You recognize that feeling when you’re 99% sure something’s a fantastic concept, only to realize later on … it was an overall dumpster fire? That’s specifically what occurred when I decided to switch my whole company over to GoHighLevel.
It looked shiny. It appeared revolutionary. But in reality? It turned into one of the most unpleasant software decisions I have actually made in over a years of running my business.
So prior to you jump on the GoHighLevel bandwagon, let me stroll you via exactly what dropped– due to the fact that if you’re anything like me, you’re constantly trying to find smarter, more efficient methods to expand your company. Simply … not such as this.
The Seductive All-in-One Promise
Below’s the thing. When GoHighLevel hit the scene, it seemed like a desire come true. A solitary platform to handle your CRM, sales funnels, email campaigns, appointment bookings, automation, settlements– you call it.
If you have actually ever before handled a Frankenstein stack of tools simply to run your daily, you recognize how tempting the “all-in-one” pitch can be. I ‘d been using Keap for many years (and enjoying it, truthfully), but still– I obtained tempted in by the pledge of simplifying everything under one roof.
And yeah, I’ll confess: I had a poor situation of glossy object disorder.
Why I Left Keap (A Tool That Actually Functioned)
Let me be real with you: Keap wasn’t damaged. It did everything I needed. It handled my email automations, sales funnels, consultation organizing, invoicing– you call it. Certain, the user interface felt a little dated in places, and occasionally points took a few even more clicks than I suched as, but hey, it worked.
So why modification?
Honestly, I just started questioning if I was losing out. GoHighLevel was more affordable (on the surface), supplied extra features, and all the awesome marketers on-line seemed to be going crazy regarding it. FOMO is a hell of a drug.
That interest cost me greater than just cash– it cost me time, energy, and peace of mind.
What It Expense Me to Change
I went done in. Signed up for the $297/month agency plan. Spent a solid 30 to 40 hours migrating data, rebuilding workflows, and basically trying to reproduce my entire Keap setup inside GoHighLevel.
Here’s what I needed to relocate:
- 20,000+ email clients
- Lots of automations
- All client accounts and notes
- Stripe billing integration
- Whole funnel infrastructure
- Customized kinds, landing pages, causes … whatever
Allow’s not also talk about the shed productivity during those couple of weeks. I was up to my eyeballs in Zapier workarounds, watching tutorials, and trying to identify where the heck fundamental settings were.
And simply when I assumed things were working … they weren’t.
The Vermin Started Creeping In
In the beginning, whatever looked okay. But then, out of nowhere, people on my checklist began getting emails they weren’t intended to get. I’m talking entirely irrelevant messages– sent out in sets of 171 individuals each time. 3 days straight.
Complete chaos.
I restore the automations from the ground up. Still taken place. I spoke to assistance. They blamed “server issues.” But absolutely nothing made sense, and the issue didn’t go away. Visualize awakening every morning wondering who your system may’ve spammed overnight.
That’s not simply irritating– it threatens. When your whole brand name is improved trust, you can’t afford to resemble a clueless amateur blowing up the wrong e-mails to the wrong people.
Support? Yeah, Best Of Luck
Now, I don’t expect excellence from any system. Insects occur. Yet when they do? I anticipate the support team to step up fast.
That really did not happen here.
Actions were obscure. Tickets went unanswered. I felt like I was screaming right into the void while my organization shed. On the other hand, every minute I invested troubleshooting was a minute I wasn’t serving clients or expanding my firm.
For a tool that markets itself to major business owners, GoHighLevel sure really did not treat me like one.
The Interface Was a Hot Mess
You ever before utilize a tool and simply really feel … lost? That was me inside GoHighLevel For Business.
The UX was cumbersome. Points were hidden in odd locations. Even straightforward tasks like editing a funnel or tweaking an e-mail circulation turned into a scavenger hunt.
And their funnel builder? Do not also get me started. Wish to alter product setups, web page layouts, and total flow? Amazing– you’ll need to quest via three various areas that make no sensible feeling. Fifty percent the time, I couldn’t even keep in mind where I would certainly clicked something ten secs previously.
It seemed like making use of software application built by engineers, for designers– not day-to-day business owners.
The “Affordable” Plan That Obtained Genuine Pricey, Actual Fast
Let’s talk money.
One of GoHighLevel’s huge marketing points is the rate. I imply, $97/month for all those features? Sounds outstanding, right?
Yet below’s what they don’t tell you:.
You pay added per e-mail if you utilize their SMTP.
You have to link solutions like Mailgun or Twilio and handle their billing individually.
You’ll obtain arbitrary microcharges that aren’t clarified plainly.
Desire better e-mail deliverability? That’s gon na cost you as well.
By the time I included everything up, I was paying more than I had been with Keap. And becoming worse outcomes.
That’s not a good deal– it’s simply poor mathematics.
My Email Metrics Tanked GoHighLevel For Business
The final straw? Watching my e-mail open prices drop like a rock.
I would certainly been obtaining a strong 35% open rate with Keap. My target market was engaged, my automations were called in, and things simply functioned.
After changing to GoHighLevel? Opens went down listed below 15%. Clicks were practically nonexistent. Something was plainly off.
Possibly it was a deliverability issue. Perhaps the system was just sending out at hard times or otherwise personalizing messages correctly. Whatever the reason, I had not been staying to play investigative while my checklist decomposed.
Lessons I Discovered the Hard Way
If you’re thinking of switching over to GoHighLevel– or any type of new system– right here’s what I want a person had told me before I made the leap:.
1. Don’t Chase the Shiny Toy
It’s easy to obtain hyped concerning the current “innovative” device. Yet just because every person’s speaking about something doesn’t suggest it’s right for you. If your present system is functioning, think twice before blowing it up.
2. Worth Simplicity Over Features
More isn’t always far better. A system with a clean, user-friendly interface will conserve you time and frustrations over time– even if it does not have every feature imaginable.
3. Need Transparency
Covert prices are the worst. Pick tools that are in advance about pricing, integrations, and limits. You should not need a calculator and a thesaurus to recognize your month-to-month costs.
4. Listen to Actual Individuals (Not Simply Online Marketers)
Inspect unbiased evaluations, individual forums, and Reddit strings. Pay attention to real customer experience– not just slick sales web pages.
Still Desire an All-in-One CRM? Here Are Much better Options
If you’re still on the hunt for a dependable, straightforward platform to run your business, I have actually tested a number. Here are a few I ‘d in fact suggest:.
Keap— My present go-to. Effective automations, strong assistance, and it simply works. Well worth every dime.
HubSpot— Great for organizations that require scalability and advanced CRM features.
GreenRope— A strong all-in-one remedy for little to mid-sized businesses with solid reporting tools.
Monday.com— Great for job administration, group cooperation, and sales pipe tracking.
Bonsai— Especially excellent for consultants and service-based solopreneurs.
Conclusion
GoHighLevel may work for some. But for me? It was an aggravating, costly experiment that I could not wait to finish.
So if you’re standing at the side, wondering whether to make the leap– think hard. Ask on your own what’s really not operating in your present configuration. Do not burn your systems down just because something more recent and shinier appeared.
Stick to what works. Your peace of mind (and your customers) will thank you.