You know that feeling when you’re 99% sure something’s a terrific idea, only to realize later … it was an overall dumpster fire? That’s exactly what occurred when I made a decision to switch my entire agency over to GoHighLevel.
It looked shiny. It appeared revolutionary. But in reality? It turned into one of one of the most excruciating software program choices I’ve made in over a years of running my organization.
So before you get on the GoHighLevel bandwagon, let me walk you via precisely what dropped– because if you’re anything like me, you’re constantly looking for smarter, a lot more reliable methods to grow your organization. Simply … not similar to this.
The Seductive All-in-One Promise
Here’s the thing. When GoHighLevel hit the scene, it seemed like a dream come to life. A solitary system to manage your CRM, sales funnels, e-mail campaigns, visit reservations, automation, repayments– you name it.
If you have actually ever handled a Monster stack of tools simply to run your day-to-day, you recognize how tempting the “all-in-one” pitch can be. I would certainly been utilizing Keap for several years (and enjoying it, honestly), yet still– I obtained tempted in by the guarantee of streamlining whatever under one roof.
And yeah, I’ll confess: I had a poor instance of shiny object syndrome.
Why I Left Keap (A Device That Really Worked)
Let me be real with you: Keap had not been broken. It did whatever I needed. It managed my email automations, sales funnels, appointment organizing, invoicing– you call it. Sure, the interface felt a little dated in places, and often points took a couple of even more clicks than I liked, however hey, it worked.
So why change?
Truthfully, I just started asking yourself if I was missing out. GoHighLevel was less costly (externally), supplied a lot more features, and all the amazing marketing experts on the internet appeared to be raving regarding it. FOMO is a hell of a medicine.
That inquisitiveness expense me greater than simply cash– it cost me time, energy, and comfort.
What It Price Me to Switch over
I went done in. Enrolled in the $297/month agency plan. Spent a strong 30 to 40 hours moving information, reconstructing workflows, and basically attempting to reproduce my whole Keap arrangement inside GoHighLevel.
Right here’s what I had to move:
- 20,000+ email subscribers
- Lots of automations
- All customer profiles and notes
- Stripe payment integration
- Entire funnel framework
- Custom kinds, landing pages, triggers … everything
Allow’s not also discuss the lost efficiency during those couple of weeks. I depended on my eyeballs in Zapier workarounds, watching tutorials, and trying to identify where the hell basic setups were.
And just when I believed points were working … they weren’t.
The Bugs Began Sneaking In
At first, every little thing looked alright. Yet then, out of nowhere, individuals on my list started obtaining emails they weren’t expected to obtain. I’m speaking completely pointless messages– sent in batches of 171 users at a time. Three days straight.
Total mayhem.
I rebuilt the automations from scratch. Still happened. I contacted support. They blamed “web server concerns.” But absolutely nothing made sense, and the trouble didn’t disappear. Picture awakening every morning questioning who your system may’ve spammed over night.
That’s not just irritating– it’s dangerous. When your entire brand name is built on depend on, you can not manage to resemble an unaware amateur blowing up the incorrect emails to the wrong individuals.
Support? Yeah, Best Of Luck
Currently, I don’t expect excellence from any type of platform. Bugs take place. But when they do? I anticipate the assistance group to step up fast.
That didn’t occur here.
Reactions were unclear. Tickets went unanswered. I felt like I was screaming into deep space while my service shed. On the other hand, every min I spent fixing was a minute I wasn’t offering customers or growing my agency.
For a device that markets itself to severe entrepreneurs, GoHighLevel sure really did not treat me like one.
The Interface Was a Warm Mess
You ever use a device and simply feel … shed? That was me inside GoHighLevel Zap MarketerMagic.
The UX was cumbersome. Things were buried in unusual areas. Even basic tasks like editing a funnel or tweaking an e-mail flow became a scavenger hunt.
And their funnel builder? Do not also get me started. Want to transform product settings, page designs, and general flow? Awesome– you’ll require to quest with 3 different areas that make no rational sense. Fifty percent the moment, I couldn’t also bear in mind where I would certainly clicked something ten seconds previously.
It seemed like utilizing software application constructed by designers, for designers– not day-to-day company owner.
The “Cost effective” Plan That Got Genuine Pricey, Real Rapid
Let’s chat cash.
Among GoHighLevel’s huge selling factors is the price. I indicate, $97/month for all those features? Sounds outstanding, appropriate?
But right here’s what they do not tell you:.
You pay added per email if you utilize their SMTP.
You need to link solutions like Mailgun or Twilio and handle their billing independently.
You’ll get random microcharges that aren’t clarified clearly.
Want far better email deliverability? That’s gon na cost you as well.
By the time I included every little thing up, I was paying greater than I had actually been with Keap. And getting worse results.
That’s not a bargain– it’s just bad math.
My Email Metrics Tanked GoHighLevel Zap MarketerMagic
The final straw? Watching my e-mail open rates drop like a rock.
I ‘d been obtaining a solid 35% open rate with Keap. My target market was involved, my automations were called in, and things just functioned.
After changing to GoHighLevel? Opens dropped below 15%. Clicks were almost missing. Something was clearly off.
Perhaps it was a deliverability issue. Maybe the system was simply sending out at bad times or not personalizing messages correctly. Whatever the reason, I wasn’t sticking around to play investigator while my checklist rotted.
Lessons I Discovered the Hard Way
If you’re thinking about switching to GoHighLevel– or any kind of new platform– here’s what I desire a person had told me prior to I made the jump:.
1. Do Not Chase the Shiny Toy
It’s very easy to obtain hyped regarding the most up to date “innovative” device. Yet just because every person’s speaking about something does not indicate it’s right for you. If your present system is working, hesitate prior to blowing it up.
2. Worth Simplicity Over Features
Much more isn’t constantly better. A platform with a clean, intuitive user interface will save you time and migraines in the future– even if it doesn’t have every feature under the sun.
3. Need Openness
Covert prices are the most awful. Pick tools that are upfront regarding pricing, integrations, and limits. You should not need a calculator and a thesaurus to comprehend your monthly costs.
4. Pay Attention to Real Individuals (Not Simply Marketing Professionals)
Check objective evaluations, individual discussion forums, and Reddit threads. Focus on real user experience– not just glossy sales pages.
Still Desire an All-in-One CRM? Below Are Better Options
If you’re still on the hunt for a trustworthy, straightforward system to run your business, I have actually examined a lot. Right here are a few I ‘d actually recommend:.
Keap— My existing go-to. Powerful automations, solid assistance, and it just works. Worth every dime.
HubSpot— Great for companies that require scalability and progressed CRM features.
GreenRope— A solid all-in-one remedy for little to mid-sized companies with strong reporting tools.
Monday.com— Amazing for project management, team collaboration, and sales pipeline tracking.
Bonsai— Especially terrific for freelancers and service-based solopreneurs.
Conclusion
GoHighLevel might work for some. However, for me? It was a frustrating, costly experiment that I couldn’t wait to end.
So if you’re standing at the edge, questioning whether to make the leap– concentrate. Ask yourself what’s actually not operating in your existing setup. Do not burn your systems down just because something more recent and shinier showed up.
Stick to what jobs. Your peace of mind (and your customers) will thank you.