You understand that feeling when you’re 99% certain something’s a fantastic concept, only to understand later on … it was a complete dumpster fire? That’s precisely what took place when I determined to change my entire company over to GoHighLevel.
It looked glossy. It appeared revolutionary. Yet in reality? It became among one of the most unpleasant software application choices I have actually made in over a decade of running my company.
So before you jump on the GoHighLevel bandwagon, let me stroll you with exactly what dropped– since if you’re anything like me, you’re constantly searching for smarter, more reliable ways to grow your company. Simply … not similar to this.
The Seductive All-in-One Assurance
Here’s things. When GoHighLevel struck the scene, it sounded like a dream come to life. A solitary platform to manage your CRM, sales funnels, e-mail campaigns, visit reservations, automation, settlements– you call it.
If you’ve ever handled a Frankenstein stack of devices simply to run your day-to-day, you understand how appealing the “all-in-one” pitch can be. I ‘d been using Keap for many years (and enjoying it, honestly), however still– I got tempted in by the promise of simplifying every little thing under one roof covering.
And yeah, I’ll admit it: I had a poor instance of shiny things syndrome.
Why I Left Keap (A Device That Really Worked)
Let me be genuine with you: Keap had not been damaged. It did everything I needed. It managed my e-mail automations, sales funnels, appointment organizing, invoicing– you call it. Sure, the user interface felt a little outdated in position, and in some cases things took a couple of more clicks than I liked, yet hey, it functioned.
So why adjustment?
Truthfully, I simply began wondering if I was losing out. GoHighLevel was cheaper (externally), used a lot more features, and all the awesome marketers online seemed to be raving about it. FOMO is a heck of a medication.
That inquisitiveness cost me more than just money– it cost me time, power, and assurance.
What It Price Me to Change
I went done in. Enrolled in the $297/month agency plan. Spent a strong 30 to 40 hours migrating information, rebuilding workflows, and primarily trying to reproduce my entire Keap configuration inside GoHighLevel.
Below’s what I needed to move:
- 20,000+ email customers
- Dozens of automations
- All customer accounts and notes
- Stripe invoicing integration
- Entire funnel framework
- Customized types, landing pages, activates … every little thing
Allow’s not even talk about the shed performance during those few weeks. I depended on my eyeballs in Zapier workarounds, seeing tutorials, and trying to identify where the heck standard settings were.
And just when I thought points were functioning … they weren’t.
The Vermin Started Creeping In
Initially, whatever looked fine. However after that, out of no place, people on my checklist began getting emails they weren’t meant to get. I’m talking entirely unimportant messages– sent out in sets of 171 customers each time. Three days straight.
Complete mayhem.
I restore the automations from square one. Still occurred. I got in touch with assistance. They blamed “web server issues.” But nothing made good sense, and the problem really did not go away. Imagine getting up every morning wondering who your system could’ve spammed overnight.
That’s not just aggravating– it threatens. When your entire brand name is improved count on, you can’t pay for to resemble a clueless amateur blowing up the incorrect e-mails to the incorrect people.
Support? Yeah, Best Of Luck
Currently, I do not expect perfection from any type of platform. Bugs happen. However when they do? I anticipate the support group to step up quickly.
That didn’t occur right here.
Actions were vague. Tickets went unanswered. I felt like I was yelling right into deep space while my service shed. On the other hand, every minute I invested troubleshooting was a min I wasn’t serving customers or growing my agency.
For a device that markets itself to serious entrepreneurs, GoHighLevel sure didn’t treat me like one.
The Interface Was a Hot Mess
You ever before make use of a tool and just feel … shed? That was me inside GoHighLevel Duplicate Contacts.
The UX was confusing. Points were buried in unusual areas. Also simple jobs like modifying a funnel or tweaking an e-mail circulation developed into a scavenger hunt.
And their funnel builder? Do not even get me began. Want to transform product settings, page designs, and overall circulation? Great– you’ll require to search with 3 different areas that make absolutely no sensible feeling. Fifty percent the time, I could not even remember where I would certainly clicked something 10 secs previously.
It felt like utilizing software application built by designers, for designers– not daily business owners.
The “Affordable” Plan That Got Actual Pricey, Actual Fast
Let’s chat money.
One of GoHighLevel’s huge selling factors is the rate. I indicate, $97/month for all those features? Appears impressive, best?
However right here’s what they do not inform you:.
You pay added per email if you use their SMTP.
You have to link solutions like Mailgun or Twilio and manage their billing separately.
You’ll get random microcharges that aren’t clarified plainly.
Desire far better e-mail deliverability? That’s gon na cost you also.
By the time I added every little thing up, I was paying more than I had actually been with Keap. And worsening results.
That’s not a good deal– it’s simply negative mathematics.
My Email Metrics Tanked GoHighLevel Duplicate Contacts
The final straw? Enjoying my email open prices drop like a rock.
I would certainly been obtaining a strong 35% open price with Keap. My audience was engaged, my automations were dialed in, and things simply worked.
After switching to GoHighLevel? Opens went down listed below 15%. Clicks were practically nonexistent. Something was clearly off.
Maybe it was a deliverability issue. Perhaps the system was simply sending at bad times or not individualizing messages appropriately. Whatever the reason, I wasn’t lingering to play detective while my listing decayed.
Lessons I Learned by hand
If you’re considering changing to GoHighLevel– or any type of brand-new system– here’s what I want somebody had actually told me before I made the jump:.
1. Do Not Chase the Shiny Plaything
It’s easy to obtain hyped regarding the most recent “cutting edge” device. But even if everyone’s talking about something does not mean it’s right for you. If your present system is functioning, think twice prior to blowing it up.
2. Worth Simplicity Over Features
More isn’t always much better. A platform with a clean, user-friendly user interface will save you time and frustrations in the future– even if it doesn’t have every feature imaginable.
3. Demand Transparency
Hidden prices are the worst. Pick tools that are ahead of time regarding pricing, integrations, and limits. You shouldn’t need a calculator and a synonym replacement tool to recognize your regular monthly expense.
4. Pay Attention to Genuine Users (Not Just Marketers)
Inspect unbiased testimonials, customer forums, and Reddit threads. Take notice of real user experience– not just slick sales web pages.
Still Want an All-in-One CRM? Below Are Better Options
If you’re still on the hunt for a trustworthy, straightforward system to run your organization, I have actually examined a number. Here are a couple of I ‘d actually suggest:.
Keap— My current go-to. Powerful automations, solid assistance, and it just functions. Well worth every penny.
HubSpot— Great for companies that need scalability and advanced CRM features.
GreenRope— A solid all-in-one option for little to mid-sized organizations with strong coverage tools.
Monday.com— Wonderful for project management, group cooperation, and sales pipeline monitoring.
Bonsai— Specifically excellent for freelancers and service-based solopreneurs.
Final Thought
GoHighLevel might benefit some. But also for me? It was a discouraging, expensive experiment that I couldn’t wait to finish.
So if you’re standing at the edge, questioning whether to make the jump– concentrate. Ask yourself what’s really not operating in your present configuration. Don’t melt your systems down even if something newer and shinier showed up.
Stick to what jobs. Your peace of mind (and your customers) will certainly thanks.