You recognize that feeling when you’re 99% sure something’s a wonderful idea, just to realize later on … it was a total dumpster fire? That’s exactly what occurred when I chose to change my whole company over to GoHighLevel.
It looked shiny. It sounded revolutionary. But in truth? It developed into among the most painful software decisions I’ve made in over a decade of running my service.
So prior to you jump on the GoHighLevel bandwagon, let me stroll you with precisely what went down– due to the fact that if you’re anything like me, you’re always searching for smarter, much more effective ways to expand your company. Just … not similar to this.
The Seductive All-in-One Assurance
Here’s the thing. When GoHighLevel struck the scene, it sounded like a dream happened. A single system to handle your CRM, sales funnels, email campaigns, consultation bookings, automation, settlements– you name it.
If you have actually ever managed a Frankenstein stack of devices simply to run your day-to-day, you know just how appealing the “all-in-one” pitch can be. I would certainly been making use of Keap for years (and enjoying it, truthfully), yet still– I got tempted in by the promise of simplifying whatever under one roofing system.
And yeah, I’ll admit it: I had a negative situation of glossy object disorder.
Why I Left Keap (A Tool That Actually Functioned)
Let me be real with you: Keap had not been damaged. It did every little thing I needed. It managed my e-mail automations, sales funnels, consultation scheduling, invoicing– you call it. Certain, the user interface really felt a little dated in position, and sometimes points took a couple of more clicks than I liked, yet hey, it worked.
So why modification?
Truthfully, I simply began asking yourself if I was losing out. GoHighLevel was cheaper (externally), provided a lot more features, and all the cool marketers on the internet appeared to be raving about it. FOMO is a heck of a medicine.
That interest price me more than simply cash– it cost me time, energy, and peace of mind.
What It Expense Me to Change
I went done in. Enrolled in the $297/month agency plan. Invest a strong 30 to 40 hours migrating information, reconstructing workflows, and primarily trying to reproduce my entire Keap setup inside GoHighLevel.
Below’s what I needed to relocate:
- 20,000+ email subscribers
- Lots of automations
- All customer accounts and notes
- Stripe invoicing integration
- Entire funnel facilities
- Custom-made forms, landing pages, sets off … every little thing
Allow’s not also speak about the shed efficiency throughout those few weeks. I was up to my eyeballs in Zapier workarounds, viewing tutorials, and attempting to figure out where the heck standard settings were.
And simply when I assumed points were working … they weren’t.
The Vermin Began Creeping In
At first, every little thing looked alright. However then, out of nowhere, people on my listing began getting e-mails they weren’t meant to obtain. I’m chatting totally irrelevant messages– sent in sets of 171 customers at once. 3 days in a row.
Overall turmoil.
I restore the automations from scratch. Still taken place. I contacted assistance. They criticized “web server issues.” Yet nothing made good sense, and the trouble really did not vanish. Visualize waking up every early morning questioning who your system could’ve spammed overnight.
That’s not simply frustrating– it threatens. When your entire brand name is built on count on, you can not pay for to appear like a clueless amateur blowing up the wrong e-mails to the incorrect individuals.
Assistance? Yeah, Best Of Luck
Now, I do not expect excellence from any kind of platform. Pests take place. However when they do? I expect the support group to step up quickly.
That really did not take place right here.
Responses were vague. Tickets went unanswered. I seemed like I was yelling right into the void while my service shed. At the same time, every min I spent troubleshooting was a min I wasn’t offering customers or expanding my firm.
For a device that markets itself to serious business owners, GoHighLevel sure really did not treat me like one.
The Interface Was a Warm Mess
You ever use a tool and simply feel … shed? That was me inside GoHighLevel A2P Webinar.
The UX was clunky. Points were buried in unusual areas. Even basic jobs like editing and enhancing a funnel or tweaking an e-mail flow developed into a scavenger hunt.
And their funnel builder? Do not even get me started. Intend to alter product settings, page formats, and total circulation? Great– you’ll need to search through three different locations that make zero rational sense. Half the time, I couldn’t also bear in mind where I ‘d clicked something ten seconds earlier.
It felt like using software program constructed by designers, for engineers– not everyday local business owner.
The “Budget-friendly” Plan That Got Genuine Costly, Real Rapid
Let’s chat money.
Among GoHighLevel’s big marketing points is the cost. I mean, $97/month for all those features? Appears amazing, ideal?
However right here’s what they do not inform you:.
You pay extra per e-mail if you utilize their SMTP.
You have to attach services like Mailgun or Twilio and manage their billing independently.
You’ll get random microcharges that aren’t explained plainly.
Want much better email deliverability? That’s gon na cost you too.
By the time I added whatever up, I was paying more than I had actually been with Keap. And getting worse results.
That’s not a good deal– it’s just negative mathematics.
My Email Metrics Tanked GoHighLevel A2P Webinar
The last straw? Enjoying my email open prices drop like a rock.
I ‘d been obtaining a solid 35% open rate with Keap. My target market was engaged, my automations were dialed in, and things just functioned.
After switching over to GoHighLevel? Opens dropped below 15%. Clicks were almost nonexistent. Something was plainly off.
Maybe it was a deliverability concern. Possibly the system was simply sending at hard times or not individualizing messages correctly. Whatever the cause, I wasn’t lingering to play investigator while my list rotted.
Lessons I Found Out by hand
If you’re thinking about switching to GoHighLevel– or any kind of new platform– below’s what I desire somebody had told me prior to I made the leap:.
1. Do Not Chase the Shiny Toy
It’s easy to obtain hyped concerning the current “revolutionary” device. Yet just because everybody’s speaking about something doesn’t suggest it’s right for you. If your existing system is working, reconsider before blowing it up.
2. Worth Simpleness Over Features
A lot more isn’t constantly better. A platform with a tidy, user-friendly user interface will save you time and frustrations in the future– even if it doesn’t have every feature under the sun.
3. Need Openness
Concealed expenses are the worst. Pick devices that are in advance about pricing, integrations, and limitations. You should not need a calculator and a synonym replacement tool to understand your regular monthly bill.
4. Pay Attention to Real Customers (Not Simply Marketers)
Check unbiased evaluations, individual discussion forums, and Reddit threads. Focus on actual user experience– not just glossy sales pages.
Still Want an All-in-One CRM? Right Here Are Better Options
If you’re still on the hunt for a dependable, straightforward platform to run your organization, I’ve checked a number. Below are a couple of I ‘d really suggest:.
Keap— My present go-to. Powerful automations, solid assistance, and it simply works. Worth every penny.
HubSpot— Great for companies that require scalability and progressed CRM features.
GreenRope— A strong all-in-one solution for little to mid-sized organizations with solid coverage tools.
Monday.com— Wonderful for project administration, team collaboration, and sales pipe monitoring.
Bonsai— Particularly wonderful for consultants and service-based solopreneurs.
Final Thought
GoHighLevel might benefit some. But for me? It was a frustrating, expensive experiment that I could not wait to end.
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. Don’t burn your systems down even if something more recent and shinier showed up.
Stick to what jobs. Your sanity (and your clients) will thanks.