. I found the forecasting reports to be intuitive and customizable, enabling sales managers to make data-driven decisions and adjust strategies as needed. The ability to set quotas and track individual and team performance adds an extra layer of accountability and motivation.
Keap’s reporting capabilities enable businesses to gain valuable insights into their customer base and make informed decisions to drive growth. I was able to generate detailed reports on various metrics, such as lead conversion rates, sales performance, and customer engagement. The software’s dashboard provides a real-time overview of key performance indicators, allowing users to quickly identify trends and take action.
For sales reps in the field, Keap offers a user-friendly and feature-rich mobile app for iOS and Android. It allows sales reps to access customer information, update deals, and log activities on the go. The ability to work offline and sync data when a connection is available ensures that no important information is lost, even in areas with limited connectivity.
Something that really sets Keap apart, however, is its focus on automation. The software offers a wide range of automation features that streamline repetitive tasks and improve efficiency. From lead nurturing campaigns to follow-up reminders and task assignments, Keap’s automation capabilities help businesses save time and ensure consistent communication with customers. I was impressed by the ease with which I could set up complex automation sequences using the drag-and-drop workflow builder.
Overall, Keap CRM delivers on all the core capabilities needed to effectively manage customer relationships, drive sales, and make data-driven decisions. Plus, its built-in automation capabilities add an extra layer of productivity enhancement for sales reps, allowing them to focus on the tasks that matter.
How easy is Keap CRM to use?
Keap maintains a strong focus on usability. Logging into the platform for the first time, I was impressed by the uncluttered layout that allows users to quickly navigate through the various features and tools. I also liked the customizable dashboard, which enables users to personalize their workspace according to their specific needs and preferences.
Onboarding with Keap is a breeze when compared to other CRMs. Each plan includes a dedicated customer success manager who guides new users through the setup process, ensuring that the platform is tailored to their unique business requirements. Additionally, Keap offers a wealth of training resources, including onboarding checklists, video tutorials, webinars, and personalized advice from expert coaches.
Adding even more to its user-friendliness, Keap’s drag-and-drop automation builder allows users to create both simple and advanced workflows without requiring any coding knowledge. The availability of customizable templates further simplifies the process of setting up automated lead nurturing campaigns, follow-up sequences, and sales processes.
Speaking about the core CRM, the platform automatically captures and organizes customer interactions, allowing users to access a comprehensive view of each contact’s history with just a few clicks. The ability to segment contacts based on various criteria and trigger automated actions for specific groups streamlines communication efforts and ensures that the right messages reach the right audience at the optimal time.
While a custom API with REST hooks is available for developers with advanced knowledge, the pre-built integrations are robust enough to suit most small businesses without custom development. Keap’s integration with popular third-party applications, such as Google Workspace, Microsoft 365, Zoom, and Mailchimp, is seamless and requires no coding experience.
Based on my experience, the average time for new users to become proficient with this platform should be relatively short, thanks to the platform’s intuitive design and extensive support resources. The combination of a user-friendly interface, customization options, comprehensive onboarding, and accessible automation tools makes this a great option for smaller teams that lack in-house technical expertise.
Keap CRM integrations
Keap focuses on providing a curated selection of integrations that complement its core functionalities and cater to the needs of small businesses. While it does not offer the same number of integrations as Salesforce or HubSpot, the ones that it does offer should fit the requirements of most small businesses.
For example, by connecting Keap with Gmail, Outlook, and social media channels, businesses can automate marketing campaigns and track effectiveness directly within the CRM. Keap also integrates with a variety of other essential business tools, such as Leadpages for landing page creation, Jotform for custom lead capture forms, and BigCommerce for ecommerce functionality.
Keap also integrates with the no-code automation platform Zapier, which allows you to build your own automations with thousands of other third-party applications without any coding requirements. Through Zapier, Keap users can create custom integrations with Slack, Trello, Mailchimp, and more.
While its selection of pre-built integrations may not be as extensive as some other CRMs, Keap’s custom API is open and well-documented, allowing for custom integrations to be developed when needed. Keap also provides documentation and resources to assist users in setting up connected apps, including custom ones built using the API. Dedicated customer success managers are available to offer guidance and support throughout the integration process, ensuring a smooth experience for all customers.
How good is Keap’s customer support?
Keap offers a decent range of support options, including human agents and self-service resources. Users can reach out to the support team via phone, live chat, and email, depending on their preference and the urgency of their issue. However, your experience with the support agents might vary depending on the channel you choose to contact them.
U.S.-based phone support is available on weekdays from 6 am to 7 pm PST, with local support also offered for subscribers in the UK and Australia. The inclusion of a dedicated success manager with all plans is a notable advantage. Phone support is generally quite good, with reduced wait times, helpful agents, and quick resolutions.
