You understand that feeling when you’re 99% sure something’s an excellent concept, just to recognize later on … it was an overall dumpster fire? That’s exactly what happened when I determined to switch my whole firm over to GoHighLevel.
It looked glossy. It sounded revolutionary. But actually? It developed into among the most painful software program choices I’ve made in over a decade of running my business.
So prior to you get on the GoHighLevel bandwagon, let me walk you via specifically what decreased– due to the fact that if you’re anything like me, you’re constantly seeking smarter, much more reliable means to expand your company. Simply … not similar to this.
The Seductive All-in-One Promise
Right here’s things. When GoHighLevel hit the scene, it seemed like a desire happened. A solitary platform to manage your CRM, sales funnels, e-mail campaigns, consultation reservations, automation, settlements– you call it.
If you’ve ever before managed a Frankenstein pile of devices simply to run your everyday, you know exactly how alluring the “all-in-one” pitch can be. I ‘d been utilizing Keap for many years (and loving it, truthfully), however still– I got drawn in by the promise of simplifying whatever under one roof covering.
And yeah, I’ll confess: I had a bad instance of shiny object syndrome.
Why I Left Keap (A Device That Really Functioned)
Let me be genuine with you: Keap had not been broken. It did everything I needed. It handled my e-mail automations, sales funnels, visit organizing, invoicing– you name it. Certain, the user interface felt a little dated in places, and occasionally things took a couple of even more clicks than I liked, but hey, it functioned.
So why change?
Truthfully, I just began wondering if I was losing out. GoHighLevel was more affordable (externally), provided much more features, and all the cool marketing professionals on-line seemed to be going crazy regarding it. FOMO is a heck of a drug.
That inquisitiveness cost me more than simply cash– it cost me time, power, and assurance.
What It Price Me to Change
I went done in. Registered for the $297/month agency plan. Invest a strong 30 to 40 hours moving information, restoring workflows, and essentially attempting to duplicate my whole Keap setup inside GoHighLevel.
Here’s what I had to relocate:
- 20,000+ email subscribers
- Dozens of automations
- All client profiles and notes
- Stripe payment integration
- Entire funnel facilities
- Custom kinds, landing pages, triggers … everything
Let’s not even talk about the shed performance during those couple of weeks. I was up to my eyeballs in Zapier workarounds, viewing tutorials, and attempting to identify where the hell basic settings were.
And simply when I thought things were functioning … they weren’t.
The Bugs Started Slipping In
At first, everything looked all right. But then, out of nowhere, individuals on my list began getting emails they weren’t meant to obtain. I’m talking completely unnecessary messages– sent in sets of 171 individuals each time. Three days in a row.
Total chaos.
I restore the automations from square one. Still occurred. I contacted assistance. They criticized “web server issues.” Yet absolutely nothing made sense, and the problem didn’t go away. Picture getting up every morning wondering who your system may’ve spammed over night.
That’s not simply irritating– it’s dangerous. When your entire brand name is built on trust fund, you can’t pay for to look like a clueless amateur blasting the wrong emails to the incorrect individuals.
Assistance? Yeah, Best Of Luck
Currently, I don’t expect excellence from any kind of system. Pests take place. But when they do? I anticipate the support group to step up quickly.
That really did not occur below.
Responses were vague. Tickets went unanswered. I felt like I was yelling right into the void while my service melted. At the same time, every minute I invested fixing was a min I wasn’t offering customers or growing my firm.
For a tool that markets itself to significant entrepreneurs, GoHighLevel sure really did not treat me like one.
The User interface Was a Hot Mess
You ever use a tool and just feel … shed? That was me inside GoHighLevel Affiliate Summer Camp.
The UX was clunky. Things were buried in odd locations. Also basic jobs like modifying a funnel or tweaking an email circulation became a scavenger hunt.
And their funnel builder? Do not even get me began. Intend to change item setups, page layouts, and general circulation? Cool– you’ll require to search with 3 different locations that make zero rational sense. Fifty percent the moment, I could not even keep in mind where I would certainly clicked something 10 secs earlier.
It felt like using software developed by engineers, for designers– not everyday business owners.
The “Inexpensive” Plan That Obtained Real Costly, Genuine Quick
Let’s talk money.
Among GoHighLevel’s huge selling factors is the price. I imply, $97/month for all those features? Appears impressive, appropriate?
However right here’s what they don’t tell you:.
You pay additional per email if you utilize their SMTP.
You have to attach solutions like Mailgun or Twilio and manage their billing independently.
You’ll obtain arbitrary microcharges that aren’t explained plainly.
Want better email deliverability? That’s gon na cost you also.
By the time I added every little thing up, I was paying greater than I had actually been with Keap. And worsening results.
That’s not a bargain– it’s just bad mathematics.
My Email Metrics Tanked GoHighLevel Affiliate Summer Camp
The final straw? Viewing my email open prices go down like a rock.
I would certainly been obtaining a solid 35% open price with Keap. My target market was engaged, my automations were dialed in, and points just functioned.
After switching to GoHighLevel? Opens dropped below 15%. Clicks were virtually missing. Something was plainly off.
Maybe it was a deliverability issue. Possibly the system was just sending out at hard times or not customizing messages appropriately. Whatever the cause, I wasn’t remaining to play detective while my checklist decomposed.
Lessons I Learned the Hard Way
If you’re thinking about switching over to GoHighLevel– or any type of brand-new system– right here’s what I want someone had actually told me prior to I made the jump:.
1. Don’t Chase the Shiny Plaything
It’s simple to obtain hyped about the most up to date “innovative” tool. Yet just because everyone’s discussing something doesn’t indicate it’s right for you. If your present system is working, hesitate before blowing it up.
2. Worth Simplicity Over Features
Extra isn’t constantly far better. A platform with a tidy, instinctive interface will certainly save you time and frustrations in the future– even if it doesn’t have every feature imaginable.
3. Need Transparency
Hidden prices are the worst. Pick tools that are upfront about pricing, integrations, and restrictions. You shouldn’t need a calculator and a thesaurus to understand your regular monthly bill.
4. Pay Attention to Real Customers (Not Just Marketers)
Inspect impartial evaluations, individual discussion forums, and Reddit strings. Take note of actual customer experience– not simply slick sales pages.
Still Desire an All-in-One CRM? Right Here Are Much better Options
If you’re still on the hunt for a reputable, straightforward system to run your business, I have actually examined a bunch. Below are a few I ‘d actually suggest:.
Keap— My existing go-to. Effective automations, solid support, and it just functions. Worth every penny.
HubSpot— Great for companies that require scalability and advanced CRM features.
GreenRope— A solid all-in-one remedy for small to mid-sized services with solid reporting tools.
Monday.com— Superb for job management, team collaboration, and sales pipe monitoring.
Bonsai— Especially excellent for consultants and service-based solopreneurs.
Verdict
GoHighLevel might work for some. However, for me? It was an irritating, expensive experiment that I couldn’t wait to finish.
So if you’re standing at the edge, questioning whether to make the leap– concentrate. Ask on your own what’s really not operating in your existing setup. Don’t shed your systems down just because something newer and shinier appeared.
Stick with what jobs. Your sanity (and your clients) will certainly thanks.