You understand that sensation when you’re 99% certain something’s a wonderful idea, only to recognize later … it was an overall dumpster fire? That’s precisely what occurred when I determined to switch my entire company over to GoHighLevel.
It looked glossy. It sounded revolutionary. But actually? It turned into among the most agonizing software application decisions I’ve made in over a years of running my business.
So prior to you get on the GoHighLevel bandwagon, let me stroll you via specifically what dropped– because if you’re anything like me, you’re always seeking smarter, much more effective means to grow your business. Simply … not such as this.
The Sexy All-in-One Pledge
Below’s the thing. When GoHighLevel struck the scene, it seemed like a desire come to life. A single platform to handle your CRM, sales funnels, email campaigns, visit reservations, automation, settlements– you call it.
If you have actually ever managed a Monster stack of devices just to run your day-to-day, you recognize just how tempting the “all-in-one” pitch can be. I would certainly been utilizing Keap for several years (and liking it, honestly), but still– I got lured in by the pledge of streamlining everything under one roofing.
And yeah, I’ll confess: I had a poor instance of glossy item syndrome.
Why I Left Keap (A Device That In Fact Functioned)
Let me be genuine with you: Keap wasn’t broken. It did everything I required. It managed my email automations, sales funnels, consultation organizing, invoicing– you name it. Certain, the interface felt a little dated in places, and in some cases points took a couple of even more clicks than I suched as, however hey, it worked.
So why change?
Truthfully, I simply began wondering if I was missing out. GoHighLevel was less expensive (externally), supplied more features, and all the awesome marketers online seemed to be going crazy concerning it. FOMO is a hell of a medication.
That inquisitiveness cost me greater than simply cash– it cost me time, power, and satisfaction.
What It Price Me to Change
I went all in. Signed up for the $297/month agency plan. Spent a solid 30 to 40 hours moving information, restoring workflows, and essentially attempting to replicate my whole Keap configuration inside GoHighLevel.
Here’s what I needed to relocate:
- 20,000+ e-mail clients
- Loads of automations
- All customer accounts and notes
- Stripe billing integration
- Entire funnel infrastructure
- Personalized types, landing pages, triggers … everything
Allow’s not also talk about the lost productivity throughout those few weeks. I depended on my eyeballs in Zapier workarounds, viewing tutorials, and attempting to find out where the heck fundamental setups were.
And just when I assumed points were working … they weren’t.
The Bugs Began Sneaking In
Initially, everything looked all right. But then, out of nowhere, individuals on my list started obtaining e-mails they weren’t supposed to obtain. I’m talking entirely unimportant messages– sent out in sets of 171 individuals at once. 3 days straight.
Total turmoil.
I reconstruct the automations from scratch. Still happened. I got in touch with support. They condemned “web server issues.” Yet absolutely nothing made good sense, and the trouble really did not go away. Visualize waking up every early morning wondering who your system might’ve spammed over night.
That’s not simply aggravating– it’s dangerous. When your entire brand is improved trust, you can not pay for to resemble a clueless amateur blasting the wrong emails to the incorrect individuals.
Assistance? Yeah, Best Of Luck
Now, I don’t anticipate perfection from any type of system. Bugs occur. However when they do? I anticipate the support group to step up fast.
That really did not take place below.
Responses were vague. Tickets went unanswered. I felt like I was shouting into deep space while my service melted. On the other hand, every minute I spent repairing was a minute I had not been offering clients or growing my company.
For a device that markets itself to significant business owners, GoHighLevel sure didn’t treat me like one.
The Interface Was a Hot Mess
You ever utilize a device and just feel … lost? That was me inside GoHighLevel Vs ClickUp.
The UX was clunky. Things were hidden in unusual locations. Even basic tasks like editing a funnel or tweaking an email circulation became a scavenger hunt.
And their funnel builder? Do not even get me started. Want to alter product settings, web page designs, and overall circulation? Amazing– you’ll require to quest through three various areas that make absolutely no logical sense. Half the moment, I could not even remember where I ‘d clicked something 10 secs earlier.
It felt like utilizing software program built by engineers, for designers– not daily business owners.
The “Inexpensive” Plan That Obtained Genuine Costly, Real Rapid
Let’s chat money.
One of GoHighLevel’s large selling factors is the price. I indicate, $97/month for all those features? Sounds remarkable, appropriate?
But right here’s what they do not inform you:.
You pay added per e-mail if you utilize their SMTP.
You have to connect solutions like Mailgun or Twilio and manage their invoicing individually.
You’ll get random microcharges that aren’t described clearly.
Desire better e-mail deliverability? That’s gon na cost you as well.
By the time I included everything up, I was paying greater than I had actually been with Keap. And getting worse results.
That’s not a bargain– it’s just negative mathematics.
My Email Metrics Tanked GoHighLevel Vs ClickUp
The last straw? Watching my e-mail open prices drop like a rock.
I would certainly been getting a solid 35% open rate with Keap. My target market was engaged, my automations were dialed in, and things just functioned.
After switching to GoHighLevel? Opens dropped below 15%. Clicks were practically nonexistent. Something was plainly off.
Maybe it was a deliverability problem. Maybe the system was simply sending at bad times or otherwise individualizing messages appropriately. Whatever the reason, I had not been lingering to play investigator while my checklist decayed.
Lessons I Discovered by hand
If you’re thinking about changing to GoHighLevel– or any kind of new platform– here’s what I want somebody had told me before I made the leap:.
1. Don’t Chase the Shiny Plaything
It’s easy to obtain hyped regarding the most recent “revolutionary” device. But just because every person’s talking about something doesn’t imply it’s right for you. If your current system is functioning, reconsider prior to blowing it up.
2. Worth Simplicity Over Features
Extra isn’t always much better. A system with a tidy, user-friendly user interface will save you time and headaches in the future– even if it doesn’t have every feature under the sun.
3. Need Openness
Hidden expenses are the most awful. Select tools that are upfront regarding pricing, integrations, and limits. You shouldn’t need a calculator and a synonym replacement tool to understand your monthly bill.
4. Listen to Genuine Customers (Not Simply Marketing Professionals)
Check honest testimonials, individual discussion forums, and Reddit threads. Focus on actual customer experience– not simply slick sales web pages.
Still Desire an All-in-One CRM? Right Here Are Much better Options
If you’re still on the hunt for a dependable, straightforward system to run your service, I’ve evaluated a number. Below are a couple of I ‘d actually suggest:.
Keap— My current go-to. Effective automations, strong support, and it just functions. Worth every dime.
HubSpot— Great for services that need scalability and advanced CRM features.
GreenRope— A strong all-in-one service for tiny to mid-sized businesses with solid coverage devices.
Monday.com— Superb for job monitoring, team collaboration, and sales pipeline monitoring.
Bonsai— Particularly excellent for consultants and service-based solopreneurs.
Conclusion
GoHighLevel might work for some. But for me? It was an aggravating, costly experiment that I could not wait to finish.
So if you’re standing at the edge, wondering whether to make the leap– think hard. Ask yourself what’s really not working in your current setup. Don’t burn your systems down even if something newer and shinier showed up.
Stick with what jobs. Your sanity (and your clients) will certainly thanks.