You recognize that feeling when you’re 99% sure something’s a wonderful idea, only to recognize later on … it was a total dumpster fire? That’s precisely what occurred when I decided to change my whole company over to GoHighLevel.
It looked shiny. It appeared revolutionary. But actually? It turned into among one of the most uncomfortable software program decisions I have actually made in over a decade of running my service.
So before you jump on the GoHighLevel bandwagon, let me stroll you via exactly what went down– since if you’re anything like me, you’re always looking for smarter, much more effective methods to grow your service. Just … not such as this.
The Seductive All-in-One Guarantee
Below’s the important things. When GoHighLevel struck the scene, it sounded like a desire become a reality. A single platform to handle your CRM, sales funnels, email campaigns, visit reservations, automation, repayments– you name it.
If you’ve ever juggled a Monster pile of tools just to run your day-to-day, you recognize exactly how alluring the “all-in-one” pitch can be. I ‘d been utilizing Keap for many years (and loving it, truthfully), but still– I obtained enticed in by the assurance of streamlining whatever under one roofing.
And yeah, I’ll confess: I had a bad case of shiny object syndrome.
Why I Left Keap (A Tool That Actually Worked)
Let me be genuine with you: Keap had not been damaged. It did whatever I required. It handled my e-mail automations, sales funnels, visit organizing, invoicing– you call it. Certain, the user interface felt a little outdated in position, and occasionally things took a few more clicks than I suched as, but hey, it worked.
So why change?
Honestly, I just began asking yourself if I was missing out. GoHighLevel was cheaper (externally), offered extra features, and all the great marketing professionals online seemed to be going crazy about it. FOMO is a hell of a drug.
That curiosity expense me greater than simply money– it cost me time, power, and comfort.
What It Cost Me to Switch
I went done in. Enrolled in the $297/month agency plan. Spent a solid 30 to 40 hours migrating data, rebuilding workflows, and primarily trying to replicate my entire Keap arrangement inside GoHighLevel.
Right here’s what I needed to move:
- 20,000+ e-mail subscribers
- Lots of automations
- All customer profiles and notes
- Stripe billing integration
- Entire funnel facilities
- Customized kinds, landing pages, triggers … everything
Allow’s not also talk about the lost efficiency throughout those few weeks. I was up to my eyeballs in Zapier workarounds, viewing tutorials, and trying to find out where the hell fundamental settings were.
And simply when I thought things were functioning … they weren’t.
The Bugs Began Creeping In
Initially, every little thing looked alright. But then, out of nowhere, people on my checklist started getting e-mails they weren’t meant to obtain. I’m chatting totally unnecessary messages– sent in sets of 171 individuals each time. Three days straight.
Overall disorder.
I reconstruct the automations from scratch. Still taken place. I spoke to support. They condemned “web server concerns.” But absolutely nothing made good sense, and the trouble didn’t disappear. Visualize waking up every early morning wondering who your system might’ve spammed over night.
That’s not simply bothersome– it’s dangerous. When your whole brand name is built on trust fund, you can not manage to appear like a clueless amateur blowing up the incorrect emails to the incorrect individuals.
Support? Yeah, Best Of Luck
Now, I do not expect excellence from any kind of system. Pests happen. Yet when they do? I anticipate the support team to step up fast.
That didn’t happen here.
Actions were vague. Tickets went unanswered. I felt like I was yelling into the void while my service shed. Meanwhile, every minute I invested fixing was a min I had not been serving customers or expanding my firm.
For a device that markets itself to significant entrepreneurs, GoHighLevel sure didn’t treat me like one.
The User interface Was a Warm Mess
You ever utilize a tool and simply really feel … lost? That was me inside GoHighLevel For Health Insurance.
The UX was confusing. Things were buried in weird places. Even simple tasks like editing and enhancing a funnel or tweaking an e-mail flow developed into a scavenger hunt.
And their funnel builder? Do not also get me began. Intend to transform item settings, page layouts, and overall flow? Trendy– you’ll need to hunt via three various locations that make zero logical sense. Fifty percent the time, I could not also keep in mind where I ‘d clicked something ten seconds previously.
It seemed like utilizing software program developed by designers, for engineers– not day-to-day entrepreneur.
The “Budget-friendly” Plan That Obtained Genuine Costly, Actual Fast
Let’s chat cash.
One of GoHighLevel’s huge selling factors is the cost. I imply, $97/month for all those features? Sounds outstanding, right?
However below’s what they don’t tell you:.
You pay extra per email if you use their SMTP.
You need to attach services like Mailgun or Twilio and handle their billing independently.
You’ll obtain arbitrary microcharges that aren’t clarified plainly.
Want far better email deliverability? That’s gon na cost you also.
By the time I included every little thing up, I was paying more than I had been with Keap. And worsening outcomes.
That’s not a good deal– it’s just negative mathematics.
My Email Metrics Tanked GoHighLevel For Health Insurance
The last straw? Seeing my email open prices drop like a rock.
I ‘d been getting a strong 35% open rate with Keap. My audience was involved, my automations were dialed in, and things just worked.
After switching over to GoHighLevel? Opens went down listed below 15%. Clicks were practically nonexistent. Something was plainly off.
Possibly it was a deliverability problem. Perhaps the system was simply sending out at hard times or not personalizing messages appropriately. Whatever the cause, I had not been staying to play detective while my checklist decomposed.
Lessons I Found Out by hand
If you’re considering switching over to GoHighLevel– or any type of brand-new platform– right here’s what I wish someone had told me prior to I made the jump:.
1. Don’t Chase the Shiny Toy
It’s very easy to obtain hyped concerning the most up to date “innovative” device. But even if every person’s talking about something does not mean it’s right for you. If your present system is working, think twice prior to blowing it up.
2. Value Simplicity Over Features
Extra isn’t constantly far better. A platform with a clean, user-friendly interface will certainly save you time and migraines over time– even if it does not have every feature imaginable.
3. Demand Transparency
Concealed costs are the most awful. Pick tools that are ahead of time concerning pricing, integrations, and limits. You should not require a calculator and a thesaurus to comprehend your regular monthly expense.
4. Listen to Real Individuals (Not Simply Online Marketers)
Check unbiased evaluations, individual online forums, and Reddit threads. Pay attention to real customer experience– not just glossy sales web pages.
Still Desire an All-in-One CRM? Below Are Much better Options
If you’re still on the hunt for a reliable, user-friendly system to run your business, I’ve evaluated a bunch. Right here are a few I ‘d actually recommend:.
Keap— My current go-to. Effective automations, strong support, and it just works. Well worth every penny.
HubSpot— Great for organizations that need scalability and advanced CRM features.
GreenRope— A strong all-in-one remedy for little to mid-sized businesses with strong reporting tools.
Monday.com— Fantastic for task administration, team collaboration, and sales pipeline tracking.
Bonsai— Especially fantastic for freelancers and service-based solopreneurs.
Conclusion
GoHighLevel might benefit some. However, for me? It was an aggravating, costly experiment that I could not wait to end.
So if you’re standing at the side, asking yourself whether to make the jump– think hard. Ask on your own what’s actually not operating in your current configuration. Don’t burn your systems down even if something more recent and shinier appeared.
Stick to what works. Your peace of mind (and your clients) will certainly thank you.