You recognize that feeling when you’re 99% certain something’s a terrific concept, only to realize later on … it was a complete dumpster fire? That’s exactly what occurred when I decided to switch my entire firm over to GoHighLevel.
It looked glossy. It sounded revolutionary. But in truth? It became one of the most painful software choices I’ve made in over a decade of running my business.
So before you get on the GoHighLevel bandwagon, let me walk you via precisely what went down– since if you’re anything like me, you’re always looking for smarter, much more efficient means to grow your company. Simply … not such as this.
The Sexy All-in-One Assurance
Below’s things. When GoHighLevel struck the scene, it seemed like a dream happened. A solitary system to manage your CRM, sales funnels, e-mail campaigns, visit bookings, automation, settlements– you call it.
If you’ve ever managed a Frankenstein stack of tools simply to run your daily, you recognize just how tempting the “all-in-one” pitch can be. I ‘d been utilizing Keap for many years (and liking it, truthfully), but still– I obtained lured in by the pledge of simplifying whatever under one roofing system.
And yeah, I’ll confess: I had a bad situation of glossy item disorder.
Why I Left Keap (A Device That Really Functioned)
Let me be genuine with you: Keap had not been broken. It did everything I needed. It managed my email automations, sales funnels, visit scheduling, invoicing– you call it. Certain, the user interface felt a little outdated in position, and often points took a few more clicks than I liked, yet hey, it functioned.
So why adjustment?
Honestly, I simply began asking yourself if I was losing out. GoHighLevel was less costly (on the surface), offered a lot more features, and all the trendy online marketers on the internet seemed to be going crazy about it. FOMO is a hell of a medication.
That curiosity price me greater than simply money– it cost me time, power, and peace of mind.
What It Expense Me to Switch
I went done in. Registered for the $297/month agency plan. Invest a solid 30 to 40 hours moving information, rebuilding workflows, and generally attempting to reproduce my entire Keap configuration inside GoHighLevel.
Below’s what I had to move:
- 20,000+ email subscribers
- Dozens of automations
- All customer profiles and notes
- Stripe invoicing integration
- Entire funnel framework
- Custom-made forms, landing pages, activates … every little thing
Let’s not also talk about the shed productivity throughout those couple of weeks. I was up to my eyeballs in Zapier workarounds, viewing tutorials, and trying to identify where the hell basic setups were.
And simply when I assumed things were working … they weren’t.
The Bugs Started Slipping In
In the beginning, every little thing looked all right. Yet after that, out of nowhere, people on my checklist began obtaining emails they weren’t intended to obtain. I’m talking totally unnecessary messages– sent in sets of 171 users at once. 3 days straight.
Total chaos.
I rebuilt the automations from square one. Still happened. I contacted support. They condemned “web server concerns.” However absolutely nothing made sense, and the trouble didn’t go away. Think of waking up every early morning wondering who your system may’ve spammed overnight.
That’s not simply frustrating– it’s dangerous. When your whole brand is improved depend on, you can not pay for to look like a clueless amateur blowing up the wrong emails to the incorrect people.
Support? Yeah, Good Luck
Now, I don’t anticipate perfection from any type of system. Pests occur. However when they do? I expect the support team to step up fast.
That didn’t happen here.
Reactions were obscure. Tickets went unanswered. I seemed like I was shouting right into the void while my organization shed. At the same time, every min I spent troubleshooting was a minute I had not been serving customers or expanding my company.
For a tool that markets itself to serious business owners, GoHighLevel sure didn’t treat me like one.
The User interface Was a Warm Mess
You ever before use a device and simply really feel … shed? That was me inside GoHighLevel Unlimited Vs Pro.
The UX was clunky. Things were hidden in odd places. Also straightforward jobs like editing and enhancing a funnel or tweaking an email flow turned into a scavenger hunt.
And their funnel builder? Do not also obtain me began. Intend to change product settings, page designs, and overall circulation? Great– you’ll require to hunt through three various areas that make absolutely no sensible sense. Fifty percent the time, I couldn’t even remember where I ‘d clicked something ten seconds earlier.
It seemed like making use of software program developed by designers, for engineers– not daily company owner.
The “Cost effective” Plan That Got Real Expensive, Real Quick
Let’s chat cash.
Among GoHighLevel’s big marketing points is the cost. I suggest, $97/month for all those features? Seems remarkable, right?
But below’s what they don’t inform you:.
You pay extra per email if you utilize their SMTP.
You have to link solutions like Mailgun or Twilio and manage their billing independently.
You’ll obtain random microcharges that aren’t described clearly.
Want better email deliverability? That’s gon na cost you too.
By the time I added every little thing up, I was paying greater than I had been with Keap. And becoming worse results.
That’s not a bargain– it’s just bad mathematics.
My Email Metrics Tanked GoHighLevel Unlimited Vs Pro
The final straw? Watching my e-mail open prices go down like a rock.
I would certainly been getting a strong 35% open price with Keap. My audience was engaged, my automations were dialed in, and points just functioned.
After switching over to GoHighLevel? Opens dropped below 15%. Clicks were practically missing. Something was clearly off.
Perhaps it was a deliverability problem. Possibly the system was simply sending at bad times or not personalizing messages properly. Whatever the cause, I had not been staying to play detective while my list decomposed.
Lessons I Found Out by hand
If you’re considering changing to GoHighLevel– or any brand-new system– here’s what I desire somebody had told me before I made the jump:.
1. Do Not Chase the Shiny Toy
It’s very easy to get hyped about the current “revolutionary” tool. But just because every person’s talking about something doesn’t imply it’s right for you. If your present system is working, think twice prior to blowing it up.
2. Value Simpleness Over Features
More isn’t always better. A system with a clean, instinctive interface will certainly conserve you time and headaches in the future– even if it does not have every feature imaginable.
3. Need Transparency
Surprise expenses are the worst. Pick tools that are in advance about pricing, integrations, and restrictions. You should not need a calculator and a thesaurus to understand your monthly costs.
4. Listen to Genuine Users (Not Simply Marketers)
Check objective testimonials, individual discussion forums, and Reddit strings. Focus on real customer experience– not just glossy sales web pages.
Still Want an All-in-One CRM? Below Are Better Options
If you’re still on the hunt for a trustworthy, straightforward system to run your business, I have actually evaluated a bunch. Below are a few I ‘d really advise:.
Keap— My current go-to. Effective automations, solid assistance, and it simply functions. Worth every dime.
HubSpot— Great for companies that need scalability and advanced CRM features.
GreenRope— A solid all-in-one option for small to mid-sized companies with strong reporting devices.
Monday.com— Fantastic for job monitoring, team cooperation, and sales pipeline tracking.
Bonsai— Particularly wonderful for freelancers and service-based solopreneurs.
Conclusion
GoHighLevel might benefit some. But for me? It was a discouraging, pricey experiment that I could not wait to finish.
So if you’re standing at the edge, asking yourself whether to make the jump– concentrate. Ask yourself what’s truly not operating in your present arrangement. Don’t burn your systems down even if something newer and shinier appeared.
Stick to what works. Your peace of mind (and your clients) will certainly thank you.