Quick Start
This guide covers every Keap feature:
- Getting Started — Create your Keap account and finish basic setup
- How to Use Automation Builder — Build when-then follow-ups that run on their own
- How to Use CRM — Keep every lead and customer record in one place
- How to Use Email & Text — Send one-off emails and texts from any contact record
- How to Use Landing Pages — Capture lead data with pages and web forms
- How to Use Sales Pipeline — Set up a visual Kanban-style board for your deals
- How to Use Lead Management & Tracking — See where leads come from and what they do next
- How to Use Keap AI — Launch campaigns fast with 30+ pre-built plays
- How to Use Email Marketing — Send targeted broadcasts to tagged segments
- How to Use Pipeline Management — Move deals daily and let tasks fire themselves
Time needed: 5 minutes per feature
Also in this guide: Pro Tips | Common Mistakes | Troubleshooting | Pricing | Alternatives
Why Trust This Guide
I’ve used Keap for eight months and tested every feature covered here. This tutorial comes from real hands-on experience — not marketing fluff or vendor screenshots.
Keap is one of the most powerful CRM and automation tools for small businesses today.
But most users only scratch the surface of what it can do.
This guide shows you how to use every major feature.
Step by step, with screenshots and pro tips.
Keap Tutorial
This complete How to Use Keap tutorial walks you through every feature step by step, from initial setup to advanced tips that will make you a power user.
Keap
Keap puts CRM, email, texts, and automation in one place. Small businesses use it to capture leads and follow up on autopilot. Try it free — no credit card needed to start.
Getting Started with Keap
Before using any feature, complete this one-time setup.
It takes about 3 minutes.
Here’s a look at my own setup experience:
Now let’s walk through each step.
Step 1: Create Your Keap Account
Go to keap.com and click “Try free.”
Sign up with your work email and create a password.
No credit card is needed to start the trial.
✓ Checkpoint: Check your inbox for a confirmation email, then sign in.
Step 2: Open the Keap Application
Keap runs in your browser, so nothing installs on your computer.
You can also grab the mobile iOS application to add contacts on the go.
Log in with your new Keap account.
Here’s what you get once you’re inside:
✓ Checkpoint: You should see the main dashboard.
Step 3: Complete Initial Setup
Keap provides an onboarding checklist plus a video library to guide your setup.
Work through it: connect your email, import contacts, and customize your dashboard.
You can also plug in your existing tech stack through 5,000+ integrations.
✅ Done: You’re ready to use any feature below.
How to Use Keap Automation Builder
Automation Builder lets you build when-then follow-ups that run without you.
Here’s how to use it step by step.
Step 1: Open the Automations Tab
Click “Automations” in the left menu, then hit “Create.”
Pick Easy Automations to start, or grab a template.
Step 2: Set Your When and Then
Choose a trigger, like “when a form is submitted.”
Then add actions: send an email, fire a text, or create a task.
Here’s what this looks like:
✓ Checkpoint: Your trigger and actions connect on the visual canvas.
Step 3: Preview and Publish
Run the preview, fix anything odd, then publish.
✅ Result: New leads now get instant follow-ups while you sleep.
💡 Pro Tip: Prioritize a Welcome Campaign first, then add Appointment Reminders to cut no-shows.
How to Use Keap CRM
CRM lets you capture all lead and customer info in one place.
Here’s how to use it step by step.
Step 1: Add Your Contacts
Open “Contacts” and click “Add Contact,” or import a CSV.
Clean your list before importing to avoid duplicates and dead emails.
Step 2: Open a Contact Record
Click any name to see the full picture.
Every record holds contact details, emails, notes, tasks, and payments.
Here’s what this looks like:
✓ Checkpoint: You get a 360-degree view of that relationship on one screen.
Step 3: Tag and Segment
Apply tags like “hot lead” or “customer” straight from the record.
✅ Result: Your CRM now organizes itself around how you actually sell.
💡 Pro Tip: Customize your dashboard to show the CRM data you check daily.
How to Use Keap Email & Text
Email & Text lets you send one-off emails and texts from any contact record.
Here’s how to use it step by step.
Step 1: Pick a Contact
Open the record and click “Email” or “Text.”
Step 2: Write Your Message
Type it out, then add merge fields for the first name.
Personal touches lift reply rates fast.
