You understand that feeling when you’re 99% certain something’s a great idea, just to recognize later … it was an overall dumpster fire? That’s exactly what occurred when I made a decision to switch my entire agency over to GoHighLevel.
It looked glossy. It seemed revolutionary. However in truth? It turned into one of the most painful software program choices I’ve made in over a years of running my organization.
So before you get on the GoHighLevel bandwagon, let me walk you through precisely what went down– since if you’re anything like me, you’re constantly searching for smarter, much more effective means to expand your business. Simply … not such as this.
The Seductive All-in-One Assurance
Right here’s things. When GoHighLevel struck the scene, it sounded like a desire come to life. A single system to handle your CRM, sales funnels, e-mail campaigns, visit bookings, automation, settlements– you call it.
If you’ve ever juggled a Frankenstein stack of tools just to run your daily, you understand how alluring the “all-in-one” pitch can be. I ‘d been utilizing Keap for years (and loving it, honestly), but still– I got drawn in by the guarantee of streamlining every little thing under one roof.
And yeah, I’ll admit it: I had a bad situation of glossy item disorder.
Why I Left Keap (A Device That Actually Worked)
Let me be real with you: Keap had not been broken. It did every little thing I needed. It handled my email automations, sales funnels, appointment scheduling, invoicing– you name it. Sure, the user interface felt a little dated in places, and in some cases points took a few even more clicks than I liked, but hey, it worked.
So why modification?
Honestly, I just began questioning if I was losing out. GoHighLevel was less costly (on the surface), used much more features, and all the great marketing experts on the internet seemed to be going crazy about it. FOMO is a hell of a medicine.
That curiosity price me greater than simply cash– it cost me time, power, and comfort.
What It Price Me to Switch over
I went done in. Enrolled in the $297/month agency plan. Invest a strong 30 to 40 hours migrating data, rebuilding workflows, and primarily trying to duplicate my entire Keap configuration inside GoHighLevel.
Below’s what I needed to relocate:
- 20,000+ e-mail subscribers
- Lots of automations
- All customer accounts and notes
- Stripe payment integration
- Entire funnel framework
- Custom-made forms, landing pages, sets off … every little thing
Let’s not also talk about the shed efficiency throughout those couple of weeks. I was up to my eyeballs in Zapier workarounds, enjoying tutorials, and attempting to determine where the hell fundamental setups were.
And just when I thought things were working … they weren’t.
The Bugs Started Slipping In
In the beginning, everything looked fine. However after that, out of no place, individuals on my list started getting e-mails they weren’t expected to receive. I’m speaking entirely unimportant messages– sent out in batches of 171 customers at a time. 3 days straight.
Complete turmoil.
I rebuilt the automations from scratch. Still occurred. I spoke to support. They condemned “web server problems.” But absolutely nothing made good sense, and the issue didn’t go away. Picture awakening every early morning questioning who your system could’ve spammed over night.
That’s not just irritating– it’s dangerous. When your whole brand is improved count on, you can’t afford to appear like a clueless amateur blasting the wrong emails to the incorrect individuals.
Assistance? Yeah, All The Best
Currently, I don’t anticipate perfection from any kind of platform. Bugs take place. However when they do? I expect the assistance team to step up quickly.
That didn’t occur here.
Actions were obscure. Tickets went unanswered. I seemed like I was shouting into the void while my company burned. On the other hand, every minute I spent troubleshooting was a min I wasn’t serving customers or expanding my company.
For a device that markets itself to significant business owners, GoHighLevel sure really did not treat me like one.
The User interface Was a Hot Mess
You ever before use a tool and just feel … shed? That was me inside GoHighLevel Founder.
The UX was clunky. Points were buried in unusual locations. Also easy tasks like modifying a funnel or tweaking an email circulation turned into a scavenger hunt.
And their funnel builder? Don’t also get me began. Intend to change item setups, page layouts, and general circulation? Great– you’ll require to search through three different areas that make zero logical sense. Fifty percent the time, I couldn’t even remember where I ‘d clicked something 10 secs earlier.
It seemed like making use of software program built by engineers, for engineers– not daily business owners.
The “Budget-friendly” Plan That Got Actual Costly, Genuine Rapid
Let’s speak cash.
Among GoHighLevel’s big marketing points is the price. I imply, $97/month for all those features? Sounds fantastic, ideal?
But below’s what they don’t tell you:.
You pay added per e-mail if you utilize their SMTP.
You have to attach solutions like Mailgun or Twilio and manage their invoicing separately.
You’ll obtain random microcharges that aren’t explained plainly.
Want far better email deliverability? That’s gon na cost you as well.
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 bad math.
My Email Metrics Tanked GoHighLevel Founder
The final straw? Seeing my e-mail open rates drop like a rock.
I ‘d been getting a strong 35% open price with Keap. My target market was involved, my automations were dialed in, and things simply functioned.
After changing to GoHighLevel? Opens dropped below 15%. Clicks were virtually nonexistent. Something was clearly off.
Perhaps it was a deliverability issue. Maybe the system was simply sending at hard times or otherwise personalizing messages correctly. Whatever the cause, I had not been staying to play detective while my checklist decayed.
Lessons I Discovered by hand
If you’re thinking about switching over to GoHighLevel– or any new platform– below’s what I desire a person had told me prior to I made the jump:.
1. Don’t Chase the Shiny Plaything
It’s easy to get hyped concerning the current “cutting edge” device. However just because everybody’s discussing something doesn’t suggest it’s right for you. If your existing system is functioning, think twice before blowing it up.
2. Worth Simplicity Over Features
Much more isn’t always much better. A system with a clean, user-friendly interface will certainly conserve you time and migraines over time– even if it does not have every feature imaginable.
3. Demand Openness
Concealed prices are the worst. Choose devices that are ahead of time about pricing, integrations, and restrictions. You should not require a calculator and a synonym replacement tool to recognize your regular monthly bill.
4. Pay Attention to Genuine Customers (Not Just Online Marketers)
Examine honest testimonials, customer online forums, and Reddit strings. Take note of actual user experience– not just slick sales pages.
Still Want an All-in-One CRM? Right Here Are Better Options
If you’re still on the hunt for a reputable, easy to use platform to run your organization, I have actually examined a bunch. Below are a few I ‘d actually recommend:.
Keap— My existing go-to. Powerful automations, solid assistance, and it simply functions. Worth every cent.
HubSpot— Great for companies that require scalability and advanced CRM features.
GreenRope— A strong all-in-one service for small to mid-sized services with strong coverage tools.
Monday.com— Superb for job administration, group cooperation, and sales pipeline tracking.
Bonsai— Especially fantastic for freelancers and service-based solopreneurs.
Conclusion
GoHighLevel may benefit some. But for me? It was an irritating, costly experiment that I couldn’t wait to end.
So if you’re standing at the side, wondering whether to make the jump– concentrate. Ask yourself what’s really not working in your present configuration. Do not burn your systems down just because something more recent and shinier appeared.
Stick with what jobs. Your sanity (and your customers) will thank you.