You recognize that sensation when you’re 99% certain something’s a wonderful concept, just to understand later on … it was a complete dumpster fire? That’s exactly what happened when I determined to switch my whole company over to GoHighLevel.
It looked shiny. It appeared revolutionary. Yet actually? It developed into one of one of the most painful software application choices I’ve made in over a years of running my organization.
So before you jump on the GoHighLevel bandwagon, let me walk you with precisely what went down– since if you’re anything like me, you’re always looking for smarter, a lot more reliable means to expand your company. Just … not like this.
The Seductive All-in-One Assurance
Here’s the thing. When GoHighLevel hit the scene, it seemed like a desire happened. A solitary system to handle your CRM, sales funnels, email campaigns, appointment reservations, automation, repayments– you name it.
If you have actually ever before managed a Monster stack of devices just to run your day-to-day, you know exactly how tempting the “all-in-one” pitch can be. I would certainly been using Keap for several years (and liking it, truthfully), but still– I got drawn in by the promise of streamlining everything under one roof covering.
And yeah, I’ll confess: I had a bad situation of glossy object disorder.
Why I Left Keap (A Device That Actually Worked)
Let me be genuine with you: Keap wasn’t damaged. It did every little thing I needed. It handled my email automations, sales funnels, appointment organizing, invoicing– you name it. Certain, the user interface felt a little outdated in position, and often points took a couple of even more clicks than I liked, but hey, it functioned.
So why change?
Truthfully, I just started questioning if I was losing out. GoHighLevel was cheaper (externally), offered much more features, and all the awesome marketing professionals online seemed to be raving regarding it. FOMO is a heck of a medicine.
That inquisitiveness price me more than simply cash– it cost me time, energy, and comfort.
What It Expense Me to Change
I went done in. Registered for the $297/month agency plan. Spent a solid 30 to 40 hours migrating information, reconstructing workflows, and generally trying to replicate my whole Keap configuration inside GoHighLevel.
Here’s what I needed to move:
- 20,000+ email subscribers
- Lots of automations
- All customer accounts and notes
- Stripe payment integration
- Entire funnel framework
- Personalized kinds, landing pages, activates … whatever
Allow’s not also talk about the lost performance during those couple of weeks. I depended on my eyeballs in Zapier workarounds, seeing tutorials, and attempting to identify where the heck standard settings were.
And simply when I believed things were working … they weren’t.
The Bugs Started Sneaking In
At first, every little thing looked all right. Yet then, out of nowhere, people on my checklist started obtaining e-mails they weren’t meant to receive. I’m chatting entirely pointless messages– sent in batches of 171 users at once. Three days straight.
Total turmoil.
I reconstruct the automations from scratch. Still happened. I got in touch with support. They blamed “web server problems.” Yet absolutely nothing made good sense, and the trouble really did not disappear. Envision awakening every morning questioning who your system might’ve spammed overnight.
That’s not just frustrating– it’s dangerous. When your entire brand name is built on trust fund, you can not manage to resemble a clueless amateur blasting the incorrect e-mails to the incorrect people.
Assistance? Yeah, All The Best
Currently, I don’t anticipate excellence from any type of platform. Pests take place. Yet when they do? I expect the support group to step up quickly.
That didn’t happen below.
Reactions were obscure. Tickets went unanswered. I seemed like I was shouting right into the void while my company melted. Meanwhile, every minute I spent repairing was a min I had not been offering customers or expanding my agency.
For a tool that markets itself to serious entrepreneurs, GoHighLevel sure really did not treat me like one.
The User interface Was a Warm Mess
You ever before use a device and just really feel … lost? That was me inside Can GoHighLevel Replace Your Existing CRM.
The UX was confusing. Points were hidden in unusual places. Also simple jobs like editing and enhancing a funnel or tweaking an email flow turned into a scavenger hunt.
And their funnel builder? Don’t even get me began. Wish to alter product setups, page layouts, and total circulation? Amazing– you’ll require to quest with 3 different locations that make no rational feeling. Fifty percent the time, I could not even keep in mind where I would certainly clicked something 10 seconds previously.
It seemed like utilizing software constructed by engineers, for designers– not everyday company owner.
The “Affordable” Plan That Obtained Genuine Pricey, Genuine Rapid
Let’s talk money.
Among GoHighLevel’s large marketing points is the cost. I imply, $97/month for all those features? Sounds fantastic, best?
But here’s what they do not inform you:.
You pay extra per email if you use their SMTP.
You need to connect services like Mailgun or Twilio and manage their payment independently.
You’ll get arbitrary microcharges that aren’t described plainly.
Want better email deliverability? That’s gon na cost you also.
By the time I included every little thing up, I was paying more than I had actually been with Keap. And getting worse outcomes.
That’s not a bargain– it’s just poor math.
My Email Metrics Tanked Can GoHighLevel Replace Your Existing CRM
The last straw? Watching my email open prices go down like a rock.
I ‘d been obtaining a solid 35% open rate with Keap. My audience was engaged, my automations were dialed in, and points just worked.
After switching over to GoHighLevel? Opens dropped below 15%. Clicks were virtually nonexistent. Something was clearly off.
Perhaps it was a deliverability issue. Perhaps the system was simply sending out at hard times or not customizing messages appropriately. Whatever the cause, I wasn’t remaining to play detective while my listing deteriorated.
Lessons I Learned by hand
If you’re considering changing to GoHighLevel– or any type of new platform– below’s what I desire someone had informed me prior to I made the leap:.
1. Don’t Chase the Shiny Toy
It’s very easy to get hyped concerning the current “revolutionary” tool. Yet even if every person’s speaking about something does not imply it’s right for you. If your present system is functioning, reconsider prior to blowing it up.
2. Worth Simplicity Over Features
A lot more isn’t always much better. A platform with a tidy, instinctive user interface will certainly conserve you time and frustrations in the future– even if it does not have every feature imaginable.
3. Demand Transparency
Covert prices are the most awful. Select tools that are in advance regarding pricing, integrations, and limitations. You should not need a calculator and a thesaurus to recognize your regular monthly bill.
4. Listen to Real Customers (Not Just Online Marketers)
Check objective evaluations, customer forums, and Reddit strings. Focus on real user experience– not simply glossy sales web pages.
Still Desire an All-in-One CRM? Below Are Much better Options
If you’re still on the hunt for a dependable, straightforward platform to run your company, I’ve examined a bunch. Here are a few I ‘d in fact advise:.
Keap— My present go-to. Powerful automations, strong assistance, and it simply works. Well worth every cent.
HubSpot— Great for businesses that need scalability and progressed CRM features.
GreenRope— A strong all-in-one solution for little to mid-sized companies with strong reporting tools.
Monday.com— Fantastic for task monitoring, team collaboration, and sales pipe tracking.
Bonsai— Specifically wonderful for consultants and service-based solopreneurs.
Verdict
GoHighLevel might help some. But also for me? It was an aggravating, pricey experiment that I couldn’t wait to end.
So if you’re standing at the edge, questioning whether to make the jump– think hard. Ask yourself what’s really not operating 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 thanks.