Here’s what this looks like:
✓ Checkpoint: Your draft shows the merged preview before sending.
Step 3: Send or Schedule
Hit send now, or schedule it for business hours.
✅ Result: The message logs on the record automatically, so nothing gets lost.
💡 Pro Tip: Text replies land back in Keap, so answer them there to keep the full history.
How to Use Keap Landing Pages
Landing Pages lets you capture lead data with pages and web forms.
Here’s how to use it step by step.
Step 1: Create a Page
Go to “Marketing,” open Landing Pages, and pick a template.
You’ll find templates for lead magnets, webinars, and checkouts.
Step 2: Add Your Form
Edit the text and images, then drop in a web form.
Keep it short: name, email, and one qualifying question.
Here’s what this looks like:
✓ Checkpoint: The form fields map to your CRM automatically.
Step 3: Publish and Connect
Publish the page and attach a welcome automation to the form.
✅ Result: Every submission becomes a contact and triggers follow-up immediately.
💡 Pro Tip: Embed Keap forms on your own website too, so every page can capture leads.
How to Use Keap Sales Pipeline
Sales Pipeline lets you build a visual Kanban-style board for your deals.
Here’s how to use it step by step.
Step 1: Open the Pipeline
Click “Sales,” then “Pipeline,” and create your first board.
Step 2: Name Your Stages
Match stages to your real process: New, Contacted, Quoted, Won.
Keap folds sales tools right into the CRM workflow, which saves real time.
Here’s what this looks like:
✓ Checkpoint: Your stages appear as columns across the board.
Step 3: Add Deals
Create a deal, set its value, and link the contact.
✅ Result: You can now see your whole sales process at a glance.
💡 Pro Tip: Keep stages under seven so the board stays readable on one screen.
How to Use Keap Lead Manager & Tracker
Lead Management & Tracking lets you track where leads come from and what they do next.
Here’s how to use it step by step.
Step 1: Set Lead Sources
Open settings and list your sources: ads, referrals, webinars, walk-ins.
Step 2: Tag by Behavior
Use tags and behavior-based data to group leads by what they click and buy.
Those segments feed targeted emails later.
Here’s what this looks like:
✓ Checkpoint: Each new lead shows a source and a growing tag history.
Step 3: Check the Reports
Open reporting to track campaign success and engagement.
✅ Result: You now know which sources provide the best leads.
💡 Pro Tip: Review source reports monthly, then spend more on the channels that convert.
How to Use Keap AI
Keap AI lets you draft content and build campaigns with AI help.
Here’s how to use it step by step.
Step 1: Open the AI Assistant
Click the AI Automation Assistant from your dashboard.
Step 2: Pick a Play
Choose from 30+ pre-built campaign templates and plays.
They cover lead generation, conversion, and re-engagement.
Here’s what this looks like:
✓ Checkpoint: The assistant loads a ready-made campaign you can edit.
Step 3: Edit and Launch
Rewrite the AI draft in your own voice, then launch.
✅ Result: A campaign that used to take days now takes minutes.
💡 Pro Tip: Treat AI copy as a first draft. Your voice is what makes it great.
How to Use Keap Email Marketer
Email Marketing lets you send targeted broadcasts and automated campaigns.
Here’s how to use it step by step.
Step 1: Create a Broadcast
Go to “Marketing,” then “Email Broadcasts,” and click create.
Broadcasts work for newsletters, coupon codes, and seasonal sale reminders.
Step 2: Choose a Segment
Send to a tagged segment, not your whole list.
Segmented sends protect deliverability and lift opens.
Here’s what this looks like:
✓ Checkpoint: Your recipient count matches the tag you picked.
Step 3: Send and Measure
Schedule the send, then watch opens and clicks in reporting.
✅ Result: Targeted emails go out without blasting everyone.
💡 Pro Tip: Set up automated surveys after purchases to gather feedback and build loyalty.
How to Use Keap Pipeline Manager
Pipeline Management lets you manage deals daily and automate the busywork.
Here’s how to use it step by step.
Step 1: Drag Deals Forward
Move each card to its current stage as things progress.
Moving a deal can trigger automated tasks, so updates do real work.
Step 2: Add Context
Note the next action and date on every card.
Future you will thank present you.
Here’s what this looks like:
✓ Checkpoint: Each card shows its owner, value, and next step.
Step 3: Review Weekly
Filter by stage or owner and clear out stalled deals.
