You recognize that feeling when you’re 99% certain something’s an excellent concept, only to understand later … it was an overall dumpster fire? That’s precisely what occurred when I chose to switch my whole firm over to GoHighLevel.
It looked glossy. It seemed revolutionary. But in truth? It developed into among the most painful software application decisions I have actually made in over a decade of running my business.
So prior to you jump on the GoHighLevel bandwagon, let me walk you via specifically what went down– since if you’re anything like me, you’re always seeking smarter, extra reliable ways to expand your company. Just … not like this.
The Seductive All-in-One Pledge
Here’s the thing. When GoHighLevel hit the scene, it sounded like a dream happened. A solitary platform to manage your CRM, sales funnels, e-mail campaigns, visit bookings, automation, settlements– you name it.
If you have actually ever before juggled a Frankenstein pile of tools just to run your daily, you understand just how tempting the “all-in-one” pitch can be. I ‘d been making use of Keap for several years (and liking it, honestly), yet still– I got tempted in by the pledge of simplifying everything under one roofing.
And yeah, I’ll admit it: I had a bad situation of shiny item syndrome.
Why I Left Keap (A Tool That Really Worked)
Let me be real with you: Keap wasn’t broken. It did whatever I required. It managed my e-mail automations, sales funnels, appointment scheduling, invoicing– you call it. Sure, the user interface really felt a little outdated in position, and occasionally points took a couple of more clicks than I suched as, but hey, it worked.
So why adjustment?
Truthfully, I simply began asking yourself if I was missing out. GoHighLevel was less expensive (on the surface), offered extra features, and all the awesome marketing professionals on the internet seemed to be going crazy about it. FOMO is a hell of a medicine.
That inquisitiveness expense me more than simply cash– it cost me time, energy, and peace of mind.
What It Price Me to Switch
I went all in. Enrolled in the $297/month agency plan. Invest a strong 30 to 40 hours moving information, restoring workflows, and basically trying to reproduce my whole Keap arrangement inside GoHighLevel.
Right here’s what I had to move:
- 20,000+ email clients
- Loads of automations
- All client profiles and notes
- Stripe invoicing integration
- Entire funnel infrastructure
- Custom-made kinds, landing pages, triggers … every little thing
Allow’s not even discuss the lost productivity during those couple of weeks. I was up to my eyeballs in Zapier workarounds, watching tutorials, and attempting to figure out where the heck standard settings were.
And simply when I thought things were working … they weren’t.
The Vermin Began Slipping In
At first, everything looked alright. But then, out of no place, people on my list started getting e-mails they weren’t supposed to receive. I’m talking completely irrelevant messages– sent in batches of 171 customers at once. Three days straight.
Overall chaos.
I restore the automations from the ground up. Still taken place. I got in touch with assistance. They blamed “server concerns.” But absolutely nothing made good sense, and the issue really did not vanish. Imagine waking up every morning wondering who your system could’ve spammed over night.
That’s not simply bothersome– it’s dangerous. When your entire brand name is built on trust, you can’t afford to appear like an unaware amateur blasting the incorrect emails to the incorrect people.
Support? Yeah, All The Best
Currently, I do not expect excellence from any platform. Bugs take place. Yet when they do? I anticipate the support team to step up quickly.
That really did not happen here.
Reactions were unclear. Tickets went unanswered. I seemed like I was shouting into deep space while my company burned. On the other hand, every min I invested fixing was a min I wasn’t serving clients or expanding my company.
For a tool that markets itself to serious business owners, GoHighLevel sure didn’t treat me like one.
The Interface Was a Warm Mess
You ever before utilize a tool and simply feel … lost? That was me inside GoHighLevel Proposals.
The UX was clunky. Points were buried in unusual places. Also simple jobs like editing a funnel or tweaking an email flow turned into a scavenger hunt.
And their funnel builder? Do not also obtain me started. Intend to change product setups, page layouts, and total circulation? Trendy– you’ll need to search via 3 different areas that make zero sensible sense. Fifty percent the time, I couldn’t also remember where I would certainly clicked something ten secs earlier.
It seemed like utilizing software constructed by designers, for designers– not day-to-day local business owner.
The “Affordable” Plan That Got Real Expensive, Actual Fast
Let’s talk cash.
One of GoHighLevel’s large selling points is the rate. I imply, $97/month for all those features? Seems remarkable, ideal?
However below’s what they don’t inform you:.
You pay extra per email if you utilize their SMTP.
You have to connect services like Mailgun or Twilio and manage their billing individually.
You’ll get arbitrary microcharges that aren’t clarified clearly.
Desire far better email deliverability? That’s gon na cost you also.
By the time I included every little thing up, I was paying greater than I had been with Keap. And getting worse outcomes.
That’s not a bargain– it’s simply negative mathematics.
My Email Metrics Tanked GoHighLevel Proposals
The final straw? Seeing my e-mail open prices go down like a rock.
I ‘d been getting a strong 35% open rate with Keap. My target market was involved, my automations were called in, and points just functioned.
After changing to GoHighLevel? Opens went down below 15%. Clicks were almost missing. Something was plainly off.
Possibly it was a deliverability problem. Maybe the system was just sending out at hard times or otherwise personalizing messages properly. Whatever the reason, I had not been lingering to play detective while my checklist rotted.
Lessons I Found Out by hand
If you’re thinking about changing to GoHighLevel– or any kind of brand-new platform– here’s what I want somebody had told me prior to I made the leap:.
1. Do Not Chase the Shiny Toy
It’s very easy to get hyped concerning the current “advanced” tool. But even if everybody’s discussing something doesn’t mean it’s right for you. If your existing system is working, hesitate prior to blowing it up.
2. Worth Simpleness Over Features
More isn’t constantly far better. A platform with a clean, instinctive user interface will certainly save you time and migraines over time– even if it does not have every feature under the sun.
3. Need Transparency
Surprise costs are the worst. Select devices that are in advance regarding pricing, integrations, and limitations. You shouldn’t require a calculator and a thesaurus to comprehend your regular monthly costs.
4. Listen to Genuine Individuals (Not Just Online Marketers)
Check honest testimonials, user forums, and Reddit strings. Take note of actual individual experience– not simply glossy sales pages.
Still Want an All-in-One CRM? Here Are Better Options
If you’re still on the hunt for a trusted, user-friendly system to run your company, I have actually evaluated a number. Below are a few I ‘d in fact recommend:.
Keap— My existing go-to. Effective automations, strong support, and it just works. Worth every cent.
HubSpot— Great for organizations that require scalability and progressed CRM features.
GreenRope— A solid all-in-one remedy for little to mid-sized organizations with strong coverage tools.
Monday.com— Wonderful for project management, team collaboration, and sales pipe tracking.
Bonsai— Especially fantastic for consultants and service-based solopreneurs.
Conclusion
GoHighLevel might work for 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 jump– concentrate. Ask yourself what’s actually not working in your existing setup. Don’t melt your systems down just because something newer and shinier showed up.
Stick with what works. Your sanity (and your customers) will certainly thanks.