ClickFunnels? GoHighLevel? Salesforce? Odoo? They all sound like they do the same thing—but here’s the truth: they don’t. Many business owners are confused about whether they should invest in a Sales Funnel Builder, an All-in-One Marketing Platform, or a Sales CRM.
In this article, I’ll break down the differences clearly, introduce the major players, and share industry-specific guides so you’ll know exactly which platform to use and how to implement it.
What Is a Sales CRM?
A Sales CRM (Customer Relationship Management) system is designed to manage leads, deals, and customer relationships. Popular platforms include Salesforce, Odoo CRM, and HubSpot CRM.
These tools give your sales team structure by:
Tracking opportunities and leads
Forecasting revenue
Managing communications
Ensuring no deal slips through the cracks
If you want a deeper dive, I’ve covered Sales CRMs in detail in a separate video (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3SqmRDo3wEE).
What Is a Sales Funnel Builder and All-in-One Marketing Platform?
Sales Funnel Builders such as ClickFunnels, Systeme.io, or Leadpages focus on one thing: turning strangers into customers. They do this through landing pages, checkout flows, and automated follow-ups.
Meanwhile, All-in-One Marketing Platforms like GoHighLevel, Kartra, or Kajabi take it further by combining:
Funnel building
CRM functions
Email and SMS automation
Membership sites and booking systems
This makes them particularly powerful for small businesses that need a complete marketing solution without juggling multiple tools.
What Are Post-Sales Platforms?
Once you’ve converted a customer, you need to retain them. That’s where Post-Sales Platforms like Zendesk and Freshdesk come in. Even enterprise CRMs like Salesforce and Odoo have customer support modules designed for retention and long-term relationship management.
Quick Industry Guides: Choosing the Right Platform
Here’s where it gets practical. Let’s look at how different industries can apply these tools.
1. E-Commerce
Best Platforms: Shopify + Klaviyo for email/SMS funnels, ClickFunnels for upsell and abandoned cart recovery.
How to implement: Build a ClickFunnels landing page for your best-seller, connect it to Shopify checkout, and use Klaviyo for automated abandoned cart and loyalty campaigns.
2. B2B Services and Consulting
Best Platforms: Odoo CRM or Salesforce for deal management, GoHighLevel for lead generation funnels.
How to implement: Run LinkedIn ad funnels in GoHighLevel to capture leads for free consultations, then pass qualified leads into Odoo CRM for proposals, contracts, and long-term account management.
3. Digital Courses and Education
Best Platforms: Kajabi or Kartra (all-in-one), ClickFunnels + Teachable (combo).
How to implement: Use a webinar funnel (free training → sales page → checkout → upsell coaching). Host the course inside Kajabi/Kartra for delivery, and set up automated email reminders to boost course completion.
4. Healthcare Clinics
Best Platform: GoHighLevel.
How to implement: Create a Facebook ad funnel offering a free consultation, use GoHighLevel’s booking system, automate appointment reminders, and track patients in a pipeline from inquiry to treatment.
5. Local Businesses (Gyms, Salons, Cafes)
Best Platforms: GoHighLevel for promos and bookings, ClickFunnels for limited-time offers.
How to implement: Build a “Claim Your Voucher” funnel, automate SMS/email reminders for redemptions, and use GHL’s CRM dashboard to monitor customer loyalty.
6. Events and Entertainment
Best Platforms: ClickFunnels or Eventbrite with Klaviyo.
How to implement: Funnel structure: Ad → Ticket Sales Page → Upsell VIP access. Use Eventbrite for logistics and Klaviyo for automated pre-event reminders and post-event feedback.
7. Restaurants
Best Platform: GoHighLevel.
How to implement: Run an ad promoting “10% off your first visit,” capture customer details in a funnel, automate SMS promos for return visits, and use GHL’s CRM to build a loyalty list.
Key Takeaway
Sales Funnels are built to capture and convert customers quickly.
CRMs are designed to manage relationships and scale operations.
Post-Sales platforms help you retain and support customers long-term.
The trick is knowing which platform fits your business model—and sometimes, the best solution is a combination.
Next Steps
If you’re still unsure which platform is right for you, I help entrepreneurs implement both Odoo CRM and GoHighLevel depending on their needs.
You can:
Reach out for consulting and implementation support
Start learning with my Sales 101 Course or Digital Marketing Course (https://dennismhilario.com/sales-and-marketing-digital-course/)
Both will give you the foundation to make smarter technology decisions and grow your business with the right tools.