You recognize that sensation when you’re 99% certain something’s a great idea, only to realize later on … it was a total dumpster fire? That’s exactly what took place when I chose to switch my whole company over to GoHighLevel.
It looked shiny. It seemed revolutionary. Yet actually? It developed into among one of the most agonizing software choices I’ve made in over a decade of running my company.
So before you get on the GoHighLevel bandwagon, let me stroll you via specifically what went down– because if you’re anything like me, you’re constantly searching for smarter, extra effective methods to expand your service. Just … not similar to this.
The Seductive All-in-One Assurance
Right here’s the thing. When GoHighLevel hit the scene, it sounded like a dream come true. A solitary platform to handle your CRM, sales funnels, e-mail campaigns, appointment bookings, automation, settlements– you name it.
If you have actually ever before juggled a Monster pile of devices just to run your daily, you know just how appealing the “all-in-one” pitch can be. I would certainly been making use of Keap for many years (and liking it, truthfully), but still– I got enticed in by the guarantee of simplifying every little thing under one roof covering.
And yeah, I’ll admit it: I had a negative case of shiny item disorder.
Why I Left Keap (A Tool That Actually Functioned)
Let me be real with you: Keap wasn’t broken. It did everything I needed. It handled my email automations, sales funnels, visit organizing, invoicing– you call it. Certain, the user interface felt a little dated in position, and in some cases points took a couple of more clicks than I liked, yet hey, it worked.
So why modification?
Truthfully, I simply started questioning if I was losing out. GoHighLevel was less costly (on the surface), offered a lot more features, and all the amazing marketing experts on the internet seemed to be going crazy concerning it. FOMO is a heck of a drug.
That interest price me greater than simply cash– it cost me time, power, and assurance.
What It Expense Me to Change
I went all in. Registered for the $297/month agency plan. Spent a strong 30 to 40 hours migrating data, reconstructing workflows, and essentially trying to reproduce my whole Keap setup inside GoHighLevel.
Here’s what I had to relocate:
- 20,000+ email clients
- Loads of automations
- All customer profiles and notes
- Stripe invoicing integration
- Whole funnel facilities
- Custom-made kinds, landing pages, triggers … whatever
Allow’s not also talk about the shed performance throughout those few weeks. I was up to my eyeballs in Zapier workarounds, seeing tutorials, and trying to find out where the heck standard settings were.
And simply when I assumed points were functioning … they weren’t.
The Vermin Started Creeping In
Initially, every little thing looked fine. However then, out of no place, people on my listing began obtaining emails they weren’t intended to receive. I’m speaking entirely irrelevant messages– sent in sets of 171 customers at a time. Three days in a row.
Total chaos.
I rebuilt the automations from scratch. Still occurred. I contacted support. They condemned “web server problems.” However nothing made sense, and the trouble really did not go away. Imagine waking up every early morning wondering who your system could’ve spammed over night.
That’s not simply irritating– it threatens. When your entire brand is improved trust, you can’t pay for to resemble an unaware amateur blowing up the incorrect e-mails to the wrong people.
Assistance? Yeah, Good Luck
Now, I do not expect excellence from any type of system. Bugs take place. Yet when they do? I anticipate the support team to step up quick.
That really did not take place right here.
Actions were obscure. Tickets went unanswered. I felt like I was shouting right into deep space while my service melted. Meanwhile, every min I invested repairing was a minute I wasn’t offering customers or expanding my firm.
For a tool that markets itself to significant business owners, GoHighLevel certain really did not treat me like one.
The Interface Was a Hot Mess
You ever utilize a device and simply really feel … shed? That was me inside GoHighLevel Custom Fields.
The UX was clunky. Points were hidden in weird places. Also easy jobs like editing and enhancing a funnel or tweaking an e-mail circulation developed into a scavenger hunt.
And their funnel builder? Don’t also obtain me started. Wish to transform product setups, web page designs, and overall flow? Awesome– you’ll need to quest through three different locations that make absolutely no logical feeling. Fifty percent the time, I couldn’t even keep in mind where I would certainly clicked something 10 secs earlier.
It felt like utilizing software built by designers, for engineers– not day-to-day company owner.
The “Cost effective” Plan That Got Actual Costly, Genuine Fast
Let’s chat cash.
One of GoHighLevel’s big marketing factors is the rate. I suggest, $97/month for all those features? Sounds outstanding, ideal?
However below’s what they do not inform you:.
You pay extra per e-mail if you use their SMTP.
You have to attach solutions like Mailgun or Twilio and manage their invoicing separately.
You’ll obtain arbitrary microcharges that aren’t clarified clearly.
Want far better email deliverability? That’s gon na cost you too.
By the time I included whatever up, I was paying more than I had actually been with Keap. And getting worse outcomes.
That’s not a good deal– it’s just negative math.
My Email Metrics Tanked GoHighLevel Custom Fields
The last straw? Viewing my e-mail open prices go down like a rock.
I ‘d been obtaining a strong 35% open rate with Keap. My target market was involved, my automations were dialed in, and things just functioned.
After changing to GoHighLevel? Opens dropped listed below 15%. Clicks were virtually missing. Something was plainly off.
Perhaps it was a deliverability problem. Maybe the system was simply sending out at hard times or otherwise individualizing messages correctly. Whatever the reason, I wasn’t sticking around to play detective while my checklist decayed.
Lessons I Discovered the Hard Way
If you’re thinking about switching over to GoHighLevel– or any type of new platform– here’s what I wish somebody had informed me prior to I made the leap:.
1. Don’t Chase the Shiny Toy
It’s simple to obtain hyped concerning the most up to date “innovative” device. But even if every person’s talking about something doesn’t mean it’s right for you. If your existing system is working, think twice prior to blowing it up.
2. Worth Simpleness Over Features
More isn’t always much better. A system with a tidy, instinctive user interface will certainly save you time and headaches in the future– even if it doesn’t have every feature under the sun.
3. Demand Transparency
Covert expenses are the worst. Choose tools that are in advance concerning pricing, integrations, and limits. You should not need a calculator and a synonym replacement tool to comprehend your monthly bill.
4. Pay Attention to Genuine Customers (Not Simply Marketing Professionals)
Examine objective testimonials, user forums, and Reddit strings. Pay attention to actual user experience– not simply glossy sales pages.
Still Want an All-in-One CRM? Below Are Much better Options
If you’re still on the hunt for a trusted, straightforward system to run your service, I’ve evaluated a number. Right here are a couple of I ‘d in fact suggest:.
Keap— My current go-to. Effective automations, solid support, and it simply works. Well worth every dime.
HubSpot— Great for businesses that require scalability and progressed CRM features.
GreenRope— A solid all-in-one option for small to mid-sized businesses with solid coverage devices.
Monday.com— Amazing for task management, group partnership, and sales pipeline tracking.
Bonsai— Particularly fantastic for freelancers and service-based solopreneurs.
Final Thought
GoHighLevel may help some. But also for me? It was an irritating, costly experiment that I could not wait to end.
So if you’re standing at the edge, questioning whether to make the leap– think hard. Ask on your own what’s truly not working in your current arrangement. Do not shed your systems down just because something newer and shinier appeared.
Stick to what jobs. Your sanity (and your clients) will certainly thank you.