You recognize that feeling when you’re 99% sure something’s a great concept, just to understand later on … it was a total dumpster fire? That’s precisely what happened when I chose to change my entire company over to GoHighLevel.
It looked shiny. It sounded revolutionary. However actually? It became one of one of the most painful software program choices I’ve made in over a years of running my company.
So prior to you get on the GoHighLevel bandwagon, let me walk you with specifically what dropped– since if you’re anything like me, you’re always trying to find smarter, a lot more efficient ways to expand your organization. Simply … not such as this.
The Sexy All-in-One Assurance
Here’s things. When GoHighLevel hit the scene, it seemed like a dream become a reality. A solitary platform to manage your CRM, sales funnels, email campaigns, appointment bookings, automation, repayments– you name it.
If you have actually ever before handled a Frankenstein stack of devices just to run your daily, you recognize exactly how appealing the “all-in-one” pitch can be. I would certainly been utilizing Keap for years (and enjoying it, truthfully), yet still– I obtained drawn in by the guarantee of simplifying every little thing under one roofing system.
And yeah, I’ll admit it: I had a bad instance of shiny object disorder.
Why I Left Keap (A Device That Actually Functioned)
Let me be real with you: Keap wasn’t broken. It did everything I needed. It handled my email automations, sales funnels, appointment scheduling, invoicing– you call it. Certain, the interface felt a little dated in position, and often points took a few more clicks than I liked, however hey, it functioned.
So why modification?
Honestly, I simply started wondering if I was missing out. GoHighLevel was more affordable (on the surface), used extra features, and all the cool marketers online seemed to be going crazy concerning 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 Expense Me to Change
I went done in. Registered for the $297/month agency plan. Invest a solid 30 to 40 hours migrating information, rebuilding workflows, and generally attempting to duplicate my whole Keap configuration inside GoHighLevel.
Here’s what I needed to move:
- 20,000+ e-mail clients
- Dozens of automations
- All client profiles and notes
- Stripe payment integration
- Whole funnel framework
- Custom kinds, landing pages, activates … every little thing
Let’s not also discuss the lost efficiency throughout those couple of weeks. I depended on my eyeballs in Zapier workarounds, enjoying tutorials, and trying to find out where the hell standard setups were.
And just when I thought things were working … they weren’t.
The Vermin Began Sneaking In
In the beginning, every little thing looked alright. However after that, out of nowhere, individuals on my listing began getting e-mails they weren’t meant to receive. I’m chatting completely unimportant messages– sent in sets of 171 individuals at a time. 3 days in a row.
Total disorder.
I rebuilt the automations from the ground up. Still occurred. I contacted support. They blamed “server problems.” However nothing made good sense, and the problem really did not disappear. Picture awakening every early morning wondering who your system may’ve spammed over night.
That’s not simply bothersome– it threatens. When your entire brand is improved trust fund, you can not afford to appear like an unaware amateur blowing up the wrong e-mails to the incorrect people.
Support? Yeah, All The Best
Currently, I do not anticipate excellence from any kind of platform. Pests take place. But when they do? I expect the support team to step up quickly.
That didn’t occur right here.
Responses were obscure. Tickets went unanswered. I felt like I was screaming right into the void while my business melted. On the other hand, every min I spent troubleshooting was a min I wasn’t serving clients or growing my company.
For a tool that markets itself to serious business owners, GoHighLevel sure really did not treat me like one.
The User interface Was a Warm Mess
You ever make use of a device and simply feel … shed? That was me inside GoHighLevel Vs Birdeye.
The UX was clunky. Things were hidden in odd areas. Even straightforward tasks like modifying a funnel or tweaking an email circulation developed into a scavenger hunt.
And their funnel builder? Don’t even get me began. Intend to change item settings, page formats, and overall flow? Amazing– you’ll need to quest with three different areas that make zero rational feeling. Fifty percent the moment, I couldn’t also remember where I ‘d clicked something ten seconds earlier.
It seemed like using software application built by engineers, for engineers– not daily business owners.
The “Economical” Plan That Got Genuine Pricey, Actual Rapid
Let’s chat money.
One of GoHighLevel’s big selling factors is the cost. I indicate, $97/month for all those features? Sounds remarkable, ideal?
But here’s what they do not tell you:.
You pay extra per email if you use their SMTP.
You have to attach services like Mailgun or Twilio and handle their billing individually.
You’ll obtain random microcharges that aren’t clarified clearly.
Desire 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 been with Keap. And becoming worse results.
That’s not a good deal– it’s simply negative mathematics.
My Email Metrics Tanked GoHighLevel Vs Birdeye
The final straw? Watching my e-mail open prices go down like a rock.
I would certainly been getting a strong 35% open rate with Keap. My target market was engaged, my automations were dialed in, and points simply functioned.
After switching to GoHighLevel? Opens dropped below 15%. Clicks were nearly nonexistent. Something was plainly off.
Perhaps it was a deliverability concern. Maybe the system was just sending at bad times or otherwise personalizing messages properly. Whatever the reason, I wasn’t staying to play investigator while my checklist rotted.
Lessons I Learned the Hard Way
If you’re thinking of changing to GoHighLevel– or any type of brand-new system– here’s what I want somebody had actually informed me before I made the leap:.
1. Do Not Chase the Shiny Toy
It’s easy to obtain hyped regarding the current “innovative” tool. But just because every person’s discussing something doesn’t suggest it’s right for you. If your existing system is functioning, reconsider prior to blowing it up.
2. Value Simplicity Over Features
Extra isn’t constantly better. A system with a clean, user-friendly user interface will certainly conserve you time and frustrations in the long run– even if it does not have every feature under the sun.
3. Need Transparency
Hidden expenses are the worst. Pick tools that are in advance regarding pricing, integrations, and restrictions. You should not need a calculator and a thesaurus to recognize your regular monthly costs.
4. Pay Attention to Actual Individuals (Not Simply Online Marketers)
Check unbiased testimonials, user online forums, and Reddit strings. Focus on actual customer experience– not just glossy sales pages.
Still Desire an All-in-One CRM? Here Are Much better Options
If you’re still on the hunt for a reliable, user-friendly platform to run your service, I’ve tested a number. Below are a few I ‘d really suggest:.
Keap— My current go-to. Powerful automations, solid assistance, and it just works. Well worth every penny.
HubSpot— Great for services that need scalability and advanced CRM features.
GreenRope— A solid all-in-one solution for little to mid-sized companies with solid reporting tools.
Monday.com— Wonderful for task administration, group cooperation, and sales pipeline monitoring.
Bonsai— Specifically excellent for freelancers and service-based solopreneurs.
Final Thought
GoHighLevel might help some. However, for me? It was a frustrating, expensive experiment that I could not wait to finish.
So if you’re standing at the side, wondering whether to make the leap– think hard. Ask on your own what’s really not working in your current setup. Don’t melt your systems down even if something newer and shinier appeared.
Stick to what works. Your sanity (and your customers) will certainly thanks.