✅ Result: No deal sits forgotten in your pipeline again.
💡 Pro Tip: Tie a task automation to your proposal stage so follow-ups fire themselves.
Keap Pro Tips and Shortcuts
After testing Keap for eight months, here are my best tips.
Keyboard Shortcuts
| Action | Shortcut |
|---|---|
| Find any contact or page | Click the search icon in the top bar |
| Undo in the email builder | Ctrl + Z (Cmd + Z on Mac) |
| Copy an email block | Ctrl + C, then Ctrl + V |
| Add a contact fast | Click the + icon in the top navigation |
Hidden Features Most People Miss
- Free courses and live events: Keap runs free online training that clarifies your next growth step. Its formula is software, strategy, and support.
- Automated surveys: Tailored follow-ups after a survey turn feedback into loyalty without extra work.
- Developer API: Connect custom applications with the API and PHP SDK. OAuth makes server requests to a single Keap account without requiring user authentication each time.
Keap Common Mistakes to Avoid
Mistake #1: Importing a Messy Contact List
❌ Wrong: Dumping an old, unclean list straight into Keap.
✅ Right: Ensure your contact list is clean first. Remove dead emails and duplicates, then import.
Mistake #2: Skipping Tag Strategy
❌ Wrong: Tagging randomly, or not at all, then wondering why segments fail.
✅ Right: Strategize your tags on day one: source, status, and interest. Segmentation depends on it.
Mistake #3: Building Giant Campaigns First
❌ Wrong: Spending week one on a 40-step automation nobody tested.
✅ Right: Start small and get quick wins. A welcome sequence and reminders beat a monster build.
Keap Troubleshooting
Problem: Emails Land in Spam
Cause: Your sending domain isn’t authenticated yet.
Fix: Add the SPF and DKIM records Keap gives you, then re-test.
Problem: Imported Contacts Are Missing Details
Cause: CSV columns didn’t map to the right Keap fields.
Fix: Re-import and match each column during the mapping step.
Problem: An Automation Never Fires
Cause: The automation is unpublished, or its trigger tag never applies.
Fix: Publish it, check the tag spelling, and test with your own email.
📌 Note: If none of these fix your issue, contact Keap support.
What is Keap?
Keap is a leading all-in-one CRM and automation platform built for small businesses.
It brings customer data, sales pipelines, and marketing together under one login.
Think of it like a tireless assistant who remembers every lead and never forgets to follow up.
The company started as Infusionsoft and rebranded to Keap in 2019.
Watch this quick overview:
It includes these key features:
- Automation Builder: Visual when-then campaigns that run themselves
- CRM: Every lead and customer record in one place
- Email & Text: Direct messages from any contact record
- Landing Pages: Pages and forms that capture lead data
- Sales Pipeline: A Kanban-style board for deals
- Lead Management & Tracking: Sources, tags, and behavior data
- Keap AI: 30+ pre-built plays and drafted copy
- Email Marketing: Broadcasts and campaigns for tagged segments
- Pipeline Management: Daily deal moves that trigger tasks
For a full review, see our Keap review.
Keap Pricing
Here’s what Keap costs in 2026:
| Plan | Price | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Keap | $299/month (Annually Billed) | Small businesses that want CRM, marketing, and sales automation in one system |
Free trial: Yes — 14 days, no credit card required.
Money-back guarantee: No standard guarantee. Cancel before renewal instead.
💰 Best Value: There’s one plan, and it includes everything. Costs scale with contacts and users as you grow.
Keap vs Alternatives
How does Keap compare? Here’s the competitive landscape:
| Tool | Best For | Price | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| Keap | All-in-one small business automation | $299/mo | ⭐ 4.2 |
| GoHighLevel | Agencies and white-label | $97/mo | ⭐ 4.5 |
| HubSpot | Free CRM to start | $15/mo | ⭐ 4.4 |
| ActiveCampaign | Email automation depth | $15/mo | ⭐ 4.5 |
| Pipedrive | Simple sales pipelines | $14/mo | ⭐ 4.5 |
| ClickFunnels | Sales funnels | $97/mo | ⭐ 4.6 |
| Monday CRM | Visual team workflows | $12/mo | ⭐ 4.6 |
| Salesforce | Enterprise scale | $25/mo | ⭐ 4.4 |
Quick picks:
- Best overall: Keap — CRM, email, texts, and automation in one system
- Best budget: Pipedrive — clean pipelines from $14/mo
- Best for beginners: HubSpot — free CRM tier to learn on
- Best for agencies: GoHighLevel — white-label everything for clients
🎯 Keap Alternatives
Looking for Keap alternatives? Here are the top options:
- 🚀 GoHighLevel: Agency-focused platform with funnels, CRM, and white-label reselling built in.