However, Keap offers a 24/7 chat support option that’s arguably the preferred option for users across different time zones. Yet, chat support can be wildly inconsistent when it comes to quality. Wait times can sometimes be up to 30 minutes, while the agents there seem to have very little knowledge of the product.
Keap does provide a range of self-help resources, including a knowledge base, how-to videos, and a community forum where users can seek advice from peers. These resources offer guidance on various topics, such as automating text messages and connecting the CRM with WordPress. But while they are helpful, they may not always suffice for complex account-specific issues.
Customer reviews on third-party sites like Trustpilot paint a worrisome picture of Keap’s customer support. Many users report difficulties canceling their accounts, unresponsive support teams, and billing issues that required escalation to legal action. These experiences, while not necessarily representative of the majority, raise serious red flags.
On a more positive note, Keap’s onboarding process and Expert Coaching service aim to set users up for success from the start. The one-on-one support, training webinars, and customized sales and marketing plans help businesses optimize their use of the CRM. However, the $499 one-time fee for this service may be a barrier for most SMBs.
Keap CRM pricing and plans
During my review of Keap CRM, I found the pricing model to be unique compared to other CRM platforms. Instead of feature-based plans, Keap’s pricing is scalable based on the number of contacts, with plans starting at $249 per month for up to 1,500 contacts. Prices can add up quickly as you gain customers, especially if you’re a consumer-facing business. Moreover, adding more user seats to your Keap plan costs you a flat rate of $32 per month, regardless of the plan.
When comparing Keap’s pricing to other CRM platforms, it’s evident that Keap is on the higher end of the spectrum compared to players like Salesforce, HubSpot, or Zoho CRM. However, the fact that it includes features like marketing automation and invoice management does make it more bearable.
There are a number of implementation packages starting from $1500 one-time. It’s also worth noting that Keap does not offer a free plan, unlike competitors like HubSpot and Zoho CRM. However, the CRM does come with a 14-day free trial, allowing potential users to explore the platform’s capabilities before committing to a paid plan. While a longer trial period would be nice, two weeks is still sufficient to gain a solid understanding of the features and user experience.
Keap CRM Comparison Table
| Row 0 – Cell 0 | Starting Monthly Price (Billed Annually) | Key Features |
Keap Pro | Starts at $249/month for 1,500 contacts and 2 users | All core CRM, sales & marketing automation, email marketing, payments, invoicing, appointments, sales pipeline, and a dedicated business phone line. |
Keap Max | Starts at $289/month for 2,500 contacts and 3 users | Includes all Keap Pro features, plus advanced reporting and lead scoring. |
Keap Max Classic | Custom pricing | Includes all Keap Max features, plus advanced customization options like custom user roles, affiliate management, and a shopping cart. Export to Sheets |
Keap CRM FAQ
Who is the primary audience for Keap?
Keap is an all-in-one CRM and marketing automation platform. It’s primarily designed for small businesses and entrepreneurs (often with 1-15 employees and revenues over $100K) who need to automate their sales and marketing processes to save time and grow their business.
What is the difference between Keap Pro and Keap Max?
Keap Pro is the more basic plan, offering core CRM, sales, and marketing automation features. Expect things like contact management, sales and marketing automation, invoicing, payment management, and appointment scheduling that syncs with your calendar. Keap Max includes everything in Pro, plus more advanced tools like lead scoring and e-commerce capabilities.
What kind of automations can I create with Keap
You can automate a wide range of tasks, including sending follow-up emails, assigning leads to a sales rep, sending appointment reminders, and managing referral programs. The platform’s drag-and-drop builder makes it easy to create these “when-then” workflows.
Is Keap easy to learn how to use?
In fact, many users note that Keap has a steep learning curve due to its robust features. Complexity comes with price – often a financial one; sometimes in terms of ease of use. However, the platform offers extensive onboarding resources, including a dedicated success manager, video tutorials, and webinars to help new users get started.
Keap CRM review: Final verdict
Keap is a solid choice for small businesses seeking an all-in-one CRM, with the added advantage of marketing automation and financial management features. Its core capabilities, such as contact management, lead nurturing, and sales pipeline visualization — are well-designed to the needs of most small businesses.
However, the inconsistent customer support experience is a notable drawback, potentially impacting user satisfaction and efficiency. The pricing structure is yet another deterrent, especially when you factor in the additional costs for initial onboarding and more seats.
On the whole, Keap offers valuable features and automation capabilities that can significantly benefit small businesses, but there’s still room for improvement. Go for this platform if you need features beyond what a typical CRM offers at a low cost, but not if customer management is your only requirement.
