You understand that sensation when you’re 99% sure something’s a fantastic idea, only to understand later on … it was an overall dumpster fire? That’s specifically what occurred when I chose to switch my whole company over to GoHighLevel.
It looked shiny. It appeared revolutionary. Yet actually? It developed into among one of the most excruciating software program choices I have actually made in over a years of running my organization.
So before you jump on the GoHighLevel bandwagon, let me stroll you through specifically what dropped– because if you’re anything like me, you’re constantly searching for smarter, a lot more reliable ways to grow your service. Just … not such as this.
The Sexy All-in-One Assurance
Here’s the thing. When GoHighLevel struck the scene, it seemed like a dream come true. A solitary system to manage your CRM, sales funnels, e-mail campaigns, consultation reservations, automation, payments– you name it.
If you’ve ever before managed a Monster stack of devices simply to run your day-to-day, you know how alluring the “all-in-one” pitch can be. I ‘d been utilizing Keap for years (and enjoying it, honestly), but still– I got drawn in by the promise of simplifying whatever under one roofing.
And yeah, I’ll admit it: I had a bad case of glossy things disorder.
Why I Left Keap (A Tool That Really Worked)
Let me be actual with you: Keap wasn’t broken. It did whatever I needed. It managed my e-mail automations, sales funnels, consultation scheduling, invoicing– you name it. Sure, the user interface really felt a little outdated in places, and often points took a few even more clicks than I suched as, however hey, it worked.
So why change?
Honestly, I just began asking yourself if I was missing out. GoHighLevel was more affordable (externally), used extra features, and all the cool marketing experts online appeared to be raving concerning it. FOMO is a hell of a medication.
That inquisitiveness cost me greater than just money– it cost me time, energy, and assurance.
What It Expense Me to Change
I went all in. Registered for the $297/month agency plan. Spent a strong 30 to 40 hours migrating information, restoring workflows, and basically trying to reproduce my entire Keap setup inside GoHighLevel.
Below’s what I had to move:
- 20,000+ e-mail customers
- Dozens of automations
- All customer accounts and notes
- Stripe invoicing integration
- Entire funnel framework
- Custom kinds, landing pages, activates … everything
Let’s not even talk about the shed performance during those couple of weeks. I depended on my eyeballs in Zapier workarounds, seeing tutorials, and trying to figure out where the heck basic setups were.
And simply when I thought things were functioning … they weren’t.
The Vermin Started Sneaking In
In the beginning, whatever looked alright. Yet then, out of nowhere, individuals on my listing began getting e-mails they weren’t expected to get. I’m talking entirely unimportant messages– sent out in sets of 171 customers at a time. Three days in a row.
Complete chaos.
I restore the automations from scratch. Still happened. I spoke to assistance. They condemned “web server issues.” But absolutely nothing made good sense, and the issue really did not go away. Imagine waking up every morning questioning who your system could’ve spammed overnight.
That’s not simply annoying– it’s dangerous. When your entire brand is built on trust fund, you can not pay for to look like a clueless amateur blowing up the wrong emails to the wrong individuals.
Support? Yeah, Good Luck
Currently, I don’t anticipate excellence from any type of system. Pests occur. But when they do? I anticipate the support group to step up quick.
That didn’t take place right here.
Reactions were obscure. Tickets went unanswered. I seemed like I was yelling into the void while my company melted. On the other hand, every min I spent troubleshooting was a min I had not been offering customers or growing my firm.
For a device that markets itself to serious business owners, GoHighLevel certain didn’t treat me like one.
The User interface Was a Warm Mess
You ever before make use of a device and just really feel … lost? That was me inside GoHighLevel N8N.
The UX was confusing. Things were buried in odd areas. Also straightforward jobs like modifying a funnel or tweaking an e-mail circulation became a scavenger hunt.
And their funnel builder? Don’t also get me began. Wish to change product setups, web page designs, and overall flow? Great– you’ll require to quest via 3 various locations that make zero rational sense. Fifty percent the moment, I couldn’t even keep in mind where I would certainly clicked something ten seconds previously.
It seemed like using software program developed by engineers, for engineers– not daily local business owner.
The “Inexpensive” Plan That Obtained Genuine Expensive, Real Fast
Let’s chat money.
Among GoHighLevel’s large marketing points is the cost. I indicate, $97/month for all those features? Sounds amazing, right?
Yet right here’s what they don’t tell you:.
You pay added per e-mail if you use their SMTP.
You have to link services like Mailgun or Twilio and handle their payment independently.
You’ll obtain random microcharges that aren’t discussed clearly.
Want better e-mail deliverability? That’s gon na cost you as well.
By the time I added every little thing up, I was paying greater than I had actually been with Keap. And worsening results.
That’s not a good deal– it’s just negative mathematics.
My Email Metrics Tanked GoHighLevel N8N
The last straw? Enjoying my email open rates drop like a rock.
I ‘d been getting a strong 35% open rate with Keap. My audience was engaged, my automations were dialed in, and things just functioned.
After switching to GoHighLevel? Opens dropped listed below 15%. Clicks were practically missing. Something was clearly off.
Possibly it was a deliverability problem. Maybe the system was simply sending at hard times or not individualizing messages correctly. Whatever the reason, I wasn’t staying to play investigator while my list decomposed.
Lessons I Discovered by hand
If you’re thinking of switching to GoHighLevel– or any brand-new system– here’s what I wish a person had actually informed me prior to I made the jump:.
1. Don’t Chase the Shiny Plaything
It’s very easy to get hyped regarding the latest “cutting edge” device. However just because everyone’s speaking about something does not indicate it’s right for you. If your existing system is functioning, reconsider prior to blowing it up.
2. Worth Simplicity Over Features
Much more isn’t always better. A system with a clean, instinctive interface will conserve you time and frustrations in the future– even if it does not have every feature under the sun.
3. Need Transparency
Hidden costs are the worst. Pick devices that are ahead of time concerning pricing, integrations, and limitations. You shouldn’t need a calculator and a thesaurus to comprehend your month-to-month bill.
4. Pay Attention to Genuine Individuals (Not Simply Marketing Professionals)
Examine impartial testimonials, individual discussion forums, and Reddit threads. Take notice of actual user experience– not just glossy sales web pages.
Still Want an All-in-One CRM? Right Here Are Better Options
If you’re still on the hunt for a dependable, user-friendly system to run your service, I have actually checked a lot. Right here are a few I ‘d actually recommend:.
Keap— My present go-to. Effective automations, strong assistance, and it simply functions. Worth every penny.
HubSpot— Great for services that require scalability and progressed CRM features.
GreenRope— A strong all-in-one option for small to mid-sized businesses with strong reporting devices.
Monday.com— Amazing for project monitoring, team collaboration, and sales pipe monitoring.
Bonsai— Particularly terrific for freelancers and service-based solopreneurs.
Final Thought
GoHighLevel may help some. However, for me? It was a frustrating, pricey experiment that I could not wait to end.
So if you’re standing at the side, questioning whether to make the leap– think hard. Ask yourself what’s truly not operating in your current setup. Don’t melt your systems down even if something newer and shinier showed up.
Stick with what works. Your peace of mind (and your clients) will certainly thanks.