- 💰 Pipedrive: Affordable, no-nonsense sales pipeline that new reps learn in an afternoon.
- ⚡ ActiveCampaign: Deeper email automation logic at a lower entry price.
- 🌟 HubSpot: Free CRM tier with a huge upgrade path as you scale.
- 🎨 ClickFunnels: Funnel-first builder for launches, offers, and checkout pages.
- 👶 Folk: Lightweight, modern CRM for founders who find big tools heavy.
- 🔥 Instantly: Cold email outreach at scale with warm-up built in.
- 🔧 ClickUp: Project management with CRM templates for ops-minded teams.
- 📊 Monday CRM: Visual boards and automations your whole team will actually use.
- 💼 Capsule CRM: Simple contact management with a generous free plan.
- 🎯 Insightly: CRM plus project delivery for service businesses.
- 🧠 Freshsales CRM: AI scoring and built-in phone at friendly prices.
- 🏢 Salesforce: The enterprise standard when you outgrow everything else.
- ⭐ Zendesk: Support-first suite with a capable sales CRM attached.
For the full list, see our Keap alternatives guide.
⚔️ Keap Compared
Here’s how Keap stacks up against each competitor:
- Keap vs GoHighLevel: GoHighLevel wins for agencies. Keap wins for owner-run small businesses.
- Keap vs Pipedrive: Pipedrive is cheaper for pure sales. Keap adds marketing automation.
- Keap vs ActiveCampaign: ActiveCampaign wins on email depth. Keap wins on all-in-one texting and invoicing.
- Keap vs HubSpot: HubSpot starts free. Keap costs less once HubSpot add-ons pile up.
- Keap vs ClickFunnels: ClickFunnels builds better funnels. Keap manages the relationship after the sale.
- Keap vs Folk: Folk is simpler for tiny teams. Keap automates far more.
- Keap vs Instantly: Instantly rules cold outreach. Keap nurtures warm leads and customers.
- Keap vs ClickUp: ClickUp runs projects. Keap runs your sales and marketing engine.
- Keap vs Monday CRM: Monday suits collaborative teams. Keap suits automated follow-up.
- Keap vs Capsule CRM: Capsule is lighter and cheaper. Keap does much more per contact.
- Keap vs Insightly: Insightly adds project delivery. Keap wins on marketing automation.
- Keap vs Freshsales CRM: Freshsales includes calling cheaply. Keap wins on campaigns.
- Keap vs Salesforce: Salesforce scales to enterprises. Keap stays simpler for small teams.
- Keap vs Zendesk: Zendesk leads in support tickets. Keap leads in lead capture and nurture.
Start Using Keap Now
You learned how to use every major Keap feature:
- ✅ Automation Builder
- ✅ CRM
- ✅ Email & Text
- ✅ Landing Pages
- ✅ Sales Pipeline
- ✅ Lead Management & Tracking
- ✅ Keap AI
- ✅ Email Marketing
- ✅ Pipeline Management
Next step: Pick one feature and try it now.
Most people start with the Automation Builder.
It takes less than 5 minutes.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Keap easy to use?
Yes for daily CRM work. The automation builder takes practice. Keap provides onboarding checklists, a video library, and free courses to get new users started fast.
What is Keap used for?
Keap is an all-in-one CRM and automation platform for small businesses. It handles contacts, email marketing, texts, landing pages, sales pipelines, and automated follow-ups.
What is better than Keap?
It depends on your needs. HubSpot has a free CRM, GoHighLevel suits agencies, and ActiveCampaign wins on email pricing. Keap is stronger as one combined system.
How do I create a product in Keap?
Open settings, then Products. Click Add Product, enter the name, price, and description, then save. Attach products to invoices, orders, and checkout forms.
What did Keap used to be called?
Keap was called Infusionsoft. The company rebranded to Keap in 2019, and the legacy Infusionsoft product became Keap Max Classic.
