You recognize that sensation when you’re 99% certain something’s a great idea, just to understand later … it was an overall dumpster fire? That’s exactly what occurred when I made a decision to switch my entire company over to GoHighLevel.
It looked glossy. It seemed revolutionary. However actually? It became one of one of the most uncomfortable software program decisions I’ve made in over a years of running my company.
So before you jump on the GoHighLevel bandwagon, let me stroll you with precisely what dropped– due to the fact that if you’re anything like me, you’re always trying to find smarter, more effective methods to expand your company. Just … not such as this.
The Sexy All-in-One Promise
Here’s things. When GoHighLevel struck the scene, it seemed like a dream come true. A solitary platform to handle your CRM, sales funnels, e-mail campaigns, visit reservations, automation, repayments– you name it.
If you have actually ever managed a Frankenstein stack of devices simply to run your daily, you know how alluring the “all-in-one” pitch can be. I ‘d been making use of Keap for many years (and enjoying it, truthfully), however still– I got enticed in by the guarantee of simplifying whatever under one roofing.
And yeah, I’ll confess: I had a negative instance of glossy object disorder.
Why I Left Keap (A Tool That Actually Worked)
Let me be real with you: Keap wasn’t broken. It did whatever I required. It managed my e-mail automations, sales funnels, visit organizing, invoicing– you name it. Sure, the interface felt a little outdated in position, and often things took a couple of even more clicks than I liked, yet hey, it worked.
So why modification?
Honestly, I simply started wondering if I was missing out. GoHighLevel was more affordable (on the surface), provided extra features, and all the great marketing professionals on-line appeared to be raving regarding it. FOMO is a heck of a medication.
That inquisitiveness cost me greater than just money– it cost me time, energy, and peace of mind.
What It Price Me to Switch over
I went all in. Signed up for the $297/month agency plan. Spent a solid 30 to 40 hours moving information, restoring workflows, and primarily attempting to reproduce my whole Keap arrangement inside GoHighLevel.
Right here’s what I needed to relocate:
- 20,000+ e-mail clients
- Lots of automations
- All customer accounts and notes
- Stripe payment integration
- Whole funnel facilities
- Custom types, landing pages, sets off … everything
Let’s not also discuss the shed efficiency during those few weeks. I depended on my eyeballs in Zapier workarounds, seeing tutorials, and attempting to find out where the heck standard setups were.
And just when I believed things were working … they weren’t.
The Vermin Started Creeping In
Initially, everything looked alright. Yet after that, out of no place, people on my checklist began getting e-mails they weren’t meant to get. I’m chatting completely unnecessary messages– sent out in batches of 171 customers at a time. Three days in a row.
Complete disorder.
I reconstruct the automations from scratch. Still taken place. I contacted support. They condemned “server issues.” But nothing made sense, and the trouble didn’t vanish. Picture waking up every morning questioning who your system could’ve spammed over night.
That’s not just irritating– it’s dangerous. When your entire brand is built on trust fund, you can not afford to look like a clueless amateur blowing up the wrong emails to the incorrect people.
Assistance? Yeah, Good Luck
Currently, I do not anticipate excellence from any type of platform. Bugs occur. But when they do? I anticipate the assistance group to step up fast.
That didn’t occur here.
Reactions were obscure. Tickets went unanswered. I felt like I was yelling into deep space while my organization burned. On the other hand, every minute I spent repairing was a min I had not been offering customers or expanding my agency.
For a device that markets itself to severe business owners, GoHighLevel certain really did not treat me like one.
The User interface Was a Warm Mess
You ever make use of a tool and simply feel … shed? That was me inside GoHighLevel For Dealership.
The UX was cumbersome. Points were hidden in weird locations. Also easy jobs like editing and enhancing a funnel or tweaking an e-mail circulation became a scavenger hunt.
And their funnel builder? Don’t also obtain me began. Want to transform product settings, web page layouts, and overall flow? Trendy– you’ll require to quest through 3 different locations that make zero logical feeling. Fifty percent the time, I could not even bear in mind where I ‘d clicked something ten seconds previously.
It felt like using software constructed by designers, for engineers– not day-to-day company owner.
The “Cost effective” Plan That Obtained Actual Costly, Actual Quick
Let’s talk money.
Among GoHighLevel’s large selling factors is the cost. I imply, $97/month for all those features? Seems outstanding, right?
But right here’s what they do not inform you:.
You pay extra per e-mail if you utilize their SMTP.
You have to connect services like Mailgun or Twilio and handle their payment independently.
You’ll obtain arbitrary microcharges that aren’t described plainly.
Want much better email deliverability? That’s gon na cost you also.
By the time I added everything up, I was paying greater than I had been with Keap. And worsening results.
That’s not a good deal– it’s just poor math.
My Email Metrics Tanked GoHighLevel For Dealership
The last straw? Enjoying my e-mail open prices drop like a rock.
I ‘d been getting a strong 35% open rate with Keap. My target market was engaged, my automations were dialed in, and points simply functioned.
After changing to GoHighLevel? Opens dropped below 15%. Clicks were almost missing. Something was plainly off.
Maybe it was a deliverability problem. Perhaps the system was just sending at hard times or otherwise personalizing messages properly. Whatever the cause, I had not been sticking around to play investigative while my list decomposed.
Lessons I Discovered by hand
If you’re considering changing to GoHighLevel– or any kind of new platform– below’s what I desire someone had told me prior to I made the jump:.
1. Don’t Chase the Shiny Plaything
It’s simple to get hyped regarding the most recent “innovative” device. But even if every person’s discussing something doesn’t suggest it’s right for you. If your present system is working, think twice before blowing it up.
2. Value Simplicity Over Features
More isn’t constantly better. A platform with a clean, intuitive user interface will conserve you time and migraines in the long run– even if it doesn’t have every feature imaginable.
3. Need Transparency
Hidden costs are the most awful. Pick tools that are upfront regarding pricing, integrations, and limitations. You should not require a calculator and a synonym replacement tool to understand your month-to-month costs.
4. Pay Attention to Genuine Users (Not Just Marketing Experts)
Check honest testimonials, customer discussion forums, and Reddit strings. Take notice of actual customer experience– not simply glossy sales web pages.
Still Want an All-in-One CRM? Here Are Much better Options
If you’re still on the hunt for a reliable, user-friendly system to run your organization, I’ve checked a number. Here are a few I ‘d actually suggest:.
Keap— My existing go-to. Powerful automations, solid support, and it just works. Worth every cent.
HubSpot— Great for organizations that require scalability and advanced CRM features.
GreenRope— A strong all-in-one remedy for tiny to mid-sized organizations with solid coverage devices.
Monday.com— Great for project administration, group partnership, and sales pipeline tracking.
Bonsai— Specifically excellent for freelancers and service-based solopreneurs.
Verdict
GoHighLevel may help some. However, for me? It was a discouraging, pricey experiment that I could not wait to finish.
So if you’re standing at the edge, wondering whether to make the leap– think hard. Ask yourself what’s really not working in your present arrangement. Do not burn your systems down just because something newer and shinier turned up.
Stick with what jobs. Your peace of mind (and your customers) will thanks.