You recognize that sensation when you’re 99% certain something’s a terrific concept, just to realize later on … it was a complete dumpster fire? That’s exactly what took place when I decided to change my whole agency over to GoHighLevel.
It looked shiny. It sounded revolutionary. But actually? It became among the most excruciating software application choices I have actually made in over a decade of running my business.
So before you jump on the GoHighLevel bandwagon, let me walk you with specifically what dropped– since if you’re anything like me, you’re constantly seeking smarter, much more effective means to grow your service. Just … not like this.
The Seductive All-in-One Guarantee
Right here’s the important things. When GoHighLevel struck the scene, it seemed like a dream come to life. A solitary system to manage your CRM, sales funnels, email campaigns, visit reservations, automation, payments– you call it.
If you’ve ever before handled a Monster stack of devices just to run your daily, you know how tempting the “all-in-one” pitch can be. I ‘d been using Keap for years (and enjoying it, honestly), yet still– I got lured in by the guarantee of streamlining whatever under one roof covering.
And yeah, I’ll confess: I had a bad instance of shiny things syndrome.
Why I Left Keap (A Tool That In Fact Worked)
Let me be actual with you: Keap had not been damaged. It did whatever I needed. It handled my e-mail automations, sales funnels, consultation scheduling, invoicing– you call it. Sure, the user interface felt a little outdated in position, and in some cases points took a couple of even more clicks than I suched as, but hey, it functioned.
So why change?
Honestly, I just began questioning if I was missing out. GoHighLevel was less costly (on the surface), provided a lot more features, and all the awesome marketing experts on the internet appeared to be raving concerning it. FOMO is a hell of a medication.
That curiosity cost me more than just money– it cost me time, power, and satisfaction.
What It Price Me to Switch
I went all in. Enrolled in the $297/month agency plan. Invest a strong 30 to 40 hours moving data, restoring workflows, and generally attempting to reproduce my entire Keap arrangement inside GoHighLevel.
Right here’s what I had to move:
- 20,000+ email subscribers
- Loads of automations
- All client profiles and notes
- Stripe payment integration
- Whole funnel framework
- Customized kinds, landing pages, sets off … everything
Let’s not even speak about the lost performance during those few weeks. I was up to my eyeballs in Zapier workarounds, viewing tutorials, and attempting to identify where the hell fundamental settings were.
And simply when I believed things were functioning … they weren’t.
The Vermin Started Sneaking In
Initially, whatever looked fine. But then, out of no place, individuals on my list started getting e-mails they weren’t intended to obtain. I’m talking completely pointless messages– sent out in batches of 171 individuals each time. 3 days in a row.
Complete chaos.
I rebuilt the automations from the ground up. Still taken place. I called support. They criticized “web server concerns.” However absolutely nothing made good sense, and the problem didn’t vanish. Picture awakening every early morning questioning who your system may’ve spammed overnight.
That’s not just irritating– it’s dangerous. When your entire brand name is built on trust, you can not afford to look like a clueless amateur blasting the wrong emails to the wrong people.
Assistance? Yeah, Best Of Luck
Now, I don’t anticipate perfection from any type of platform. Bugs take place. However when they do? I expect the assistance group to step up quick.
That really did not happen here.
Actions were obscure. Tickets went unanswered. I seemed like I was screaming right into the void while my service melted. On the other hand, every minute I invested fixing was a min I wasn’t offering clients or growing my company.
For a device that markets itself to significant entrepreneurs, GoHighLevel certain really did not treat me like one.
The User interface Was a Warm Mess
You ever before use a device and just really feel … shed? That was me inside GoHighLevel AI Employee.
The UX was cumbersome. Things were buried in strange places. Also straightforward jobs like editing a funnel or tweaking an email flow turned into a scavenger hunt.
And their funnel builder? Do not also get me started. Wish to change product setups, page designs, and general circulation? Cool– you’ll require to hunt with three different locations that make zero sensible sense. Half the time, I couldn’t even keep in mind where I ‘d clicked something ten secs previously.
It felt like utilizing software constructed by designers, for engineers– not day-to-day local business owner.
The “Budget friendly” Plan That Obtained Actual Expensive, Genuine Fast
Let’s talk money.
Among GoHighLevel’s large selling factors is the cost. I mean, $97/month for all those features? Appears outstanding, right?
However right here’s what they do not tell you:.
You pay extra per email if you utilize their SMTP.
You have to connect services like Mailgun or Twilio and handle their billing individually.
You’ll obtain random microcharges that aren’t clarified plainly.
Want far better email deliverability? That’s gon na cost you too.
By the time I added whatever up, I was paying greater than I had actually been with Keap. And getting worse outcomes.
That’s not a good deal– it’s just bad mathematics.
My Email Metrics Tanked GoHighLevel AI Employee
The last straw? Viewing my email open rates go down like a rock.
I would certainly been getting a solid 35% open rate with Keap. My target market was involved, my automations were called in, and points just functioned.
After switching to GoHighLevel? Opens dropped below 15%. Clicks were practically nonexistent. Something was clearly off.
Perhaps it was a deliverability problem. Possibly the system was simply sending out at hard times or not individualizing messages correctly. Whatever the cause, I had not been sticking around to play investigative while my checklist decomposed.
Lessons I Found Out the Hard Way
If you’re considering changing to GoHighLevel– or any kind of brand-new platform– here’s what I desire someone had informed me before I made the leap:.
1. Do Not Chase the Shiny Plaything
It’s simple to obtain hyped about the current “cutting edge” tool. But just because everybody’s speaking about something does not mean it’s right for you. If your current system is functioning, reconsider prior to blowing it up.
2. Value Simplicity Over Features
More isn’t constantly far better. A platform with a clean, user-friendly interface will save you time and headaches over time– even if it does not have every feature imaginable.
3. Need Transparency
Hidden costs are the worst. Select tools that are in advance regarding pricing, integrations, and limits. You should not require a calculator and a thesaurus to comprehend your regular monthly bill.
4. Pay Attention to Real Customers (Not Simply Online Marketers)
Inspect objective evaluations, user discussion forums, and Reddit threads. Take notice of real individual experience– not just glossy sales web pages.
Still Desire an All-in-One CRM? Below Are Better Options
If you’re still on the hunt for a reliable, straightforward platform to run your company, I’ve examined a lot. Right here are a few I ‘d really suggest:.
Keap— My present go-to. Effective automations, solid support, and it just functions. Worth every penny.
HubSpot— Great for companies that need scalability and advanced CRM features.
GreenRope— A strong all-in-one service for tiny to mid-sized services with solid coverage tools.
Monday.com— Fantastic for task administration, group cooperation, and sales pipe tracking.
Bonsai— Especially wonderful for freelancers and service-based solopreneurs.
Final Thought
GoHighLevel may help some. But also for me? It was a frustrating, expensive experiment that I could not wait to finish.
So if you’re standing at the edge, asking yourself whether to make the jump– concentrate. Ask yourself what’s actually not operating in your existing arrangement. Don’t shed your systems down even if something more recent and shinier showed up.
Stick with what works. Your peace of mind (and your clients) will certainly thank you.