Quick Start
This guide covers every Keap feature:
- Getting Started — Create your Keap account and finish basic setup
- How to Use Automation Builder — Build when-then follow-ups that run on their own
- How to Use CRM — Keep every lead and customer record in one place
- How to Use Email & Text — Send one-off emails and texts from any contact record
- How to Use Landing Pages — Capture lead data with pages and web forms
- How to Use Sales Pipeline — Set up a visual Kanban-style board for your deals
- How to Use Lead Management & Tracking — See where leads come from and what they do next
- How to Use Keap AI — Launch campaigns fast with 30+ pre-built plays
- How to Use Email Marketing — Send targeted broadcasts to tagged segments
- How to Use Pipeline Management — Move deals daily and let tasks fire themselves
Time needed: 5 minutes per feature
Also in this guide: Pro Tips | Common Mistakes | Troubleshooting | Pricing | Alternatives
Why Trust This Guide
I’ve used Keap for eight months and tested every feature covered here. This tutorial comes from real hands-on experience — not marketing fluff or vendor screenshots.
Keap is one of the most powerful CRM and automation tools for small businesses today.
But most users only scratch the surface of what it can do.
This guide shows you how to use every major feature.
Step by step, with screenshots and pro tips.
Keap Tutorial
This complete Keap tutorial walks you through every feature step by step, from initial setup to advanced tips that will make you a power user.
Keap
Keap puts CRM, email, texts, and automation in one place. Small businesses use it to capture leads and follow up on autopilot. Try it free — no credit card needed to start.
Getting Started with Keap
Before using any feature, complete this one-time setup.
It takes about 3 minutes.
Here’s a look at my own setup experience:
Now let’s walk through each step.
Step 1: Create Your Keap Account
Go to keap.com and click “Try free.”
Sign up with your work email and create a password.
No credit card is needed to start the trial.
✓ Checkpoint: Check your inbox for a confirmation email, then sign in.
Step 2: Open the Keap Application
Keap runs in your browser, so nothing installs on your computer.
You can also grab the mobile iOS application to add contacts on the go.
Log in with your new Keap account.
Here’s what you get once you’re inside:
✓ Checkpoint: You should see the main dashboard.
Step 3: Complete Initial Setup
Keap provides an onboarding checklist plus a video library to guide your setup.
Work through it: connect your email, import contacts, and customize your dashboard.
You can also plug in your existing tech stack through 5,000+ integrations.
✅ Done: You’re ready to use any feature below.
How to Use Keap Automation Builder
Automation Builder lets you build when-then follow-ups that run without you.
Here’s how to use it step by step.
Step 1: Open the Automations Tab
Click “Automations” in the left menu, then hit “Create.”
Pick Easy Automations to start, or grab a template.
Step 2: Set Your When and Then
Choose a trigger, like “when a form is submitted.”
Then add actions: send an email, fire a text, or create a task.
Here’s what this looks like:
✓ Checkpoint: Your trigger and actions connect on the visual canvas.
Step 3: Preview and Publish
Run the preview, fix anything odd, then publish.
✅ Result: New leads now get instant follow-ups while you sleep.
💡 Pro Tip: Prioritize a Welcome Campaign first, then add Appointment Reminders to cut no-shows.
How to Use Keap CRM
CRM lets you capture all lead and customer info in one place.
Here’s how to use it step by step.
Step 1: Add Your Contacts
Open “Contacts” and click “Add Contact,” or import a CSV.
Clean your list before importing to avoid duplicates and dead emails.
Step 2: Open a Contact Record
Click any name to see the full picture.
Every record holds contact details, emails, notes, tasks, and payments.
Here’s what this looks like:
✓ Checkpoint: You get a 360-degree view of that relationship on one screen.
Step 3: Tag and Segment
Apply tags like “hot lead” or “customer” straight from the record.
✅ Result: Your CRM now organizes itself around how you actually sell.
💡 Pro Tip: Customize your dashboard to show the CRM data you check daily.
How to Use Keap Email & Text
Email & Text lets you send one-off emails and texts from any contact record.
Here’s how to use it step by step.
Step 1: Pick a Contact
Open the record and click “Email” or “Text.”
Step 2: Write Your Message
Type it out, then add merge fields for the first name.
Personal touches lift reply rates fast.
