You understand that feeling when you’re 99% certain something’s a wonderful concept, just to realize later … it was a total dumpster fire? That’s exactly what took place when I decided to change my whole company over to GoHighLevel.
It looked glossy. It sounded revolutionary. Yet in reality? It became among the most unpleasant software choices I’ve made in over a decade of running my organization.
So prior to you get on the GoHighLevel bandwagon, let me walk you with exactly what went down– since if you’re anything like me, you’re constantly trying to find smarter, much more efficient ways to expand your business. Simply … not similar to this.
The Sexy All-in-One Promise
Below’s things. When GoHighLevel struck the scene, it seemed like a dream come true. A solitary platform to manage your CRM, sales funnels, e-mail campaigns, appointment reservations, automation, repayments– you name it.
If you have actually ever juggled a Monster pile of tools simply to run your everyday, you know how alluring the “all-in-one” pitch can be. I ‘d been utilizing Keap for many years (and loving it, truthfully), yet still– I obtained lured in by the guarantee of streamlining every little thing under one roofing.
And yeah, I’ll confess: I had a negative situation of shiny item disorder.
Why I Left Keap (A Device That In Fact Worked)
Let me be genuine with you: Keap wasn’t broken. It did whatever I needed. It managed my email automations, sales funnels, consultation scheduling, invoicing– you call it. Sure, the user interface really felt a little outdated in position, and often things took a couple of more clicks than I liked, yet hey, it worked.
So why modification?
Honestly, I simply began wondering if I was losing out. GoHighLevel was less expensive (externally), supplied more features, and all the awesome online marketers on-line appeared to be going crazy regarding it. FOMO is a hell of a drug.
That interest expense me greater than just money– it cost me time, power, and peace of mind.
What It Expense Me to Switch
I went done in. Signed up for the $297/month agency plan. Invest a strong 30 to 40 hours migrating information, rebuilding workflows, and generally attempting to reproduce my whole Keap arrangement inside GoHighLevel.
Right here’s what I needed to relocate:
- 20,000+ e-mail customers
- Lots of automations
- All client accounts and notes
- Stripe invoicing integration
- Whole funnel infrastructure
- Personalized forms, landing pages, triggers … whatever
Let’s not even discuss the shed productivity during those few weeks. I was up to my eyeballs in Zapier workarounds, viewing tutorials, and trying to identify where the heck fundamental setups were.
And simply when I assumed things were working … they weren’t.
The Vermin Began Slipping In
At first, everything looked okay. But then, out of no place, people on my checklist began obtaining emails they weren’t expected to obtain. I’m speaking entirely irrelevant messages– sent out in batches of 171 individuals at a time. 3 days in a row.
Total disorder.
I reconstruct the automations from square one. Still occurred. I contacted support. They criticized “server problems.” However absolutely nothing made good sense, and the issue really did not disappear. Imagine awakening every early morning wondering who your system may’ve spammed overnight.
That’s not just aggravating– it’s dangerous. When your whole brand name is improved count on, you can not manage to appear like an unaware amateur blasting the wrong e-mails to the incorrect individuals.
Assistance? Yeah, Good Luck
Currently, I don’t anticipate excellence from any system. Bugs take place. However when they do? I expect the support team to step up quick.
That really did not take place below.
Feedbacks were unclear. Tickets went unanswered. I seemed like I was yelling right into deep space while my service shed. At the same time, every min I spent repairing was a min I had not been offering customers or growing my company.
For a device that markets itself to serious entrepreneurs, GoHighLevel sure didn’t treat me like one.
The User interface Was a Hot Mess
You ever make use of a device and just really feel … shed? That was me inside GoHighLevel AI Chatbot.
The UX was cumbersome. Points were hidden in odd places. Also easy tasks like modifying a funnel or tweaking an e-mail flow became a scavenger hunt.
And their funnel builder? Do not even obtain me started. Want to alter item setups, web page layouts, and total flow? Trendy– you’ll need to quest via 3 different locations that make absolutely no sensible feeling. Half the time, I couldn’t even remember where I ‘d clicked something ten secs previously.
It seemed like making use of software program constructed by engineers, for designers– not daily entrepreneur.
The “Inexpensive” Plan That Got Actual Expensive, Actual Quick
Let’s talk money.
One of GoHighLevel’s large marketing factors is the cost. I suggest, $97/month for all those features? Sounds impressive, appropriate?
However right here’s what they do not tell you:.
You pay added per email if you use their SMTP.
You have to attach services like Mailgun or Twilio and manage their billing separately.
You’ll get arbitrary microcharges that aren’t discussed clearly.
Want better e-mail deliverability? That’s gon na cost you too.
By the time I included everything up, I was paying greater than I had actually been with Keap. And getting worse results.
That’s not a good deal– it’s simply poor math.
My Email Metrics Tanked GoHighLevel AI Chatbot
The final straw? Enjoying my e-mail open prices drop like a rock.
I ‘d been obtaining a strong 35% open price with Keap. My target market was involved, my automations were called in, and things just worked.
After changing to GoHighLevel? Opens dropped below 15%. Clicks were practically missing. Something was clearly off.
Maybe it was a deliverability problem. Possibly the system was simply sending out at bad times or not personalizing messages correctly. Whatever the cause, I had not been sticking around to play investigator while my listing decayed.
Lessons I Found Out the Hard Way
If you’re thinking of switching to GoHighLevel– or any type of brand-new system– right here’s what I wish somebody had actually told me before I made the jump:.
1. Don’t Chase the Shiny Plaything
It’s simple to get hyped regarding the most recent “advanced” tool. Yet even if everyone’s speaking about something does not indicate it’s right for you. If your existing system is working, reconsider prior to blowing it up.
2. Value Simplicity Over Features
Extra isn’t always far better. A platform with a clean, intuitive interface will certainly save you time and frustrations in the long run– even if it doesn’t have every feature imaginable.
3. Need Openness
Concealed costs are the most awful. Select devices that are upfront concerning pricing, integrations, and limits. You shouldn’t require a calculator and a thesaurus to understand your monthly costs.
4. Pay Attention to Real Users (Not Simply Marketers)
Examine honest reviews, user online forums, and Reddit threads. Focus on real user experience– not just glossy sales web pages.
Still Desire an All-in-One CRM? Below Are Much better Options
If you’re still on the hunt for a reliable, user-friendly platform to run your business, I have actually evaluated a number. Right here are a few I ‘d in fact suggest:.
Keap— My existing go-to. Effective automations, strong support, and it simply works. Well worth every dime.
HubSpot— Great for services that need scalability and advanced CRM features.
GreenRope— A solid all-in-one remedy for tiny to mid-sized companies with strong reporting tools.
Monday.com— Wonderful for job monitoring, group partnership, and sales pipeline monitoring.
Bonsai— Particularly great for freelancers and service-based solopreneurs.
Verdict
GoHighLevel may help some. But for me? It was a discouraging, costly experiment that I couldn’t wait to end.
So if you’re standing at the side, asking yourself whether to make the leap– think hard. Ask on your own what’s actually not working in your present setup. Do not shed your systems down even if something more recent and shinier showed up.
Stick with what jobs. Your peace of mind (and your clients) will certainly thanks.