You recognize that sensation when you’re 99% sure something’s an excellent idea, only to recognize later … it was an overall dumpster fire? That’s precisely what occurred when I chose to change my entire firm over to GoHighLevel.
It looked shiny. It appeared revolutionary. Yet in reality? It developed into one of the most unpleasant software choices I have actually made in over a years of running my business.
So before you jump on the GoHighLevel bandwagon, let me walk you with precisely what went down– since if you’re anything like me, you’re constantly trying to find smarter, extra effective means to grow your business. Just … not similar to this.
The Sexy All-in-One Promise
Here’s the important things. When GoHighLevel struck the scene, it seemed like a dream come true. A single system to handle your CRM, sales funnels, e-mail campaigns, appointment bookings, automation, payments– you name it.
If you have actually ever juggled a Frankenstein pile of devices simply to run your daily, you recognize how tempting the “all-in-one” pitch can be. I ‘d been utilizing Keap for several years (and loving it, truthfully), however still– I got lured in by the pledge of streamlining every little thing under one roof.
And yeah, I’ll confess: I had a poor case of shiny item disorder.
Why I Left Keap (A Tool That Really Functioned)
Let me be actual with you: Keap wasn’t damaged. It did everything I needed. It managed my email automations, sales funnels, visit organizing, invoicing– you name it. Sure, the user interface felt a little outdated in position, and occasionally points took a couple of even more clicks than I suched as, yet hey, it functioned.
So why change?
Truthfully, I simply began wondering if I was losing out. GoHighLevel was less expensive (on the surface), provided extra features, and all the awesome marketing experts on-line seemed to be going crazy concerning it. FOMO is a heck of a medicine.
That inquisitiveness cost me more than just money– it cost me time, power, and comfort.
What It Price Me to Change
I went done in. Enrolled in the $297/month agency plan. Invest a solid 30 to 40 hours moving data, rebuilding workflows, and essentially trying to replicate my entire Keap setup inside GoHighLevel.
Right here’s what I needed to relocate:
- 20,000+ e-mail subscribers
- Lots of automations
- All customer profiles and notes
- Stripe billing integration
- Whole funnel infrastructure
- Custom kinds, landing pages, causes … whatever
Allow’s not even discuss the lost performance during those few weeks. I depended on my eyeballs in Zapier workarounds, viewing tutorials, and attempting to find out where the hell standard settings were.
And just when I thought things were working … they weren’t.
The Vermin Started Slipping In
In the beginning, every little thing looked fine. But then, out of nowhere, people on my checklist started getting emails they weren’t meant to get. I’m talking totally irrelevant messages– sent out in batches of 171 individuals at a time. Three days straight.
Complete disorder.
I rebuilt the automations from the ground up. Still happened. I contacted assistance. They condemned “server issues.” But nothing made sense, and the issue didn’t disappear. Visualize awakening every morning wondering who your system may’ve spammed over night.
That’s not simply irritating– it threatens. When your whole brand is improved depend on, you can’t pay for to look like an unaware amateur blasting the wrong e-mails to the wrong people.
Assistance? Yeah, Best Of Luck
Now, I do not anticipate excellence from any kind of platform. Insects happen. But when they do? I expect the assistance group to step up quick.
That didn’t occur right here.
Feedbacks were vague. Tickets went unanswered. I felt like I was shouting into the void while my company melted. At the same time, every min I spent fixing was a minute I wasn’t serving clients or expanding my firm.
For a tool that markets itself to serious business owners, 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 Lead-Gen Playbook.
The UX was confusing. Things were buried in unusual places. Even simple jobs like modifying a funnel or tweaking an e-mail flow turned into a scavenger hunt.
And their funnel builder? Don’t even get me began. Want to transform product setups, web page designs, and total circulation? Great– you’ll require to search with 3 various locations that make zero sensible sense. Fifty percent the time, I could not also remember where I ‘d clicked something ten secs previously.
It seemed like utilizing software program constructed by engineers, for designers– not daily business owners.
The “Budget friendly” Plan That Got Actual Expensive, Genuine Rapid
Let’s speak cash.
Among GoHighLevel’s large selling factors is the rate. I imply, $97/month for all those features? Seems amazing, ideal?
Yet below’s what they do not inform you:.
You pay added per e-mail if you utilize their SMTP.
You have to connect services like Mailgun or Twilio and manage their invoicing individually.
You’ll obtain random microcharges that aren’t described clearly.
Want better e-mail deliverability? That’s gon na cost you too.
By the time I included whatever up, I was paying more than I had actually been with Keap. And becoming worse results.
That’s not a good deal– it’s simply negative math.
My Email Metrics Tanked GoHighLevel Lead-Gen Playbook
The final straw? Seeing my email open prices drop like a rock.
I would certainly been getting a strong 35% open price with Keap. My audience was involved, my automations were called in, and things just functioned.
After switching over to GoHighLevel? Opens went down listed below 15%. Clicks were almost missing. Something was plainly off.
Possibly it was a deliverability concern. Perhaps the system was just sending out at bad times or not customizing messages appropriately. Whatever the cause, I had not been staying to play investigator while my listing decayed.
Lessons I Discovered by hand
If you’re thinking about switching over to GoHighLevel– or any kind of brand-new system– below’s what I wish someone had actually told me prior to I made the jump:.
1. Do Not Chase the Shiny Plaything
It’s easy to get hyped regarding the most recent “advanced” tool. But just because every person’s talking about something does not imply it’s right for you. If your present system is working, hesitate before blowing it up.
2. Value Simplicity Over Features
More isn’t always better. A system with a clean, instinctive interface will conserve you time and migraines in the future– even if it doesn’t have every feature under the sun.
3. Need Transparency
Hidden expenses are the most awful. Select tools that are upfront about pricing, integrations, and limits. You shouldn’t need a calculator and a thesaurus to understand your monthly bill.
4. Listen to Genuine Customers (Not Just Marketing Experts)
Check objective evaluations, user forums, and Reddit threads. Focus on real user experience– not just slick sales web pages.
Still Want an All-in-One CRM? Right Here Are Better Options
If you’re still on the hunt for a trustworthy, straightforward system to run your service, I have actually tested a bunch. Below are a few I ‘d actually advise:.
Keap— My current go-to. Powerful automations, solid support, and it just functions. Worth every penny.
HubSpot— Great for organizations that need scalability and progressed CRM features.
GreenRope— A solid all-in-one remedy for little to mid-sized companies with solid reporting devices.
Monday.com— Fantastic for job management, group partnership, and sales pipe tracking.
Bonsai— Especially terrific for consultants and service-based solopreneurs.
Final Thought
GoHighLevel may work for some. But also for me? It was an irritating, costly experiment that I couldn’t wait to finish.
So if you’re standing at the side, wondering whether to make the jump– think hard. Ask on your own 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 works. Your peace of mind (and your customers) will thank you.