Here’s what this looks like:
✓ Checkpoint: Your draft shows the merged preview before sending.
Step 3: Send or Schedule
Hit send now, or schedule it for business hours.
✅ Result: The message logs on the record automatically, so nothing gets lost.
💡 Pro Tip: Text replies land back in Keap, so answer them there to keep the full history.
How to Use Keap Landing Pages
Landing Pages lets you capture lead data with pages and web forms.
Here’s how to use it step by step.
Step 1: Create a Page
Go to “Marketing,” open Landing Pages, and pick a template.
You’ll find templates for lead magnets, webinars, and checkouts.
Step 2: Add Your Form
Edit the text and images, then drop in a web form.
Keep it short: name, email, and one qualifying question.
Here’s what this looks like:
✓ Checkpoint: The form fields map to your CRM automatically.
Step 3: Publish and Connect
Publish the page and attach a welcome automation to the form.
✅ Result: Every submission becomes a contact and triggers follow-up immediately.
💡 Pro Tip: Embed Keap forms on your own website too, so every page can capture leads.
How to Use Keap Sales Pipeline
Sales Pipeline lets you build a visual Kanban-style board for your deals.
Here’s how to use it step by step.
Step 1: Open the Pipeline
Click “Sales,” then “Pipeline,” and create your first board.
Step 2: Name Your Stages
Match stages to your real process: New, Contacted, Quoted, Won.
Keap folds sales tools right into the CRM workflow, which saves real time.
Here’s what this looks like:
✓ Checkpoint: Your stages appear as columns across the board.
Step 3: Add Deals
Create a deal, set its value, and link the contact.
✅ Result: You can now see your whole sales process at a glance.
💡 Pro Tip: Keep stages under seven so the board stays readable on one screen.
How to Use Keap Lead Management & Tracking
Lead Management & Tracking lets you track where leads come from and what they do next.
Here’s how to use it step by step.
Step 1: Set Lead Sources
Open settings and list your sources: ads, referrals, webinars, walk-ins.
Step 2: Tag by Behavior
Use tags and behavior-based data to group leads by what they click and buy.
Those segments feed targeted emails later.
Here’s what this looks like:
✓ Checkpoint: Each new lead shows a source and a growing tag history.
Step 3: Check the Reports
Open reporting to track campaign success and engagement.
✅ Result: You now know which sources provide the best leads.
💡 Pro Tip: Review source reports monthly, then spend more on the channels that convert.
How to Use Keap AI
Keap AI lets you draft content and build campaigns with AI help.
Here’s how to use it step by step.
Step 1: Open the AI Assistant
Click the AI Automation Assistant from your dashboard.
Step 2: Pick a Play
Choose from 30+ pre-built campaign templates and plays.
They cover lead generation, conversion, and re-engagement.
Here’s what this looks like:
✓ Checkpoint: The assistant loads a ready-made campaign you can edit.
Step 3: Edit and Launch
Rewrite the AI draft in your own voice, then launch.
✅ Result: A campaign that used to take days now takes minutes.
💡 Pro Tip: Treat AI copy as a first draft. Your voice is what makes it great.
How to Use Keap Email Marketing
Email Marketing lets you send targeted broadcasts and automated campaigns.
Here’s how to use it step by step.
Step 1: Create a Broadcast
Go to “Marketing,” then “Email Broadcasts,” and click create.
Broadcasts work for newsletters, coupon codes, and seasonal sale reminders.
Step 2: Choose a Segment
Send to a tagged segment, not your whole list.
Segmented sends protect deliverability and lift opens.
Here’s what this looks like:
✓ Checkpoint: Your recipient count matches the tag you picked.
Step 3: Send and Measure
Schedule the send, then watch opens and clicks in reporting.
✅ Result: Targeted emails go out without blasting everyone.
💡 Pro Tip: Set up automated surveys after purchases to gather feedback and build loyalty.
How to Use Keap Pipeline Management
Pipeline Management lets you manage deals daily and automate the busywork.
Here’s how to use it step by step.
Step 1: Drag Deals Forward
Move each card to its current stage as things progress.
Moving a deal can trigger automated tasks, so updates do real work.
Step 2: Add Context
Note the next action and date on every card.
Future you will thank present you.
Here’s what this looks like:
✓ Checkpoint: Each card shows its owner, value, and next step.
Step 3: Review Weekly
Filter by stage or owner and clear out stalled deals.
