You know that sensation when you’re 99% certain something’s a fantastic idea, only to understand later on … it was a complete dumpster fire? That’s precisely what occurred when I chose to switch my whole company over to GoHighLevel.
It looked glossy. It appeared revolutionary. Yet in truth? It became among the most uncomfortable software choices I’ve made in over a decade of running my service.
So before you get on the GoHighLevel bandwagon, let me walk you with exactly what dropped– since if you’re anything like me, you’re constantly looking for smarter, much more reliable ways to grow your organization. Simply … not similar to this.
The Sexy All-in-One Guarantee
Below’s things. When GoHighLevel struck the scene, it seemed like a desire become a reality. A solitary system to manage your CRM, sales funnels, e-mail campaigns, consultation bookings, automation, payments– you call it.
If you’ve ever juggled a Monster stack of devices simply to run your day-to-day, you understand just how alluring the “all-in-one” pitch can be. I ‘d been making use of Keap for years (and liking it, honestly), but still– I got enticed in by the promise of simplifying every little thing under one roofing system.
And yeah, I’ll admit it: I had a bad situation of shiny things disorder.
Why I Left Keap (A Tool That In Fact Worked)
Let me be actual with you: Keap had not been damaged. It did every little thing I required. It handled my email automations, sales funnels, visit organizing, invoicing– you call it. Sure, the user interface felt a little outdated in places, and often things took a couple of even more clicks than I suched as, however hey, it worked.
So why modification?
Honestly, I just started questioning if I was missing out. GoHighLevel was more affordable (externally), supplied much more features, and all the trendy online marketers on-line seemed to be raving concerning it. FOMO is a heck of a medicine.
That inquisitiveness price me more than just money– it cost me time, power, and peace of mind.
What It Expense Me to Change
I went done in. Enrolled in the $297/month agency plan. Invest a strong 30 to 40 hours moving information, reconstructing workflows, and generally attempting to replicate my entire Keap setup inside GoHighLevel.
Right here’s what I had to relocate:
- 20,000+ e-mail customers
- Lots of automations
- All customer accounts and notes
- Stripe billing integration
- Whole funnel infrastructure
- Personalized types, landing pages, activates … whatever
Allow’s not even speak about the shed productivity during those few weeks. I depended on my eyeballs in Zapier workarounds, seeing tutorials, and attempting to figure out where the hell fundamental setups were.
And simply when I assumed things were working … they weren’t.
The Vermin Started Creeping In
In the beginning, whatever looked alright. But after that, out of no place, individuals on my checklist began getting emails they weren’t meant to receive. I’m speaking entirely unnecessary messages– sent out in batches of 171 users at a time. Three days in a row.
Total chaos.
I reconstruct the automations from the ground up. Still happened. I contacted assistance. They blamed “server concerns.” Yet absolutely nothing made sense, and the issue really did not vanish. Envision awakening every morning questioning who your system might’ve spammed over night.
That’s not simply irritating– it threatens. When your whole brand is improved trust fund, you can not pay for to appear like a clueless amateur blasting the wrong e-mails to the wrong individuals.
Assistance? Yeah, Good Luck
Now, I don’t anticipate perfection from any system. Pests happen. But when they do? I expect the support team to step up quickly.
That didn’t occur right here.
Feedbacks were vague. Tickets went unanswered. I seemed like I was shouting right into deep space while my organization shed. On the other hand, every min I invested repairing was a min I had not been serving clients or expanding my agency.
For a device that markets itself to significant entrepreneurs, GoHighLevel sure didn’t treat me like one.
The Interface Was a Hot Mess
You ever make use of a tool and simply feel … shed? That was me inside GoHighLevel Premium Support.
The UX was clunky. Things were hidden in weird places. Even straightforward jobs like editing a funnel or tweaking an email flow developed into a scavenger hunt.
And their funnel builder? Don’t also get me began. Intend to transform product settings, web page formats, and overall circulation? Awesome– you’ll require to quest via three different locations that make zero rational sense. Fifty percent the moment, I could not even bear in mind where I ‘d clicked something 10 seconds earlier.
It felt like utilizing software developed by engineers, for engineers– not everyday entrepreneur.
The “Inexpensive” Plan That Obtained Actual Expensive, Actual Quick
Let’s chat cash.
Among GoHighLevel’s large selling points is the cost. I imply, $97/month for all those features? Seems incredible, appropriate?
However here’s what they do not inform you:.
You pay added per email if you use their SMTP.
You have to connect services like Mailgun or Twilio and manage their billing individually.
You’ll obtain random microcharges that aren’t described clearly.
Want better email deliverability? That’s gon na cost you also.
By the time I included everything up, I was paying greater than I had actually been with Keap. And becoming worse results.
That’s not a bargain– it’s just negative math.
My Email Metrics Tanked GoHighLevel Premium Support
The last straw? Enjoying my e-mail open rates go down like a rock.
I ‘d been obtaining a strong 35% open rate with Keap. My target market was involved, my automations were dialed in, and points just worked.
After changing to GoHighLevel? Opens went down below 15%. Clicks were almost nonexistent. Something was plainly off.
Perhaps it was a deliverability problem. Possibly the system was simply sending out at hard times or otherwise customizing messages correctly. Whatever the reason, I wasn’t sticking around to play detective while my checklist rotted.
Lessons I Discovered the Hard Way
If you’re thinking of switching to GoHighLevel– or any kind of new platform– here’s what I wish a person had actually told me prior to I made the leap:.
1. Do Not Chase the Shiny Toy
It’s very easy to obtain hyped concerning the most up to date “revolutionary” device. However just because every person’s discussing something doesn’t mean it’s right for you. If your present system is functioning, think twice before blowing it up.
2. Worth Simplicity Over Features
Extra isn’t constantly better. A system with a tidy, user-friendly interface will conserve you time and migraines in the long run– even if it does not have every feature under the sun.
3. Need Transparency
Surprise prices are the most awful. Choose devices that are in advance about pricing, integrations, and limitations. You should not need a calculator and a synonym replacement tool to recognize your monthly expense.
4. Listen to Real Users (Not Just Marketing Professionals)
Examine impartial testimonials, customer online forums, and Reddit threads. Pay attention to actual user experience– not simply glossy sales web pages.
Still Desire an All-in-One CRM? Below Are Better Options
If you’re still on the hunt for a trusted, easy to use system to run your organization, I have actually tested a bunch. Right here are a couple of I ‘d actually advise:.
Keap— My present go-to. Effective automations, solid assistance, and it just functions. Worth every penny.
HubSpot— Great for businesses that need scalability and progressed CRM features.
GreenRope— A strong all-in-one solution for small to mid-sized companies with strong coverage tools.
Monday.com— Amazing for project administration, group partnership, and sales pipe monitoring.
Bonsai— Especially excellent for freelancers and service-based solopreneurs.
Conclusion
GoHighLevel might benefit some. But also for me? It was a frustrating, costly experiment that I couldn’t wait to finish.
So if you’re standing at the edge, wondering whether to make the jump– concentrate. Ask on your own what’s really not operating in your present setup. Do not shed your systems down just because something more recent and shinier appeared.
Stick to what jobs. Your peace of mind (and your clients) will certainly thank you.