ONTRAPORT Software

Pros

easy to plan/view/execute your strategic marketing goals and stay in touch with your customers which is invaluable feature.

Cons

It would take some time get used to it and learn the functionalities since it is a very complex platform with endless opportunities.

Good value for money compared to CRMs and platforms with similar functionality.

Pros

Covers CRM, e-mail marketing, campaigns, and payments. Visual campaigns feature and strong analytics and reporting.

Pros

-The campaigns feature is really comprehensive and easy to use, once you understand it. There is a bit of a learning curve.
-The Email template builder is a pretty nice plus - this was something we really wanted in a CRM, although it could use some work.
-HTML editor for emails is available.
-Custom fields, link tracking and automatic tagging can be set up, which is great.

Cons

-Hardly any of their customer service reps seem to understand how the software works. After calling and emailing support multiple times to get help setting up our first campaign, I talked to only one person who was able to give us a comprehensive and complete solution that suited our needs. Other people would constantly refer us to someone else or straight up say they didn't know/didn't offer that kind of support.
-Nothing you do is saved automatically. If you're used to software with autosave (which I was), you're going to be in for a world of hurt if you forget to save regularly.
-The Email templates are too rigid for my liking. I wish you could do more with it. We also have issues sometimes when sending emails where two objects which are both centered will appear in different positions, and there isn't anything that can be done about it, and other little bugs like that.
-There's no mobile preview for email templates. You have to scale the window down to the size of a mobile phone to get the idea.

Likes Best

My favorite thing about this product is its versatile functionality. I have used other, similar products in the past, but this is by far the most intuitive and user-friendly (without sacrificing productivity).

Likes Least

Sometimes it can drag/lag, and there have been a few (usually very minor) bugs.

Recommendations

If you have problems with the software, contact customer support. Every time I've had a problem they have been extremely helpful and responsive.

Likes Best

Customer Tagging and if-then automation rules that allow to automate a lot of marketing processes.

Likes Least

Slow in implementing very important feature requests.

Recommendations

Depending on how complex your funnels and sequences are, take time to learn the platform into consideration.

Likes Best

The customer service support is outstanding. Ontraport is basically a very scalable system - if you know how to use it. Their staff are amazing at helping you with your questions and in teaching you how to use the system.

Likes Least

At present, the price. In USD it is making it quite unaffordable due to a falling AUD where I live. Also I feel the system needs to be tiered. I don't use it as much to warrant the fee per month but don't want to leave the system either.

Recommendations

Understand your business needs. You may not need something so scalable. However if you plan for growth it is the kind of system that will grow with you.

Likes Best

It's simple to use. They're always adding and improving. And the support is awesome.

Likes Least

Still some bugs, but nothing that really gets in the way long term. And they're always working to improve and fix things.

Recommendations

Work backwards from what you need your software to be able to do. Then evaluate your options based on what you really need.

Likes Best

I love the support that Ontraport provides to their users. They are quite receptive to feedback and listen when you tell them there is a bug. I also like the automation of course. The membership site integration with PilotPress is great. I like that their support is also better than their competitors. I've spent many weekend days in the midst of an issue with their support. They are so helpful!

Likes Least

The growing pains. Sometimes bugs pop up ( seems to be in the past but still ) and it's frustrating mid launch to have things like this come into play.

Recommendations

When testing out a software/app be sure to use ALL FUNCTIONS before coming up with your evaluation. If you don't be sure to include the pieces you have not evaluated so people know.

Likes Best

I love the automation functionality, it really is what puts Ontraport above other competitors in my mind.

Likes Least

Sometimes the system can get bogged down, especially after years of use and data.

Recommendations

Come up with the most complicated email system you can in your mind, then knock it down to the bare minimum requirements. Knowing both ends of this spectrum will make it easier to build.

Likes Best

Working with the product is fairly easy. The customer support has been great.

Likes Least

While the customer support is responsive. Sometimes communicating the issue is challenging. The format of the support ticket emails is also rather confusing.

Recommendations

We have used one or two of Ontraport's main competitors and the support here is much better.

Likes Best

Ontraport is easy to use, fairly intuitive and their customer support is FANTASTIC.They are very responsive, in some case, even before I've been able to submit a support request they've come to my rescue.