✅ Result: No deal sits forgotten in your pipeline again.
💡 Pro Tip: Tie a task automation to your proposal stage so follow-ups fire themselves.
Keap Pro Tips and Shortcuts
After testing Keap for eight months, here are my best tips.
Keyboard Shortcuts
| Action | Shortcut |
|---|---|
| Find any contact or page | Click the search icon in the top bar |
| Undo in the email builder | Ctrl + Z (Cmd + Z on Mac) |
| Copy an email block | Ctrl + C, then Ctrl + V |
| Add a contact fast | Click the + icon in the top navigation |
Hidden Features Most People Miss
- Free courses and live events: Keap runs free online training that clarifies your next growth step. Its formula is software, strategy, and support.
- Automated surveys: Tailored follow-ups after a survey turn feedback into loyalty without extra work.
- Developer API: Connect custom applications with the API and PHP SDK. OAuth makes server requests to a single Keap account without requiring user authentication each time.
Keap Common Mistakes to Avoid
Mistake #1: Importing a Messy Contact List
❌ Wrong: Dumping an old, unclean list straight into Keap.
✅ Right: Ensure your contact list is clean first. Remove dead emails and duplicates, then import.
Mistake #2: Skipping Tag Strategy
❌ Wrong: Tagging randomly, or not at all, then wondering why segments fail.
✅ Right: Strategize your tags on day one: source, status, and interest. Segmentation depends on it.
Mistake #3: Building Giant Campaigns First
❌ Wrong: Spending week one on a 40-step automation nobody tested.
✅ Right: Start small and get quick wins. A welcome sequence and reminders beat a monster build.
Keap Troubleshooting
Problem: Emails Land in Spam
Cause: Your sending domain isn’t authenticated yet.
Fix: Add the SPF and DKIM records Keap gives you, then re-test.
Problem: Imported Contacts Are Missing Details
Cause: CSV columns didn’t map to the right Keap fields.
Fix: Re-import and match each column during the mapping step.
Problem: An Automation Never Fires
Cause: The automation is unpublished, or its trigger tag never applies.
Fix: Publish it, check the tag spelling, and test with your own email.
📌 Note: If none of these fix your issue, contact Keap support.
What is Keap?
Keap is a leading all-in-one CRM and automation platform built for small businesses.
It brings customer data, sales pipelines, and marketing together under one login.
Think of it like a tireless assistant who remembers every lead and never forgets to follow up.
The company started as Infusionsoft and rebranded to Keap in 2019.
Watch this quick overview:
It includes these key features:
- Automation Builder: Visual when-then campaigns that run themselves
- CRM: Every lead and customer record in one place
- Email & Text: Direct messages from any contact record
- Landing Pages: Pages and forms that capture lead data
- Sales Pipeline: A Kanban-style board for deals
- Lead Management & Tracking: Sources, tags, and behavior data
- Keap AI: 30+ pre-built plays and drafted copy
- Email Marketing: Broadcasts and campaigns for tagged segments
- Pipeline Management: Daily deal moves that trigger tasks
For a full review, see our Keap review.
Keap Pricing
Here’s what Keap costs in 2026:
| Plan | Price | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Keap | $299/month (Annually Billed) | Small businesses that want CRM, marketing, and sales automation in one system |
Free trial: Yes — 14 days, no credit card required.
Money-back guarantee: No standard guarantee. Cancel before renewal instead.
💰 Best Value: There’s one plan, and it includes everything. Costs scale with contacts and users as you grow.
Keap vs Alternatives
How does Keap compare? Here’s the competitive landscape:
| Tool | Best For | Price | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| Keap | All-in-one small business automation | $299/mo | ⭐ 4.2 |
| GoHighLevel | Agencies and white-label | $97/mo | ⭐ 4.5 |
| HubSpot | Free CRM to start | $15/mo | ⭐ 4.4 |
| ActiveCampaign | Email automation depth | $15/mo | ⭐ 4.5 |
| Pipedrive | Simple sales pipelines | $14/mo | ⭐ 4.5 |
| ClickFunnels | Sales funnels | $97/mo | ⭐ 4.6 |
| Monday CRM | Visual team workflows | $12/mo | ⭐ 4.6 |
| Salesforce | Enterprise scale | $25/mo | ⭐ 4.4 |
Quick picks:
- Best overall: Keap — CRM, email, texts, and automation in one system
- Best budget: Pipedrive — clean pipelines from $14/mo
- Best for beginners: HubSpot — free CRM tier to learn on
- Best for agencies: GoHighLevel — white-label everything for clients
🎯 Keap Alternatives
Looking for Keap alternatives? Here are the top options:
- 🚀 GoHighLevel: Agency-focused platform with funnels, CRM, and white-label reselling built in.
