You recognize that sensation when you’re 99% sure something’s a terrific idea, only to understand later … it was a complete dumpster fire? That’s exactly what took place when I made a decision to switch my whole firm over to GoHighLevel.
It looked shiny. It seemed revolutionary. But in reality? It became among the most agonizing software program decisions I have actually made in over a years of running my service.
So prior to you jump on the GoHighLevel bandwagon, let me stroll you through exactly what decreased– since if you’re anything like me, you’re always searching for smarter, a lot more efficient ways to expand your service. Just … not such as this.
The Seductive All-in-One Promise
Below’s the important things. When GoHighLevel struck the scene, it sounded like a desire come to life. A solitary platform to manage your CRM, sales funnels, e-mail campaigns, consultation reservations, automation, repayments– you call it.
If you’ve ever handled a Frankenstein pile of tools simply to run your daily, you understand just how alluring the “all-in-one” pitch can be. I ‘d been utilizing Keap for years (and enjoying it, honestly), yet still– I got tempted in by the pledge of simplifying everything under one roofing system.
And yeah, I’ll confess: I had a bad case of glossy things syndrome.
Why I Left Keap (A Device That Actually Functioned)
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 scheduling, invoicing– you name it. Sure, the interface really felt a little dated in places, and often points took a couple of even more clicks than I suched as, yet hey, it worked.
So why change?
Truthfully, I simply started wondering if I was losing out. GoHighLevel was less expensive (externally), provided a lot more features, and all the great marketers on the internet appeared to be going crazy about it. FOMO is a hell of a medicine.
That interest cost me more than simply money– it cost me time, energy, and peace of mind.
What It Price Me to Switch over
I went done in. Enrolled in the $297/month agency plan. Invest a solid 30 to 40 hours moving information, restoring workflows, and basically attempting to reproduce my entire Keap setup inside GoHighLevel.
Right here’s what I had to relocate:
- 20,000+ email subscribers
- Lots of automations
- All customer profiles and notes
- Stripe payment integration
- Whole funnel infrastructure
- Custom types, landing pages, causes … whatever
Let’s not even talk about the shed productivity during those couple of weeks. I was up to my eyeballs in Zapier workarounds, viewing tutorials, and attempting to determine where the hell fundamental setups were.
And simply when I believed things were functioning … they weren’t.
The Bugs Started Sneaking In
Initially, everything looked alright. However then, out of no place, individuals on my checklist began getting e-mails they weren’t expected to obtain. I’m chatting entirely unimportant messages– sent out in batches of 171 users at once. 3 days straight.
Overall turmoil.
I restore the automations from scratch. Still happened. I got in touch with support. They condemned “web server concerns.” But absolutely nothing made sense, and the trouble didn’t go away. Think of waking up every early morning questioning who your system may’ve spammed over night.
That’s not simply aggravating– it’s dangerous. When your entire brand is built on depend on, you can not pay for to resemble an unaware amateur blowing up the wrong emails to the incorrect individuals.
Support? Yeah, All The Best
Now, I don’t anticipate perfection from any kind of system. Pests occur. Yet when they do? I expect the assistance group to step up quick.
That didn’t occur right here.
Feedbacks were obscure. Tickets went unanswered. I felt like I was shouting right into the void while my business shed. On the other hand, every minute I invested troubleshooting was a min I wasn’t serving clients or expanding my company.
For a tool that markets itself to serious business owners, GoHighLevel certain didn’t treat me like one.
The User interface Was a Hot Mess
You ever use a tool and simply really feel … shed? That was me inside Frank Kern GoHighLevel.
The UX was clunky. Things were buried in odd locations. Even simple tasks like editing a funnel or tweaking an email flow developed into a scavenger hunt.
And their funnel builder? Do not also get me started. Want to transform item setups, web page layouts, and total flow? Amazing– you’ll need to hunt through 3 different locations that make absolutely no sensible sense. Half the time, I could not even keep in mind where I would certainly clicked something 10 seconds previously.
It felt like utilizing software application constructed by designers, for designers– not day-to-day company owner.
The “Affordable” Plan That Obtained Actual Expensive, Genuine Fast
Let’s talk cash.
Among GoHighLevel’s huge marketing points is the rate. I imply, $97/month for all those features? Appears amazing, ideal?
But here’s what they do not tell you:.
You pay extra per email if you use their SMTP.
You have to attach services like Mailgun or Twilio and handle their billing separately.
You’ll obtain random microcharges that aren’t clarified clearly.
Want much better e-mail deliverability? That’s gon na cost you too.
By the time I added everything up, I was paying more than I had actually been with Keap. And becoming worse results.
That’s not a good deal– it’s just bad mathematics.
My Email Metrics Tanked Frank Kern GoHighLevel
The last straw? Viewing my e-mail open prices go down like a rock.
I ‘d been obtaining a strong 35% open price with Keap. My audience was involved, my automations were called in, and points just worked.
After switching over to GoHighLevel? Opens dropped listed below 15%. Clicks were practically nonexistent. Something was plainly off.
Maybe it was a deliverability concern. Maybe the system was simply sending out at bad times or otherwise customizing messages correctly. Whatever the cause, I wasn’t remaining to play investigator while my listing decayed.
Lessons I Discovered the Hard Way
If you’re thinking of changing to GoHighLevel– or any brand-new system– right here’s what I want a person had told me prior to I made the leap:.
1. Don’t Chase the Shiny Plaything
It’s easy to obtain hyped about the latest “advanced” device. However even if everyone’s talking about something doesn’t mean it’s right for you. If your existing system is functioning, think twice before blowing it up.
2. Worth Simpleness Over Features
A lot more isn’t constantly far better. A system with a clean, instinctive user interface will certainly save you time and headaches in the future– even if it doesn’t have every feature imaginable.
3. Demand Transparency
Surprise prices are the most awful. Select tools that are in advance regarding pricing, integrations, and limitations. You should not require a calculator and a synonym replacement tool to understand your regular monthly costs.
4. Listen to Real Individuals (Not Simply Marketers)
Inspect objective evaluations, individual online forums, and Reddit strings. Pay attention to real user experience– not just slick sales pages.
Still Desire an All-in-One CRM? Here Are Better Options
If you’re still on the hunt for a dependable, straightforward system to run your company, I have actually tested a number. Right here are a couple of I ‘d really advise:.
Keap— My current go-to. Effective automations, strong assistance, and it just functions. Well worth every cent.
HubSpot— Great for organizations that require scalability and progressed CRM features.
GreenRope— A strong all-in-one option for small to mid-sized companies with solid coverage devices.
Monday.com— Amazing for project monitoring, team collaboration, and sales pipeline monitoring.
Bonsai— Particularly great for freelancers and service-based solopreneurs.
Final Thought
GoHighLevel may work for some. But also for me? It was an aggravating, expensive experiment that I could not wait to finish.
So if you’re standing at the side, questioning whether to make the jump– think hard. Ask yourself what’s really not operating in your current arrangement. Do not melt your systems down even if something newer and shinier turned up.
Stick to what jobs. Your sanity (and your customers) will thanks.