You understand that feeling when you’re 99% certain something’s a fantastic idea, only to understand later … it was a complete dumpster fire? That’s exactly what took place when I decided to switch my whole firm over to GoHighLevel.
It looked glossy. It appeared revolutionary. Yet in truth? It turned into among one of the most unpleasant software program choices I have actually made in over a years of running my organization.
So prior to you get on the GoHighLevel bandwagon, let me walk you through specifically what decreased– due to the fact that if you’re anything like me, you’re constantly trying to find smarter, much more effective means to grow your company. Just … not similar to this.
The Sexy All-in-One Pledge
Below’s the thing. When GoHighLevel struck the scene, it sounded like a dream come true. A solitary platform to manage your CRM, sales funnels, email campaigns, visit reservations, automation, settlements– you call it.
If you’ve ever handled a Monster stack of devices simply to run your everyday, you know how appealing the “all-in-one” pitch can be. I would certainly been making use of Keap for several years (and loving it, honestly), however still– I got tempted in by the guarantee of streamlining everything under one roof covering.
And yeah, I’ll confess: I had a poor situation of glossy things syndrome.
Why I Left Keap (A Device That Actually Functioned)
Let me be actual with you: Keap wasn’t broken. It did every little thing I needed. It handled my e-mail automations, sales funnels, consultation organizing, invoicing– you call it. Sure, the interface really felt a little dated in position, and in some cases points took a few more clicks than I suched as, but hey, it worked.
So why adjustment?
Truthfully, I just started questioning if I was losing out. GoHighLevel was less costly (on the surface), supplied more features, and all the cool marketing experts online appeared to be raving about it. FOMO is a heck of a medication.
That interest expense me greater than just cash– it cost me time, energy, and comfort.
What It Price Me to Switch over
I went done in. Signed up for the $297/month agency plan. Spent a strong 30 to 40 hours migrating information, reconstructing workflows, and primarily attempting to duplicate my entire Keap arrangement inside GoHighLevel.
Right here’s what I needed to relocate:
- 20,000+ e-mail customers
- Dozens of automations
- All customer accounts and notes
- Stripe invoicing integration
- Entire funnel infrastructure
- Customized forms, landing pages, sets off … every little thing
Allow’s not also talk about the shed efficiency throughout those couple of weeks. I depended on my eyeballs in Zapier workarounds, watching tutorials, and trying to identify where the heck basic settings were.
And just when I believed points were working … they weren’t.
The Vermin Started Creeping In
Initially, whatever looked alright. But after that, out of nowhere, individuals on my listing began obtaining emails they weren’t intended to receive. I’m talking completely pointless messages– sent out in sets of 171 users at a time. Three days in a row.
Complete chaos.
I reconstruct the automations from scratch. Still taken place. I got in touch with assistance. They criticized “server concerns.” But nothing made sense, and the issue didn’t vanish. Envision awakening every morning wondering who your system may’ve spammed over night.
That’s not just bothersome– it’s dangerous. When your whole brand name is built on count on, you can’t manage to appear like an unaware amateur blasting the incorrect emails to the wrong individuals.
Support? Yeah, Good Luck
Now, I do not anticipate excellence from any system. Pests occur. But when they do? I expect the assistance team to step up quick.
That really did not happen right here.
Actions were obscure. Tickets went unanswered. I seemed like I was screaming into deep space while my company burned. Meanwhile, every min I spent fixing was a min I had not been offering clients or expanding my agency.
For a device that markets itself to serious entrepreneurs, GoHighLevel sure really did not treat me like one.
The User interface Was a Hot Mess
You ever before make use of a device and simply really feel … shed? That was me inside Can GoHighLevel Create Funnels.
The UX was cumbersome. Things were buried in odd places. Even simple jobs like modifying a funnel or tweaking an e-mail circulation became a scavenger hunt.
And their funnel builder? Don’t also obtain me began. Want to change product settings, page layouts, and total circulation? Great– you’ll need to quest with 3 different areas that make absolutely no sensible sense. Half the time, I couldn’t even remember where I would certainly clicked something 10 secs previously.
It felt like utilizing software constructed by engineers, for engineers– not everyday entrepreneur.
The “Budget friendly” Plan That Obtained Actual Pricey, Real Quick
Let’s chat cash.
Among GoHighLevel’s large selling factors is the cost. I indicate, $97/month for all those features? Seems fantastic, ideal?
However right here’s what they don’t tell you:.
You pay added per email if you utilize their SMTP.
You have to link services like Mailgun or Twilio and handle their billing independently.
You’ll get random microcharges that aren’t clarified clearly.
Want much better e-mail deliverability? That’s gon na cost you also.
By the time I included everything up, I was paying more than I had actually been with Keap. And becoming worse outcomes.
That’s not a good deal– it’s just poor math.
My Email Metrics Tanked Can GoHighLevel Create Funnels
The final straw? Watching my email open prices drop like a rock.
I ‘d been getting a solid 35% open price with Keap. My target market was engaged, my automations were dialed in, and things just worked.
After switching to GoHighLevel? Opens dropped below 15%. Clicks were almost missing. Something was clearly off.
Possibly it was a deliverability problem. Possibly the system was simply sending at hard times or otherwise customizing messages properly. Whatever the cause, I wasn’t lingering to play detective while my list rotted.
Lessons I Learned by hand
If you’re considering changing to GoHighLevel– or any kind of brand-new system– here’s what I wish a person had actually told me before I made the leap:.
1. Do Not Chase the Shiny Toy
It’s simple to obtain hyped about the most up to date “innovative” tool. However even if everyone’s discussing something doesn’t suggest it’s right for you. If your current system is working, reconsider before blowing it up.
2. Value Simplicity Over Features
More isn’t always better. A platform with a clean, user-friendly user interface will certainly save you time and headaches in the future– even if it doesn’t have every feature imaginable.
3. Need Openness
Concealed prices are the most awful. Pick devices that are upfront concerning pricing, integrations, and limits. You shouldn’t need a calculator and a thesaurus to comprehend your monthly expense.
4. Listen to Actual Customers (Not Just Marketing Professionals)
Check impartial testimonials, customer online forums, and Reddit strings. Take note of actual user experience– not just slick sales web pages.
Still Desire an All-in-One CRM? Below Are Better Options
If you’re still on the hunt for a reputable, user-friendly system to run your service, I have actually evaluated a lot. Here are a few I ‘d really recommend:.
Keap— My present go-to. Powerful automations, solid assistance, and it simply works. Worth every cent.
HubSpot— Great for organizations that need scalability and advanced CRM features.
GreenRope— A strong all-in-one solution for little to mid-sized companies with solid reporting devices.
Monday.com— Fantastic for job management, team cooperation, and sales pipeline monitoring.
Bonsai— Particularly wonderful for consultants and service-based solopreneurs.
Final Thought
GoHighLevel might work for some. But for me? It was a frustrating, expensive experiment that I could not wait to end.
So if you’re standing at the edge, wondering whether to make the leap– think hard. Ask yourself what’s actually not operating in your existing setup. Don’t burn your systems down just because something newer and shinier turned up.
Stick to what jobs. Your peace of mind (and your clients) will thank you.