You understand that feeling when you’re 99% certain something’s a terrific concept, only to understand later on … it was a total dumpster fire? That’s specifically what occurred when I made a decision to switch my entire company over to GoHighLevel.
It looked glossy. It appeared revolutionary. However in truth? It developed into one of the most painful software 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 precisely what went down– since if you’re anything like me, you’re constantly trying to find smarter, more efficient ways to expand your company. Just … not like this.
The Seductive All-in-One Guarantee
Below’s things. When GoHighLevel struck the scene, it sounded like a dream come to life. A single system to handle your CRM, sales funnels, email campaigns, consultation bookings, automation, settlements– you name it.
If you have actually ever handled a Monster stack of devices just to run your everyday, you recognize how appealing the “all-in-one” pitch can be. I ‘d been utilizing Keap for years (and loving it, truthfully), yet still– I got enticed in by the assurance of streamlining everything under one roofing.
And yeah, I’ll confess: I had a negative case of glossy item disorder.
Why I Left Keap (A Device That In Fact Functioned)
Let me be actual with you: Keap had not been broken. It did whatever I required. It managed my email automations, sales funnels, appointment organizing, invoicing– you call it. Certain, the interface really felt a little outdated in places, and often points took a few even more clicks than I suched as, but hey, it functioned.
So why modification?
Honestly, I simply started questioning if I was missing out. GoHighLevel was less expensive (on the surface), provided extra features, and all the trendy marketing experts on-line seemed to be raving about it. FOMO is a heck of a medication.
That curiosity price me more than just money– it cost me time, power, and peace of mind.
What It Expense Me to Switch
I went all in. Enrolled in the $297/month agency plan. Spent a strong 30 to 40 hours moving data, reconstructing workflows, and essentially trying to duplicate my entire Keap setup inside GoHighLevel.
Below’s what I had to move:
- 20,000+ e-mail subscribers
- Loads of automations
- All customer accounts and notes
- Stripe invoicing integration
- Whole funnel framework
- Custom kinds, landing pages, activates … every little thing
Let’s not even speak about the lost efficiency during those couple of weeks. I was up to my eyeballs in Zapier workarounds, enjoying tutorials, and trying to identify where the heck basic setups were.
And just when I believed points were functioning … they weren’t.
The Vermin Started Creeping In
Initially, whatever looked okay. Yet after that, out of no place, individuals on my listing began obtaining e-mails they weren’t intended to receive. I’m chatting totally unnecessary messages– sent in sets of 171 users each time. Three days straight.
Complete chaos.
I rebuilt the automations from square one. Still happened. I called assistance. They blamed “web server problems.” However nothing made sense, and the problem didn’t disappear. Imagine waking up every early morning questioning who your system might’ve spammed overnight.
That’s not simply annoying– it’s dangerous. When your whole brand name is built on depend on, you can not pay for to resemble a clueless amateur blasting the wrong e-mails to the incorrect people.
Support? Yeah, Best Of Luck
Now, I do not expect excellence from any kind of system. Pests happen. However when they do? I anticipate the support group to step up fast.
That didn’t happen right here.
Feedbacks were unclear. Tickets went unanswered. I felt like I was yelling into the void while my service burned. On the other hand, every min I invested fixing was a minute I wasn’t serving customers or expanding my agency.
For a tool that markets itself to severe entrepreneurs, GoHighLevel sure didn’t treat me like one.
The User interface Was a Hot Mess
You ever before make use of a device and just feel … shed? That was me inside GoHighLevel 30-Day Free Trial.
The UX was cumbersome. Points were hidden in strange locations. Also straightforward tasks like modifying a funnel or tweaking an email flow turned into a scavenger hunt.
And their funnel builder? Do not even obtain me started. Wish to transform product setups, web page designs, and general circulation? Trendy– you’ll need to hunt via three various areas that make no sensible feeling. Fifty percent the time, I could not even bear in mind where I would certainly clicked something ten seconds previously.
It felt like making use of software developed by engineers, for designers– not daily entrepreneur.
The “Budget friendly” Plan That Obtained Real Expensive, Actual Rapid
Let’s talk money.
One of GoHighLevel’s huge selling points is the rate. I indicate, $97/month for all those features? Appears impressive, right?
But here’s what they do not inform you:.
You pay additional per email if you use their SMTP.
You have to connect solutions like Mailgun or Twilio and handle their billing separately.
You’ll get arbitrary microcharges that aren’t explained plainly.
Desire better e-mail deliverability? That’s gon na cost you too.
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 just negative math.
My Email Metrics Tanked GoHighLevel 30-Day Free Trial
The final straw? Viewing my e-mail open prices drop like a rock.
I would certainly been obtaining a strong 35% open price with Keap. My audience was engaged, my automations were called in, and things just worked.
After switching over to GoHighLevel? Opens went down listed below 15%. Clicks were virtually nonexistent. Something was clearly off.
Perhaps it was a deliverability concern. Maybe the system was simply sending at bad times or otherwise personalizing messages appropriately. Whatever the cause, I had not been staying to play detective while my list decomposed.
Lessons I Found Out the Hard Way
If you’re considering changing to GoHighLevel– or any kind of new platform– here’s what I wish someone had told me before I made the jump:.
1. Don’t Chase the Shiny Plaything
It’s simple to get hyped concerning the latest “advanced” device. But just because every person’s speaking about something does not mean it’s right for you. If your current system is working, think twice prior to blowing it up.
2. Worth Simpleness Over Features
More isn’t always much better. A platform with a tidy, instinctive user interface will conserve you time and migraines in the future– even if it does not have every feature under the sun.
3. Need Transparency
Concealed expenses are the most awful. Select devices that are upfront about pricing, integrations, and limits. You should not require a calculator and a synonym replacement tool to comprehend your month-to-month costs.
4. Pay Attention to Genuine Individuals (Not Just Marketing Professionals)
Check objective testimonials, individual discussion forums, and Reddit strings. Pay attention to actual individual experience– not simply slick sales pages.
Still Want an All-in-One CRM? Here Are Much better Options
If you’re still on the hunt for a dependable, user-friendly system to run your organization, I’ve examined a number. Below are a couple of I ‘d in fact advise:.
Keap— My existing go-to. Powerful automations, solid support, and it just works. Worth every penny.
HubSpot— Great for services that require scalability and progressed CRM features.
GreenRope— A strong all-in-one solution for tiny to mid-sized organizations with strong coverage tools.
Monday.com— Wonderful for job administration, group partnership, and sales pipeline monitoring.
Bonsai— Particularly wonderful for consultants and service-based solopreneurs.
Final Thought
GoHighLevel may help some. But for me? It was an irritating, expensive experiment that I could not wait to end.
So if you’re standing at the edge, wondering whether to make the jump– concentrate. Ask on your own what’s actually not operating in your present arrangement. Do not melt your systems down even if something newer and shinier appeared.
Stick with what jobs. Your peace of mind (and your clients) will certainly thank you.