- 💰 Pipedrive: Affordable, no-nonsense sales pipeline that new reps learn in an afternoon.
- ⚡ ActiveCampaign: Deeper email automation logic at a lower entry price.
- 🌟 HubSpot: Free CRM tier with a huge upgrade path as you scale.
- 🎨 ClickFunnels: Funnel-first builder for launches, offers, and checkout pages.
- 👶 Folk: Lightweight, modern CRM for founders who find big tools heavy.
- 🔥 Instantly: Cold email outreach at scale with warm-up built in.
- 🔧 ClickUp: Project management with CRM templates for ops-minded teams.
- 📊 Monday CRM: Visual boards and automations your whole team will actually use.
- 💼 Capsule CRM: Simple contact management with a generous free plan.
- 🎯 Insightly: CRM plus project delivery for service businesses.
- 🧠 Freshsales CRM: AI scoring and built-in phone at friendly prices.
- 🏢 Salesforce: The enterprise standard when you outgrow everything else.
- ⭐ Zendesk: Support-first suite with a capable sales CRM attached.
For the full list, see our Keap alternatives guide.
⚔️ Keap Compared
Here’s how Keap stacks up against each competitor:
- Keap vs GoHighLevel: GoHighLevel wins for agencies. Keap wins for owner-run small businesses.
- Keap vs Pipedrive: Pipedrive is cheaper for pure sales. Keap adds marketing automation.
- Keap vs ActiveCampaign: ActiveCampaign wins on email depth. Keap wins on all-in-one texting and invoicing.
- Keap vs HubSpot: HubSpot starts free. Keap costs less once HubSpot add-ons pile up.
- Keap vs ClickFunnels: ClickFunnels builds better funnels. Keap manages the relationship after the sale.
- Keap vs Folk: Folk is simpler for tiny teams. Keap automates far more.
- Keap vs Instantly: Instantly rules cold outreach. Keap nurtures warm leads and customers.
- Keap vs ClickUp: ClickUp runs projects. Keap runs your sales and marketing engine.
- Keap vs Monday CRM: Monday suits collaborative teams. Keap suits automated follow-up.
- Keap vs Capsule CRM: Capsule is lighter and cheaper. Keap does much more per contact.
- Keap vs Insightly: Insightly adds project delivery. Keap wins on marketing automation.
- Keap vs Freshsales CRM: Freshsales includes calling cheaply. Keap wins on campaigns.
- Keap vs Salesforce: Salesforce scales to enterprises. Keap stays simpler for small teams.
- Keap vs Zendesk: Zendesk leads in support tickets. Keap leads in lead capture and nurture.
Start Using Keap Now
You learned how to use every major Keap feature:
- ✅ Automation Builder
- ✅ CRM
- ✅ Email & Text
- ✅ Landing Pages
- ✅ Sales Pipeline
- ✅ Lead Management & Tracking
- ✅ Keap AI
- ✅ Email Marketing
- ✅ Pipeline Management
Next step: Pick one feature and try it now.
Most people start with the Automation Builder.
It takes less than 5 minutes.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Keap easy to use?
Yes for daily CRM work. The automation builder takes practice. Keap provides onboarding checklists, a video library, and free courses to get new users started fast.
What is Keap used for?
Keap is an all-in-one CRM and automation platform for small businesses. It handles contacts, email marketing, texts, landing pages, sales pipelines, and automated follow-ups.
What is better than Keap?
It depends on your needs. HubSpot has a free CRM, GoHighLevel suits agencies, and ActiveCampaign wins on email pricing. Keap is stronger as one combined system.
How do I create a product in Keap?
Open settings, then Products. Click Add Product, enter the name, price, and description, then save. Attach products to invoices, orders, and checkout forms.
What did Keap used to be called?
Keap was called Infusionsoft. The company rebranded to Keap in 2019, and the legacy Infusionsoft product became Keap Max Classic.
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