You know that feeling when you’re 99% sure something’s a wonderful idea, just to recognize later … it was a total dumpster fire? That’s exactly what occurred when I determined to change my entire firm over to GoHighLevel.
It looked shiny. It appeared revolutionary. Yet in truth? It developed into among the most unpleasant software application decisions I’ve made in over a years of running my organization.
So prior to you get on the GoHighLevel bandwagon, let me stroll you through specifically what dropped– since if you’re anything like me, you’re constantly trying to find smarter, more efficient methods to grow your organization. Just … not similar to this.
The Sexy All-in-One Guarantee
Below’s things. When GoHighLevel struck the scene, it sounded like a dream come true. A single platform to manage your CRM, sales funnels, email campaigns, visit bookings, automation, repayments– you call it.
If you’ve ever managed a Monster stack of tools just to run your daily, you recognize exactly how alluring the “all-in-one” pitch can be. I ‘d been using Keap for many years (and loving it, honestly), but still– I obtained tempted in by the assurance of streamlining every little thing under one roof.
And yeah, I’ll confess: I had a bad instance of shiny item disorder.
Why I Left Keap (A Device That Actually Worked)
Let me be actual with you: Keap had not been broken. It did every little thing I needed. It managed my email automations, sales funnels, consultation organizing, invoicing– you call it. Sure, the interface felt a little dated in places, and sometimes things took a couple of more clicks than I suched as, however hey, it worked.
So why modification?
Truthfully, I simply started questioning if I was losing out. GoHighLevel was cheaper (on the surface), used much more features, and all the great marketing professionals on the internet appeared to be raving about it. FOMO is a hell of a drug.
That interest cost me more than just money– it cost me time, power, and assurance.
What It Expense Me to Switch over
I went all in. Signed up for the $297/month agency plan. Invest a strong 30 to 40 hours migrating data, reconstructing workflows, and primarily attempting to replicate my whole Keap arrangement inside GoHighLevel.
Below’s what I had to relocate:
- 20,000+ e-mail clients
- Dozens of automations
- All client accounts and notes
- Stripe invoicing integration
- Whole funnel framework
- Customized forms, landing pages, triggers … every little thing
Let’s not also speak about the lost performance throughout those few weeks. I was up to my eyeballs in Zapier workarounds, watching tutorials, and attempting to find out where the hell standard setups were.
And just when I assumed things were working … they weren’t.
The Vermin Started Sneaking In
In the beginning, every little thing looked alright. However after that, out of nowhere, people on my checklist began getting emails they weren’t intended to get. I’m chatting totally unnecessary messages– sent out in sets of 171 individuals at once. Three days in a row.
Overall chaos.
I rebuilt the automations from scratch. Still taken place. I called support. They blamed “server problems.” But nothing made good sense, and the trouble didn’t vanish. Think of getting up every morning questioning who your system may’ve spammed overnight.
That’s not simply annoying– it threatens. When your whole brand is built on trust fund, you can’t afford to resemble a clueless amateur blasting the wrong emails to the wrong people.
Support? Yeah, All The Best
Currently, I do not expect perfection from any system. Bugs take place. Yet when they do? I anticipate the assistance group to step up quick.
That really did not happen right here.
Feedbacks were obscure. Tickets went unanswered. I felt like I was screaming into deep space while my business burned. On the other hand, every minute I invested repairing was a min I had not been serving clients or expanding my agency.
For a tool that markets itself to major business owners, GoHighLevel certain really did not treat me like one.
The User interface Was a Hot Mess
You ever use a device and just feel … lost? That was me inside Does GoHighLevel Work in South Africa.
The UX was cumbersome. Things were buried in unusual areas. Also simple tasks like editing a funnel or tweaking an e-mail flow became a scavenger hunt.
And their funnel builder? Don’t even get me began. Intend to transform item settings, web page designs, and general circulation? Cool– you’ll need to search via 3 various areas that make zero sensible feeling. Half the moment, I couldn’t also remember where I would certainly clicked something 10 secs previously.
It felt like utilizing software application built by engineers, for engineers– not everyday business owners.
The “Budget-friendly” Plan That Got Genuine Costly, Actual Quick
Let’s speak cash.
Among GoHighLevel’s huge selling points is the rate. I suggest, $97/month for all those features? Seems outstanding, ideal?
Yet right here’s what they do not tell you:.
You pay additional per e-mail if you utilize their SMTP.
You have to connect solutions like Mailgun or Twilio and handle their billing separately.
You’ll get arbitrary microcharges that aren’t discussed plainly.
Want much better e-mail deliverability? That’s gon na cost you too.
By the time I included every little thing up, I was paying greater than I had actually been with Keap. And getting worse results.
That’s not a bargain– it’s simply negative math.
My Email Metrics Tanked Does GoHighLevel Work in South Africa
The last straw? Seeing my e-mail open rates go down like a rock.
I would certainly been obtaining a solid 35% open price with Keap. My audience was involved, my automations were called in, and points simply functioned.
After switching over to GoHighLevel? Opens dropped listed below 15%. Clicks were virtually nonexistent. Something was clearly off.
Maybe it was a deliverability concern. Maybe the system was simply sending out at hard times or not personalizing messages correctly. Whatever the cause, I wasn’t remaining to play investigator while my checklist rotted.
Lessons I Learned the Hard Way
If you’re considering switching to GoHighLevel– or any brand-new platform– right here’s what I desire a person had actually told me prior to I made the leap:.
1. Do Not Chase the Shiny Toy
It’s very easy to get hyped regarding the current “innovative” device. Yet even if everybody’s talking about something does not suggest it’s right for you. If your current system is functioning, hesitate before blowing it up.
2. Value Simplicity Over Features
Much more isn’t always better. A platform with a clean, instinctive interface will conserve you time and migraines over time– even if it doesn’t have every feature imaginable.
3. Demand Transparency
Hidden costs are the most awful. Choose tools that are in advance about pricing, integrations, and limitations. You shouldn’t require a calculator and a synonym replacement tool to understand your month-to-month expense.
4. Listen to Actual Customers (Not Just Online Marketers)
Check unbiased reviews, customer online forums, and Reddit strings. Take note of actual customer experience– not just slick sales pages.
Still Want 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 have actually examined a bunch. Below are a few I ‘d really recommend:.
Keap— My current go-to. Powerful automations, strong support, and it just works. Well worth every cent.
HubSpot— Great for organizations that need scalability and progressed CRM features.
GreenRope— A solid all-in-one remedy for small to mid-sized organizations with strong reporting devices.
Monday.com— Fantastic for task management, group partnership, and sales pipeline monitoring.
Bonsai— Particularly fantastic for freelancers and service-based solopreneurs.
Final Thought
GoHighLevel might help some. But also for me? It was an aggravating, pricey experiment that I couldn’t wait to finish.
So if you’re standing at the edge, asking yourself whether to make the jump– concentrate. Ask on your own what’s actually not working in your current setup. Don’t burn your systems down just because something newer and shinier showed up.
Stick with what works. Your peace of mind (and your customers) will certainly thank you.