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Marketing Automation Best Bang for the Buck
Updated January 30, 2020

Marketing Automation Best Bang for the Buck

Mark Cohen | TrustRadius Reviewer
Score 10 out of 10
Vetted Review
Reseller

Overall Satisfaction with SharpSpring

I use SharpSpring for my clients for inbound marketing campaigns. With it we can quickly and easily create campaigns, optimize them, and track them.

With that, our most basic "drip" or follow-up communications are completely automated and customizable. Sales data is relayed to the contact manager which can be integrated into CRMs, though it isn't necessary in many cases, and the pipeline tracking and sales automation resulting from this is also efficient and effective.

All told we are able to generate and track leads and optimize key communications channels for conversions.
  • SharpSpring provides all the functionality my clients and I need most at a fraction of the cost of leading competitors.
  • SharpSpring is a user-friendly application with excellent self-help tools and support.
  • SharpSpring is constantly improving its application without passing on costs to subscribers.
  • SharpSpring is constantly improving support.
  • There are times the application is slow but it is hard to tell where that "fault" lies. Regardless it hasn't caused major problems.
  • Email design can be a little clunky. When using our designs using built-in templates, the HTML doesn't always behave.
  • Social analytics to connect with campaigns that SharpSpring supports would be nice to have.
  • SharpSpring pays back pretty quickly. Low cost + high value = quick payout. That is the essence of SharpSpring!
  • Since I work with many small to mid-sized businesses, SharpSprings agency pricing model has enabled me to build marketing automation into my standard service offering. This enables me to insure that marketing automation is included, thus increasing lead generation and revenue more quickly and providing a means for me to secure additional business and/or enhance the client relationship.
  • I've used SharpSpring as a tool to generate business as well based on the ROI story and even bits of functionality that turn prospects on. Visitor ID is a big one, so is "set it and forget it" drip campaigns and of course, personalization.
SharpSpring provides all the functionality my clients and I need most at a fraction of the cost of leading competitors. It does so in a user-friendly application with excellent self-help tools and support.

Before choosing SharpSpring, I was hands-on with HubSpot, Marketo, and Act-On and chose SharpSpring because of what I've written above and because it was much easier to learn and use than those platforms.

When I first subscribed, there were a few features it was missing that I wished it had, but "settled” on SharpSpring based on a price/value decision. Lo and behold, over the last year they have added additional functionality including a couple of the key missing pieces and in doing so, technically reduced prices.
I use SharpSpring for companies of different sizes and industries so I think it is ok there. The only place there may not be sympatico is if a company requires an enterprise solution. For example, I don't know that SharpSpring supports SSO.

Constant Contact Lead Gen & CRM Feature Ratings

7.9
WYSIWYG email editor
6
Dynamic content
8
Ability to test dynamic content
7
Landing pages
8
A/B testing
7
Mobile optimization
8
Email deliverability reporting
9
List management
9
Triggered drip sequences
9
8.8
Lead nurturing automation
9
Lead scoring and grading
9
Data quality management
9
Automated sales alerts and tasks
8
8.0
Calendaring
Not Rated
Event/webinar marketing
8
Not Rated
Social sharing and campaigns
Not Rated
7.7
Dashboards
8
Standard reports
8
Custom reports
7
8.8
API
9
Role-based workflow & approvals
9
Customizability
8
Integration with Salesforce.com
9
Integration with Microsoft Dynamics CRM
Not Rated
Integration with SugarCRM
Not Rated

Using SharpSpring

6 - Sales and Marketing.
1 - They need to be “marketing technologists.” Have a grasp on the use cases of SharpSpring, user needs, and client needs. Tech savvy, some html and/or design skills are also helpful. Quick learner being able to just jump in and learn by doing is also best.
  • Client satisfaction
  • Tracking
SharpSpring is marketing automation at its finest, enabling us to create “drip” campaigns, automate sales follow-up, track results and optimize based on results. It integrates with more powerful CRMs is required but for small businesses who cannot afford another system, SharpSprings CRM with pipeline management, tracking, and reporting is definitely good enough. It has enabled clients to not lose leads and increase sales volume and velocity.

Evaluating SharpSpring and Competitors

  • Price
  • Product Features
  • Product Usability
Price and features were most important. We offer marketing automation as core to our marketing consulting relationships -we don’t charge extra for it. It helps us attract and maintain client relationships.
I wouldn’t. We trialed many of the primary competitors to SharpSpring and SharpSpring won.

SharpSpring Implementation

Relative to the other competitors we trialed and some we have had hands on experience with - notably HubSpot, Pardot, Act On and Marketo - SharpSpring was the easiest to implement.
  • Implemented in-house
Change management was minimal
  • Learning curve for those who weren’t as tech savvy was a little steep

SharpSpring Support

I have never had service as good as SharpSpring’s in ANY industry. Requests are addressed immediately and effectively. If there is not an immediate fix, they stay with it, keep track and ALWAYS follow-through even if it is weeks later. They are located in Florida and even provide support DURING HURRICANES.
ProsCons
Quick Resolution
Good followup
Knowledgeable team
Problems get solved
Kept well informed
No escalation required
Immediate help available
Support understands my problem
Support cares about my success
Quick Initial Response
None
Yes - Not unlike the rest of their service, it was addressed immediately, efficiently and effectively.
More than once their HQ were hit by Hurricanes and I needed support during those times. They were not as responsive as usual, but they responded quicker than most and resolved my issues. Even during hurricanes! Woot!

Using SharpSpring

They have made it easy to use with great in-app help, videos, and forums. All told, it is very intuitive and easy to learn.
ProsCons
Like to use
Relatively simple
Easy to use
Technical support not required
Well integrated
Consistent
Quick to learn
Convenient
Feel confident using
Familiar
None
  • Email creation
  • Workflow creation
  • Landing Pages
Yes - For my purposes it works well. I primarily use an IPad when on mobile and it works almost as well as a desktop browser.