You know that feeling when you’re 99% certain something’s a wonderful idea, only to understand later … it was a complete dumpster fire? That’s exactly what occurred when I made a decision to change my entire company over to GoHighLevel.
It looked glossy. It appeared revolutionary. But in truth? It became among the most unpleasant software program decisions I’ve made in over a decade of running my business.
So prior to you get on the GoHighLevel bandwagon, let me stroll you through exactly what went down– since if you’re anything like me, you’re constantly seeking smarter, a lot more reliable means to expand your business. Simply … not similar to this.
The Sexy All-in-One Pledge
Below’s the important things. When GoHighLevel struck the scene, it sounded like a dream come to life. A single platform to manage your CRM, sales funnels, e-mail campaigns, consultation bookings, automation, repayments– you name it.
If you have actually ever juggled a Monster pile 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 many years (and liking it, honestly), however still– I got enticed in by the guarantee of streamlining whatever under one roofing.
And yeah, I’ll admit it: I had a bad instance of glossy item disorder.
Why I Left Keap (A Device That In Fact Functioned)
Let me be real with you: Keap wasn’t broken. It did everything I needed. It handled my email automations, sales funnels, consultation organizing, invoicing– you name it. Sure, the user interface really felt a little dated in places, and sometimes points took a few more clicks than I suched as, but hey, it worked.
So why modification?
Truthfully, I simply started wondering if I was missing out. GoHighLevel was cheaper (externally), supplied much more features, and all the great marketing professionals online seemed to be raving concerning it. FOMO is a heck of a drug.
That inquisitiveness expense me more than just cash– it cost me time, energy, and comfort.
What It Expense Me to Switch
I went done in. Signed up for the $297/month agency plan. Invest a solid 30 to 40 hours migrating information, restoring workflows, and generally trying to duplicate my whole Keap setup inside GoHighLevel.
Below’s what I had to move:
- 20,000+ email subscribers
- Lots of automations
- All client profiles and notes
- Stripe billing integration
- Whole funnel infrastructure
- Custom forms, landing pages, causes … whatever
Allow’s not even speak about the shed efficiency throughout those couple of weeks. I was up to my eyeballs in Zapier workarounds, watching tutorials, and trying to find out where the heck standard setups were.
And just when I assumed things were functioning … they weren’t.
The Bugs Began Sneaking In
Initially, every little thing looked okay. Yet after that, out of nowhere, people on my checklist started getting emails they weren’t meant to receive. I’m chatting completely unimportant messages– sent in sets of 171 individuals at once. Three days straight.
Complete chaos.
I reconstruct the automations from square one. Still occurred. I got in touch with support. They condemned “web server concerns.” But absolutely nothing made good sense, and the problem really did not go away. Picture getting up every early morning wondering who your system could’ve spammed over night.
That’s not just annoying– it’s dangerous. When your entire brand is built on trust, you can not pay for to appear like an unaware amateur blasting the incorrect e-mails to the incorrect people.
Assistance? Yeah, All The Best
Currently, I do not anticipate perfection from any kind of platform. Bugs take place. However when they do? I anticipate the assistance group to step up quick.
That didn’t occur here.
Responses were vague. Tickets went unanswered. I felt like I was yelling into deep space while my service melted. Meanwhile, every min I invested troubleshooting was a min I had not been serving clients or growing my agency.
For a tool that markets itself to severe entrepreneurs, GoHighLevel certain didn’t treat me like one.
The User interface Was a Warm Mess
You ever before utilize a tool and just feel … shed? That was me inside ClickFunnels GoHighLevel Lawsuit.
The UX was clunky. Things were buried in strange locations. Even basic jobs like editing and enhancing a funnel or tweaking an email circulation turned into a scavenger hunt.
And their funnel builder? Do not also get me started. Intend to transform item settings, web page formats, and total circulation? Amazing– you’ll need to hunt with 3 different areas that make zero sensible feeling. Half the moment, I could not also remember where I ‘d clicked something 10 seconds earlier.
It seemed like utilizing software developed by engineers, for engineers– not everyday business owners.
The “Cost effective” Plan That Obtained Real Costly, Real Rapid
Let’s chat cash.
Among GoHighLevel’s huge marketing points is the rate. I imply, $97/month for all those features? Appears outstanding, ideal?
Yet right here’s what they don’t inform you:.
You pay extra per e-mail if you use their SMTP.
You have to link services like Mailgun or Twilio and manage their invoicing separately.
You’ll get random microcharges that aren’t explained plainly.
Desire far better email deliverability? That’s gon na cost you also.
By the time I included whatever up, I was paying more than I had been with Keap. And becoming worse outcomes.
That’s not a good deal– it’s simply negative mathematics.
My Email Metrics Tanked ClickFunnels GoHighLevel Lawsuit
The last straw? Viewing my email open rates go down like a rock.
I would certainly been getting a solid 35% open price with Keap. My target market was involved, my automations were dialed in, and points simply worked.
After switching over to GoHighLevel? Opens went down below 15%. Clicks were practically nonexistent. Something was clearly off.
Possibly it was a deliverability problem. Maybe the system was simply sending at bad times or otherwise personalizing messages correctly. Whatever the cause, I wasn’t remaining to play investigative while my listing decomposed.
Lessons I Discovered the Hard Way
If you’re thinking of switching over to GoHighLevel– or any kind of brand-new platform– right here’s what I desire someone had actually told me prior to I made the jump:.
1. Don’t Chase the Shiny Toy
It’s simple to obtain hyped about the current “cutting edge” device. Yet even if every person’s speaking about something doesn’t indicate it’s right for you. If your existing system is functioning, reconsider prior to blowing it up.
2. Worth Simplicity Over Features
Extra isn’t always much better. A platform with a tidy, intuitive interface will certainly save you time and headaches over time– even if it doesn’t have every feature imaginable.
3. Need Transparency
Covert expenses are the most awful. Select devices that are ahead of time regarding pricing, integrations, and limitations. You should not require a calculator and a thesaurus to understand your monthly costs.
4. Listen to Real Individuals (Not Simply Online Marketers)
Inspect honest evaluations, customer discussion forums, and Reddit strings. Focus on real user experience– not just slick sales pages.
Still Desire an All-in-One CRM? Right Here Are Better Options
If you’re still on the hunt for a reputable, easy to use system to run your company, I have actually checked a number. Right here are a few I ‘d in fact suggest:.
Keap— My present go-to. Effective automations, solid support, and it simply works. Worth every dime.
HubSpot— Great for companies that require scalability and advanced CRM features.
GreenRope— A strong all-in-one option for small to mid-sized services with solid reporting tools.
Monday.com— Fantastic for task monitoring, team cooperation, and sales pipeline tracking.
Bonsai— Especially excellent for consultants and service-based solopreneurs.
Conclusion
GoHighLevel may work for some. However, 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 jump– think hard. Ask yourself what’s truly not operating in your existing configuration. Do not melt your systems down even if something newer and shinier appeared.
Stick with what jobs. Your peace of mind (and your customers) will certainly thank you.