You understand that sensation when you’re 99% sure something’s an excellent idea, just to realize later on … it was a total dumpster fire? That’s precisely what occurred when I made a decision to change my entire firm over to GoHighLevel.
It looked shiny. It seemed revolutionary. Yet actually? It developed into among the most uncomfortable software decisions I have actually made in over a years of running my service.
So before you jump on the GoHighLevel bandwagon, let me stroll you with specifically what went down– due to the fact that if you’re anything like me, you’re constantly looking for smarter, extra effective means to grow your service. Just … not similar to this.
The Sexy All-in-One Promise
Below’s the thing. When GoHighLevel struck the scene, it sounded like a desire come to life. A solitary system to manage your CRM, sales funnels, email campaigns, consultation reservations, automation, payments– you name it.
If you’ve ever handled a Frankenstein stack of devices simply to run your everyday, you know exactly how appealing the “all-in-one” pitch can be. I would certainly been utilizing Keap for years (and enjoying it, honestly), however still– I got enticed in by the promise of simplifying everything under one roofing system.
And yeah, I’ll confess: I had a poor instance of shiny item disorder.
Why I Left Keap (A Device That Actually Functioned)
Let me be genuine with you: Keap had not been broken. It did everything I required. It handled my e-mail automations, sales funnels, visit scheduling, invoicing– you call it. Certain, the interface felt a little outdated in position, and sometimes things took a few even more clicks than I liked, yet hey, it worked.
So why modification?
Truthfully, I simply started asking yourself if I was missing out. GoHighLevel was less expensive (on the surface), offered much more features, and all the amazing marketing professionals on the internet seemed to be raving concerning it. FOMO is a hell of a medication.
That curiosity cost me greater than just cash– it cost me time, power, and peace of mind.
What It Price Me to Switch
I went done in. Registered for the $297/month agency plan. Invest a solid 30 to 40 hours migrating information, restoring workflows, and primarily trying to reproduce my whole Keap arrangement inside GoHighLevel.
Here’s what I had to move:
- 20,000+ email clients
- Lots of automations
- All client profiles and notes
- Stripe payment integration
- Whole funnel facilities
- Custom kinds, landing pages, sets off … every little thing
Let’s not also discuss the shed productivity during those couple of weeks. I depended on my eyeballs in Zapier workarounds, watching tutorials, and attempting to figure out where the heck fundamental settings were.
And simply when I assumed things were functioning … they weren’t.
The Vermin Began Sneaking In
In the beginning, everything looked alright. But then, out of nowhere, individuals on my checklist started obtaining emails they weren’t meant to get. I’m speaking completely pointless messages– sent out in batches of 171 individuals at once. 3 days in a row.
Complete disorder.
I rebuilt the automations from scratch. Still happened. I called support. They criticized “web server problems.” But nothing made good sense, and the issue really did not disappear. Think of waking up every early morning questioning who your system may’ve spammed over night.
That’s not just aggravating– it threatens. When your entire brand name is improved count on, you can’t manage to appear like an unaware amateur blowing up the wrong e-mails to the incorrect people.
Support? Yeah, All The Best
Now, I do not expect excellence from any kind of system. Insects take place. But when they do? I anticipate the support group to step up quick.
That really did not occur here.
Responses were unclear. Tickets went unanswered. I seemed like I was yelling into the void while my service burned. Meanwhile, every min I invested troubleshooting was a min I had not been offering clients or expanding my company.
For a device that markets itself to serious entrepreneurs, GoHighLevel certain didn’t treat me like one.
The User interface Was a Hot Mess
You ever utilize a tool and just really feel … shed? That was me inside GoHighLevel Agency Setup.
The UX was cumbersome. Points were hidden in odd places. Even straightforward jobs like editing a funnel or tweaking an e-mail flow became a scavenger hunt.
And their funnel builder? Do not even obtain me started. Wish to transform item settings, web page designs, and overall circulation? Amazing– you’ll need to search with three various locations that make no logical sense. Fifty percent the moment, I could not even remember where I would certainly clicked something ten secs earlier.
It felt like utilizing software program constructed by designers, for engineers– not everyday company owner.
The “Economical” Plan That Got Genuine Pricey, Genuine Quick
Let’s chat money.
One of GoHighLevel’s huge marketing points is the rate. I indicate, $97/month for all those features? Appears incredible, appropriate?
Yet here’s what they don’t inform you:.
You pay extra per email if you use their SMTP.
You have to attach solutions like Mailgun or Twilio and handle their invoicing separately.
You’ll obtain random microcharges that aren’t clarified plainly.
Desire much better email deliverability? That’s gon na cost you as well.
By the time I included every little thing up, I was paying greater than I had actually been with Keap. And becoming worse results.
That’s not a bargain– it’s simply bad mathematics.
My Email Metrics Tanked GoHighLevel Agency Setup
The last straw? Seeing my e-mail open rates drop like a rock.
I ‘d been obtaining a strong 35% open rate with Keap. My target market was engaged, my automations were dialed in, and points simply worked.
After switching over to GoHighLevel? Opens went down below 15%. Clicks were almost nonexistent. Something was clearly off.
Maybe it was a deliverability issue. Possibly the system was simply sending at hard times or not individualizing messages appropriately. Whatever the cause, I wasn’t lingering to play investigator while my listing decomposed.
Lessons I Discovered by hand
If you’re thinking about switching to GoHighLevel– or any type of brand-new platform– here’s what I want a person had actually told me before I made the jump:.
1. Do Not Chase the Shiny Toy
It’s very easy to get hyped concerning the most recent “advanced” device. Yet just because everybody’s discussing something does not indicate it’s right for you. If your existing system is functioning, reconsider before blowing it up.
2. Worth Simpleness Over Features
Extra isn’t always much better. A platform with a clean, instinctive interface will certainly save you time and frustrations in the long run– even if it doesn’t have every feature under the sun.
3. Demand Openness
Concealed prices are the worst. Choose tools that are upfront concerning pricing, integrations, and limits. You shouldn’t need a calculator and a thesaurus to understand your monthly costs.
4. Listen to Genuine Customers (Not Simply Marketers)
Examine objective testimonials, individual discussion forums, and Reddit strings. Take notice of real customer experience– not simply slick sales web pages.
Still Want an All-in-One CRM? Below Are Much better Options
If you’re still on the hunt for a trustworthy, straightforward system to run your business, I’ve evaluated a bunch. Right here are a couple of I ‘d in fact advise:.
Keap— My present go-to. Effective automations, solid support, and it just works. Worth every dime.
HubSpot— Great for services that require scalability and advanced CRM features.
GreenRope— A strong all-in-one solution for small to mid-sized services with strong coverage devices.
Monday.com— Great for task administration, group collaboration, and sales pipeline tracking.
Bonsai— Specifically terrific for freelancers and service-based solopreneurs.
Verdict
GoHighLevel might benefit some. But 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 working in your present setup. Do not burn your systems down just because something newer and shinier showed up.
Stick to what jobs. Your peace of mind (and your customers) will certainly thank you.