You know that sensation when you’re 99% certain something’s a terrific concept, just to understand later … it was a complete dumpster fire? That’s precisely what happened when I determined to switch my whole firm over to GoHighLevel.
It looked glossy. It sounded revolutionary. But in truth? It became among the most painful software application decisions I have actually made in over a decade of running my company.
So prior to you get on the GoHighLevel bandwagon, let me stroll you with precisely what dropped– since if you’re anything like me, you’re always seeking smarter, a lot more effective ways to grow your business. Simply … not similar to this.
The Sexy All-in-One Guarantee
Right here’s the thing. When GoHighLevel hit the scene, it sounded like a dream come true. A solitary system to handle your CRM, sales funnels, email campaigns, visit bookings, automation, settlements– you call it.
If you have actually ever before handled a Frankenstein stack of tools simply to run your daily, you understand just how tempting the “all-in-one” pitch can be. I ‘d been using Keap for years (and enjoying it, truthfully), yet still– I got enticed in by the guarantee of simplifying every little thing under one roof covering.
And yeah, I’ll confess: I had a poor instance of glossy things syndrome.
Why I Left Keap (A Device That Actually Worked)
Let me be actual with you: Keap had not been broken. It did every little thing I required. It managed my email automations, sales funnels, appointment scheduling, invoicing– you name it. Sure, the interface really felt a little dated in places, and occasionally things took a few even more clicks than I suched as, however hey, it worked.
So why change?
Truthfully, I simply started asking yourself if I was losing out. GoHighLevel was more affordable (on the surface), supplied extra features, and all the great marketing experts on-line appeared to be raving concerning it. FOMO is a hell of a medicine.
That interest expense me greater than simply cash– it cost me time, energy, and satisfaction.
What It Expense Me to Switch over
I went all in. Signed up for the $297/month agency plan. Spent a strong 30 to 40 hours migrating information, rebuilding workflows, and essentially attempting to reproduce my entire Keap setup inside GoHighLevel.
Here’s what I had to move:
- 20,000+ e-mail customers
- Loads of automations
- All client profiles and notes
- Stripe invoicing integration
- Whole funnel framework
- Custom-made kinds, landing pages, sets off … everything
Let’s not even discuss the lost productivity throughout those couple of weeks. I was up to my eyeballs in Zapier workarounds, enjoying tutorials, and trying to identify where the hell standard settings were.
And just when I assumed points were working … they weren’t.
The Bugs Began Creeping In
At first, everything looked all right. Yet after that, out of no place, individuals on my list started getting emails they weren’t intended to get. I’m talking entirely unimportant messages– sent out in sets of 171 individuals at a time. Three days straight.
Overall turmoil.
I reconstruct the automations from the ground up. Still taken place. I contacted support. They condemned “web server concerns.” Yet nothing made sense, and the issue didn’t go away. Think of getting up every early morning questioning who your system could’ve spammed over night.
That’s not simply annoying– it threatens. When your whole brand name is improved depend on, you can not pay for to appear like an unaware amateur blasting the wrong e-mails to the wrong individuals.
Support? Yeah, All The Best
Currently, I don’t expect perfection from any system. Bugs occur. Yet when they do? I expect the assistance group to step up quickly.
That really did not take place here.
Reactions were unclear. Tickets went unanswered. I felt like I was screaming into the void while my business burned. At the same time, every minute I spent fixing was a minute I wasn’t serving clients or expanding my company.
For a device that markets itself to significant business owners, GoHighLevel certain didn’t treat me like one.
The Interface Was a Warm Mess
You ever make use of a tool and simply feel … lost? That was me inside GoHighLevel Facebook Lead Ads.
The UX was confusing. Points were buried in unusual places. Even basic tasks like editing and enhancing a funnel or tweaking an e-mail circulation developed into a scavenger hunt.
And their funnel builder? Do not even get me started. Intend to transform item setups, page designs, and overall circulation? Trendy– you’ll require to hunt with 3 different areas that make zero rational feeling. Fifty percent the moment, I could not even remember where I would certainly clicked something 10 secs previously.
It felt like utilizing software constructed by designers, for designers– not daily business owners.
The “Cost effective” Plan That Obtained Genuine Pricey, Actual Quick
Let’s speak cash.
One of GoHighLevel’s huge marketing factors is the price. I suggest, $97/month for all those features? Seems fantastic, best?
But below’s what they don’t tell you:.
You pay extra per e-mail if you use their SMTP.
You need to link services like Mailgun or Twilio and handle their invoicing independently.
You’ll obtain random microcharges that aren’t described plainly.
Want far better e-mail deliverability? That’s gon na cost you as well.
By the time I included whatever up, I was paying more than I had actually been with Keap. And worsening outcomes.
That’s not a bargain– it’s just negative mathematics.
My Email Metrics Tanked GoHighLevel Facebook Lead Ads
The final straw? Viewing my email open prices go down like a rock.
I ‘d been obtaining a solid 35% open price with Keap. My target market was involved, my automations were dialed in, and points simply functioned.
After changing to GoHighLevel? Opens dropped listed below 15%. Clicks were nearly missing. Something was clearly off.
Possibly it was a deliverability problem. Perhaps the system was simply sending at hard times or not individualizing messages appropriately. Whatever the reason, I wasn’t lingering to play investigator while my list decomposed.
Lessons I Discovered by hand
If you’re thinking about changing to GoHighLevel– or any type of new system– right here’s what I wish somebody had actually told me prior to I made the jump:.
1. Don’t Chase the Shiny Toy
It’s very easy to get hyped concerning the latest “advanced” device. However even if everybody’s speaking about something doesn’t imply it’s right for you. If your current system is functioning, think twice prior to blowing it up.
2. Worth Simplicity Over Features
A lot more isn’t always better. A platform with a tidy, instinctive user interface will certainly conserve you time and migraines in the future– even if it does not have every feature imaginable.
3. Need Openness
Hidden expenses are the most awful. Choose devices that are in advance concerning pricing, integrations, and limitations. You shouldn’t require a calculator and a thesaurus to understand your month-to-month bill.
4. Pay Attention to Actual Customers (Not Simply Online Marketers)
Examine honest reviews, user forums, and Reddit threads. Pay attention to real individual experience– not just glossy sales web pages.
Still Desire an All-in-One CRM? Right Here Are Much better Options
If you’re still on the hunt for a reliable, easy to use system to run your business, I’ve checked a bunch. Here are a few I ‘d really recommend:.
Keap— My present go-to. Effective automations, strong support, and it just works. Worth every dime.
HubSpot— Great for services that need scalability and progressed CRM features.
GreenRope— A solid all-in-one remedy for tiny to mid-sized companies with strong reporting tools.
Monday.com— Fantastic for task management, group collaboration, and sales pipe tracking.
Bonsai— Specifically wonderful for consultants and service-based solopreneurs.
Conclusion
GoHighLevel may work for some. But for me? It was a frustrating, expensive experiment that I couldn’t wait to finish.
So if you’re standing at the edge, questioning whether to make the jump– think hard. Ask yourself what’s really not operating in your present configuration. Don’t melt your systems down just because something newer and shinier appeared.
Stick to what works. Your sanity (and your clients) will certainly thank you.