Likes Least

I'm really having to rack my brain here on this one. There isn't anything that I don't like, that I don't wish they did (because they are so incredibly responsive, many "wishes" have become reality, very quickly).

Recommendations

Take the time to really assess what you need and then compare those needs to what Ontraport offers. In many cases, I found out there were things I didn't know I needed that Ontraport supplies. It's been wonderful. Also, when comparing competitors, it's not apples to apples. Ontraport's major competitor charges additional monthly costs for elements that are included in Ontraports pricing. Not to mention Ontraport has the BEST customer service around (and yes, I've used their major competitor and their service is horrendous).

Likes Best

Constant fight for upgrades and work for getting a better product

Likes Least

The fact that it is easy to use, the way this guys connect with there customers

Recommendations

I am have used this product for more then 5 years, I am constantly amazed by the support and the way this guys have managed to re-invent themselves

Likes Best

It is simple to use and you can set up complicated e-mail sequences to fire automatically

Likes Least

It is very glitchy, it is not supported by people like driftflow, zapier, optin monster to name a few, the sales order process is horrible. Support is via e-mail only which can get really frustrating. It is only built for an american, to get the sales order pages to work for me I have to add html. I cannot use large amounts of the system

Recommendations

Check out before you buy whether it can be amended for the country you are in. I am stuck in it now, with work arounds that are really annoying

Likes Best

Ontraport has so many features, it includes everything you need to stay in touch with, follow up with, and keep track of all your customers, lists, emails sent and customer purchases. All the clients I work with who have Ontraport absolutely love working with it!

Likes Least

It can be confusing at first to find all the pieces and where they hide.

Recommendations

Take you time, make sure it has all the basics you want for tracking and following up with your customers, then you'll be able to see all the "extras" that it also comes with.

Likes Best

Ontraport makes marketing and selling in my business effective and easy. With great email deliverability I don't have to worry that my marketing messages aren't getting to my prospects and customers. The payment processing and affiliate systems allow me to accept payments for my services and products and have my partners share them with their communities so I can help more people get the solutions they need. But the best part is how automated everything can be with the sequences, tasks, and if/then rules. No matter what the event: a client signs up, a promotion runs, a prospect wants to talk to me about how I can help them, everything that needs to happen to deliver a quality experience them, happens and it's on autopilot. And on top of all of that the support team isn't knowledgable and fast when I have a question about how I could use the system better to accomplish my goals. I couldn't be happier about my experience with Ontraport and love sharing it as a resource with my clients.

Likes Least

I don't have one complaint about the Ontraport system or the company. The staff are friendly and really care about the success of their customers. They are careful to roll out updates after thorough testing and creating new features that the community of users wants.

Recommendations

Be clear on what features you want/need now and which ones you may want in the future. Try it. Set up forms, sequences, add a few contacts. It's powerful and can make a lot of great things happen in your business. And when you talk to other users don't forget their comments are often colored by experiences where they bumped up against their own understanding about how to use the system...not what the system can do. Sure, not every piece of software is going to be right for every business. But, do your own evaluation and you'll see it's a great tool.

Likes Best

Their product is easy to setup and get started with. Their support is one of the best I have ever dealt with.

Likes Least

It doesn't have enough done for your templates. They are getting more all the time though.

Recommendations

Look at how much you are willing to do yourself versus what others have to do for you. This product allows you both.

Likes Best

I like the way my business runs on it.

I own a small business (3 employees) and was having troubling scaling. The more customers I got, the more time I had to spend juggling just to keep my business afloat. I was using a bunch of different technologies, couldn't get them to talk to each other, and was so frustrated with technology.

Then came ONTRAPORT. My business now runs on autopilot. I have free time and am making a lot more money (now that technology isn't a roadblock).

The customer support is fantastic. They've done a stand-up job supporting me and worked overtime once to help me with a launch.

Likes Least

I've been waiting on the release of their updated software. ONTRAPORT is great as it is, but I can't wait for the extra features.

Recommendations

It seems like most small businesses choose between piecing it together (like I did), Infusionsoft, and ONTRAPORT.

If you're considering Infusionsoft, do your research. I've had friends try it before, and they ended up switching.