A CRM Raised Their Prices...So The Sky Is Falling?

I've been researching this price increase by Keap this week.

The unofficial user group over on the book of faces is freaking out.

Keap is raising their prices 20% for existing customers beginning June 1.

This is on top of a 12% increase last December.

So a $299/mo app just six months ago will now be $401/mo for existing customers.

As the owner of an inventory app that I've resold to a client for 9.5 years, I recommended he switch away from the app ONLY because he has never used the app more than a tool for his newsletter, and I didn't feel the price increase was worth it to him.

That being said, paying $102/mo more is $1,224 a year.

If your business is netting you $100,000/yr, that's barely a 1% increase in your costs.

If you are netting $200k or more, you're wasting your time even thinking about this.

If you haven't raised your own prices by at least 30% over the last four years, that's your own fault.

Even if the world had not gone to hell in a handbasket over the last 4-10 years, you should be raising your prices every year since you should be getting better every year, which justifies the price increase, thereby growing your business.

I've been an Infusionsoft/Keap partner since 2008, and in the 486,392 times someone complained about the limitations and complexities of Keap, one time they were correct.

But the other 486,391 times, the problem was the user.

"WHAT? WELL, I NEVER!"

I know, but you know what?

FRANKLY MY DEAR, I DON'T GIVE A DAMN.

The truth hurts.

HubSpot is 11% more than just a few years ago, so that's $890/mo vs. $800 for the base level of their Marketing Pro.

Ontraport Pro is $298/mo.

ActiveCampaign Professional starts at $386/mo.

So where are you going to go?

The only reasons you'd consider switching platforms now is:

1. You don't know what else is out there, and you think the grass is greener.
2. You don't know how to really use what you have in Keap, so, of course, it's not worth paying more when you're only using 6.2% of what you've owned for years. (Whose fault is that? I know, I know. That cool goo-roo gal that does transcendental hot yoga meditation in a 300 cubic-foot ice bath told you at the sooper-dooper elite tropical rain forest velvet rope mastermind—that cost you $20,000 to attend plus $5,000 in travel, meals, and lodging—that if only you'd use her "proven profit producing process" you, too, could fly private, eat caviar off of Fabio's chest, and print money in your sleep tricked you into buying Keap, so it's certainly not even a teeny tiny bit your fault. (How's that belief serving you?))
3. You don't have a real business. Sure, you're passionate about "serving the needs of the under-served," and that's wonderful. But maybe you need to go back to your W2 job and grow there and use your income and downtime to volunteer at existing organizations to help those you love. There ain't nothing wrong with that. Frankly, too many people have been duped into thinking this entrepreneurial thing is a piece of cake by those sooper-dooper goo-roos who are just charlatans, creeps, and even frauds, so despite what I said in #2 above, some of you were lied to and misled.

Anyway...

I've spent a lot of time on this today. None of it planned.

But, despite the extreme and bountiful disappointments Infusionsoft/Keap has thrown at me since 2008, they did change my life overall for the better.

So don't get caught up in this drama or any drama.

Keep your nose to the grindstone and market, sell, and serve.

Gas prices are up 100% in four years.

Home prices are up 47.1%.

New cars are up 29%.

Used cars are up 34%.

Homeowner's insurance is up 23% in a year!

Groceries are up 21% in three years.

Are you on Toyota Motor Corporation 's website or PulteGroup 's or 埃克森美孚 's or 沃尔玛 's or Statefarm Insurance 's whining and complaining about their increases?

It sucks.

I get it.

But you know what sucks worse? Running headlong into a windmill with your lance and sword, thinking you'll take down the giant.

If a $100/mo price increase in your business platform that can handle 50-99% of your sales and marketing efforts 24/7/365 causes you this much angst, you need to reconsider your life's work.

Market like you mean it.

Now go sell something.