You understand that sensation when you’re 99% certain something’s a great idea, just to recognize later on … it was a complete dumpster fire? That’s specifically what occurred when I decided to switch my entire company over to GoHighLevel.
It looked shiny. It sounded revolutionary. However in truth? It turned into one of one of the most excruciating software application choices I’ve made in over a decade of running my company.
So prior to you jump on the GoHighLevel bandwagon, let me walk you with exactly what went down– since if you’re anything like me, you’re constantly searching for smarter, a lot more effective ways to grow your business. Just … not similar to this.
The Seductive All-in-One Guarantee
Below’s things. When GoHighLevel hit the scene, it sounded like a dream come to life. A single platform to manage your CRM, sales funnels, email campaigns, appointment reservations, automation, settlements– you call it.
If you have actually ever before handled a Monster stack of tools simply to run your daily, you recognize exactly how tempting the “all-in-one” pitch can be. I ‘d been making use of Keap for years (and liking it, honestly), however still– I obtained lured in by the promise of streamlining every little thing under one roofing system.
And yeah, I’ll confess: I had a negative situation of glossy item disorder.
Why I Left Keap (A Device That In Fact Worked)
Let me be real with you: Keap wasn’t damaged. It did whatever I required. It managed my e-mail automations, sales funnels, appointment organizing, invoicing– you call it. Certain, the user interface felt a little outdated in position, and in some cases things took a few more clicks than I liked, however hey, it functioned.
So why change?
Honestly, I simply began asking yourself if I was losing out. GoHighLevel was less expensive (externally), supplied a lot more features, and all the great online marketers on the internet seemed to be going crazy regarding it. FOMO is a hell of a medicine.
That interest cost me greater than simply cash– it cost me time, energy, and assurance.
What It Expense Me to Change
I went all in. Registered for the $297/month agency plan. Invest a strong 30 to 40 hours moving data, reconstructing workflows, and basically trying to replicate my entire Keap setup inside GoHighLevel.
Here’s what I needed to relocate:
- 20,000+ email subscribers
- Loads of automations
- All customer profiles and notes
- Stripe invoicing integration
- Whole funnel infrastructure
- Customized forms, landing pages, causes … whatever
Allow’s not also talk about the lost efficiency throughout those couple of weeks. I was up to my eyeballs in Zapier workarounds, seeing tutorials, and trying to figure out where the hell basic setups were.
And simply when I assumed points were functioning … they weren’t.
The Vermin Began Sneaking In
Initially, whatever looked all right. However then, out of no place, people on my listing started getting e-mails they weren’t intended to obtain. I’m speaking totally pointless messages– sent out in batches of 171 users each time. Three days in a row.
Complete disorder.
I restore the automations from the ground up. Still occurred. I spoke to support. They condemned “server concerns.” However absolutely nothing made good sense, and the problem didn’t vanish. Visualize getting up every morning questioning who your system might’ve spammed overnight.
That’s not just irritating– it’s dangerous. When your whole brand name is built on trust fund, you can not afford to look like a clueless amateur blasting the wrong e-mails to the incorrect individuals.
Assistance? Yeah, Good Luck
Currently, I do not anticipate excellence from any system. Bugs happen. But when they do? I anticipate the support group to step up quick.
That didn’t happen below.
Responses were vague. Tickets went unanswered. I felt like I was yelling right into deep space while my company shed. On the other hand, every minute I spent troubleshooting was a minute I had not been offering clients or expanding my company.
For a tool that markets itself to serious entrepreneurs, GoHighLevel certain didn’t treat me like one.
The User interface Was a Hot Mess
You ever before use a device and simply feel … shed? That was me inside GoHighLevel HTML.
The UX was clunky. Points were hidden in odd areas. Even simple jobs like editing and enhancing a funnel or tweaking an email circulation developed into a scavenger hunt.
And their funnel builder? Do not also get me began. Wish to change item setups, web page layouts, and overall flow? Awesome– you’ll require to quest with 3 different areas that make zero logical feeling. Fifty percent the time, I couldn’t even remember where I would certainly clicked something ten secs previously.
It seemed like using software application built by engineers, for engineers– not daily entrepreneur.
The “Cost effective” Plan That Got Real Pricey, Genuine Rapid
Let’s talk money.
Among GoHighLevel’s big marketing points is the price. I mean, $97/month for all those features? Appears impressive, right?
Yet right here’s what they don’t tell you:.
You pay added per email if you use their SMTP.
You need to attach solutions like Mailgun or Twilio and manage their billing individually.
You’ll obtain arbitrary microcharges that aren’t clarified plainly.
Want much better email deliverability? That’s gon na cost you also.
By the time I added every little thing up, I was paying greater than I had been with Keap. And worsening results.
That’s not a bargain– it’s just poor math.
My Email Metrics Tanked GoHighLevel HTML
The final straw? Viewing my e-mail open rates drop like a rock.
I would certainly been getting a solid 35% open price with Keap. My target market was involved, my automations were called in, and points just worked.
After changing to GoHighLevel? Opens dropped listed below 15%. Clicks were nearly nonexistent. Something was clearly off.
Possibly it was a deliverability concern. Possibly the system was just sending out at bad times or not personalizing messages correctly. Whatever the reason, I wasn’t lingering to play detective while my listing deteriorated.
Lessons I Learned by hand
If you’re thinking of switching to GoHighLevel– or any kind of brand-new system– below’s what I desire a person had actually told me before I made the leap:.
1. Do Not Chase the Shiny Plaything
It’s simple to get hyped regarding the current “cutting edge” tool. Yet even if everybody’s talking about something doesn’t suggest it’s right for you. If your existing system is working, hesitate before blowing it up.
2. Worth Simplicity Over Features
More isn’t constantly better. A platform with a tidy, instinctive interface will certainly conserve you time and frustrations in the long run– even if it does not have every feature under the sun.
3. Need Openness
Covert prices are the worst. Choose devices that are in advance concerning pricing, integrations, and restrictions. You should not need a calculator and a thesaurus to understand your regular monthly costs.
4. Pay Attention to Actual Users (Not Just Marketing Professionals)
Inspect honest reviews, user online forums, and Reddit strings. Take notice of real user experience– not simply slick sales web pages.
Still Desire an All-in-One CRM? Below Are Better Options
If you’re still on the hunt for a reputable, straightforward platform to run your organization, I have actually evaluated a number. Below are a couple of I ‘d in fact advise:.
Keap— My current go-to. Effective automations, strong assistance, and it simply works. Worth every dime.
HubSpot— Great for services that need scalability and progressed CRM features.
GreenRope— A strong all-in-one solution for little to mid-sized businesses with strong reporting tools.
Monday.com— Fantastic for project management, group collaboration, and sales pipe tracking.
Bonsai— Especially terrific for freelancers and service-based solopreneurs.
Conclusion
GoHighLevel may work for some. But for me? It was a discouraging, pricey experiment that I could not wait to finish.
So if you’re standing at the side, asking yourself whether to make the jump– concentrate. Ask yourself what’s truly not operating in your existing configuration. Do not melt your systems down even if something newer and shinier turned up.
Stick to what jobs. Your peace of mind (and your customers) will thanks.