You recognize that sensation when you’re 99% certain something’s a fantastic idea, just to realize later … it was an overall dumpster fire? That’s exactly what took place when I determined to change my whole company over to GoHighLevel.
It looked glossy. It seemed revolutionary. Yet in truth? It developed into one of one of the most agonizing software choices I have actually made in over a years of running my organization.
So before you get on the GoHighLevel bandwagon, let me walk you with precisely what decreased– due to the fact that if you’re anything like me, you’re always trying to find smarter, extra reliable ways to expand your business. Simply … not like this.
The Seductive All-in-One Promise
Right here’s the thing. When GoHighLevel hit the scene, it seemed like a desire become a reality. A single platform to handle your CRM, sales funnels, e-mail campaigns, visit reservations, automation, repayments– you call it.
If you’ve ever before managed a Frankenstein pile of devices just to run your daily, you recognize how tempting the “all-in-one” pitch can be. I ‘d been making use of Keap for years (and enjoying it, honestly), however still– I obtained drawn in by the guarantee of streamlining whatever under one roof.
And yeah, I’ll confess: I had a bad situation of shiny object disorder.
Why I Left Keap (A Device That In Fact Functioned)
Let me be actual with you: Keap wasn’t broken. It did every little thing I needed. It handled my e-mail automations, sales funnels, consultation scheduling, invoicing– you call it. Sure, the user interface really felt a little outdated in places, and often points took a couple of more clicks than I suched as, yet hey, it functioned.
So why modification?
Honestly, I simply began wondering if I was missing out. GoHighLevel was more affordable (on the surface), supplied much more features, and all the great marketers on-line seemed to be going crazy regarding it. FOMO is a heck of a drug.
That curiosity expense me greater than just money– it cost me time, power, and assurance.
What It Expense Me to Switch
I went all in. Enrolled in the $297/month agency plan. Spent a solid 30 to 40 hours moving data, restoring workflows, and basically attempting to replicate my whole Keap configuration inside GoHighLevel.
Here’s what I needed to relocate:
- 20,000+ email customers
- Dozens of automations
- All customer profiles and notes
- Stripe billing integration
- Whole funnel facilities
- Custom kinds, landing pages, activates … whatever
Let’s not even talk about 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 standard setups were.
And just when I assumed points were functioning … they weren’t.
The Bugs Began Sneaking In
In the beginning, every little thing looked all right. Yet after that, out of nowhere, people on my list started obtaining e-mails they weren’t meant to receive. I’m talking completely pointless messages– sent in sets of 171 customers at once. 3 days in a row.
Overall disorder.
I reconstruct the automations from scratch. Still occurred. I got in touch with support. They criticized “server concerns.” But absolutely nothing made sense, and the trouble really did not go away. Visualize waking up every early morning wondering who your system might’ve spammed overnight.
That’s not just annoying– it’s dangerous. When your whole brand name is built on trust fund, you can’t afford to appear like an unaware amateur blasting the wrong e-mails to the incorrect individuals.
Assistance? Yeah, Best Of Luck
Now, I do not expect excellence from any platform. Pests take place. Yet when they do? I anticipate the support group to step up quickly.
That didn’t happen right here.
Feedbacks were obscure. Tickets went unanswered. I seemed like I was yelling right into the void while my organization melted. At the same time, every minute I spent fixing was a minute I had not been offering clients or growing my agency.
For a tool that markets itself to significant entrepreneurs, GoHighLevel sure didn’t treat me like one.
The Interface Was a Hot Mess
You ever before use a device and simply feel … shed? That was me inside GoHighLevel Agency Snapshot.
The UX was cumbersome. Things were buried in strange locations. Also simple tasks like editing and enhancing a funnel or tweaking an email circulation became a scavenger hunt.
And their funnel builder? Don’t even obtain me started. Intend to alter item setups, web page layouts, and overall flow? Awesome– you’ll need to search with three various locations that make absolutely no logical sense. Fifty percent the time, I couldn’t even bear in mind where I would certainly clicked something 10 seconds earlier.
It felt like making use of software developed by engineers, for designers– not day-to-day entrepreneur.
The “Cost effective” Plan That Obtained Real Costly, Genuine Quick
Let’s chat cash.
Among GoHighLevel’s huge marketing points is the rate. I indicate, $97/month for all those features? Appears remarkable, best?
However below’s what they don’t tell you:.
You pay additional per e-mail if you use their SMTP.
You need to connect services like Mailgun or Twilio and manage their payment individually.
You’ll get arbitrary microcharges that aren’t clarified clearly.
Want far better email deliverability? That’s gon na cost you as well.
By the time I added everything up, I was paying greater than I had actually been with Keap. And becoming worse outcomes.
That’s not a bargain– it’s just bad mathematics.
My Email Metrics Tanked GoHighLevel Agency Snapshot
The final straw? Seeing my e-mail open rates drop like a rock.
I ‘d been obtaining a strong 35% open rate with Keap. My audience was involved, my automations were dialed in, and things just worked.
After switching over to GoHighLevel? Opens went down below 15%. Clicks were nearly nonexistent. Something was plainly off.
Maybe it was a deliverability issue. Possibly the system was simply sending out at hard times or otherwise individualizing messages correctly. Whatever the reason, I wasn’t remaining to play investigative while my checklist deteriorated.
Lessons I Found Out the Hard Way
If you’re thinking about switching to GoHighLevel– or any type of brand-new platform– here’s what I wish someone had informed me before I made the leap:.
1. Don’t Chase the Shiny Toy
It’s very easy to get hyped about the current “cutting edge” tool. Yet just because everybody’s talking about something does not imply it’s right for you. If your current system is working, think twice before blowing it up.
2. Worth Simplicity Over Features
A lot more isn’t constantly better. A platform with a tidy, instinctive user interface will save you time and headaches in the future– even if it does not have every feature imaginable.
3. Demand Transparency
Covert costs are the most awful. Select tools that are ahead of time about pricing, integrations, and limits. You should not need a calculator and a thesaurus to recognize your month-to-month costs.
4. Pay Attention to Genuine Users (Not Simply Marketers)
Examine honest evaluations, user discussion forums, and Reddit strings. Pay attention to real customer experience– not just glossy sales pages.
Still Want an All-in-One CRM? Right Here Are Much better Options
If you’re still on the hunt for a trusted, user-friendly platform to run your service, I have actually checked a bunch. Right here are a couple of I ‘d actually recommend:.
Keap— My existing go-to. Effective automations, solid support, and it just works. Well worth every dime.
HubSpot— Great for organizations that need scalability and advanced CRM features.
GreenRope— A strong all-in-one solution for little to mid-sized companies with strong reporting devices.
Monday.com— Wonderful for task monitoring, group collaboration, and sales pipeline tracking.
Bonsai— Specifically fantastic for freelancers and service-based solopreneurs.
Final Thought
GoHighLevel may help some. But for me? It was an irritating, costly experiment that I couldn’t wait to end.
So if you’re standing at the side, asking yourself whether to make the leap– concentrate. Ask yourself what’s truly not working in your existing configuration. Do not melt your systems down even if something more recent and shinier showed up.
Stick to what jobs. Your peace of mind (and your clients) will certainly thanks.