You recognize that feeling when you’re 99% sure something’s a fantastic idea, only to understand later on … it was an overall dumpster fire? That’s exactly what took place when I determined to change my entire firm over to GoHighLevel.
It looked glossy. It sounded revolutionary. Yet in reality? It developed into among one of the most unpleasant software decisions I’ve made in over a decade of running my company.
So before you get on the GoHighLevel bandwagon, let me stroll you via specifically what decreased– since if you’re anything like me, you’re constantly seeking smarter, more effective means to expand your service. Simply … not like this.
The Sexy All-in-One Promise
Here’s the thing. When GoHighLevel hit the scene, it seemed like a dream happened. A solitary system to handle your CRM, sales funnels, email campaigns, visit reservations, automation, settlements– you call it.
If you’ve ever before juggled a Monster stack of devices just to run your day-to-day, you know how tempting the “all-in-one” pitch can be. I would certainly been using Keap for many years (and liking it, honestly), however still– I obtained drawn in by the promise of simplifying everything under one roofing.
And yeah, I’ll admit it: I had a bad case of shiny item syndrome.
Why I Left Keap (A Tool That Actually Functioned)
Let me be genuine with you: Keap wasn’t damaged. It did everything I required. It managed my email automations, sales funnels, consultation scheduling, invoicing– you name it. Certain, the user interface really felt a little outdated in places, and sometimes points took a few even more clicks than I liked, but hey, it worked.
So why modification?
Honestly, I simply started wondering if I was missing out. GoHighLevel was less costly (externally), supplied a lot more features, and all the trendy marketing experts on-line seemed to be going crazy regarding it. FOMO is a heck of a medicine.
That inquisitiveness cost me more than just money– it cost me time, energy, and assurance.
What It Cost Me to Change
I went all in. Enrolled in the $297/month agency plan. Invest a solid 30 to 40 hours moving information, rebuilding workflows, and basically trying to reproduce my whole Keap arrangement inside GoHighLevel.
Below’s what I needed to move:
- 20,000+ email customers
- Dozens of automations
- All customer accounts and notes
- Stripe billing integration
- Entire funnel framework
- Custom-made kinds, landing pages, causes … everything
Let’s not also speak about the shed performance throughout those few weeks. I depended on my eyeballs in Zapier workarounds, viewing tutorials, and trying to identify where the heck basic settings were.
And simply when I thought points were functioning … they weren’t.
The Bugs Started Creeping In
In the beginning, everything looked alright. Yet after that, out of nowhere, individuals on my list began obtaining emails they weren’t intended to get. I’m chatting completely unimportant messages– sent in batches of 171 users each time. Three days in a row.
Total chaos.
I restore the automations from the ground up. Still occurred. I called support. They condemned “web server concerns.” But nothing made good sense, and the problem didn’t go away. Envision awakening every morning wondering who your system might’ve spammed overnight.
That’s not simply frustrating– it threatens. When your entire brand name is built on trust fund, you can not manage to resemble an unaware amateur blasting the wrong e-mails to the incorrect individuals.
Assistance? Yeah, Best Of Luck
Now, I don’t anticipate perfection from any kind of system. Insects occur. However when they do? I expect the support group to step up quickly.
That didn’t take place below.
Responses were vague. Tickets went unanswered. I seemed like I was shouting into deep space while my company shed. At the same time, every min I spent fixing was a min I had not been offering clients or growing my firm.
For a device that markets itself to serious business owners, GoHighLevel sure didn’t treat me like one.
The User interface Was a Warm Mess
You ever before make use of a device and just feel … shed? That was me inside GoHighLevel Automations.
The UX was clunky. Points were hidden in unusual locations. Also basic tasks like editing a funnel or tweaking an email circulation turned into a scavenger hunt.
And their funnel builder? Don’t even get me began. Want to change item settings, page formats, and overall circulation? Awesome– you’ll need to search with three various locations that make no logical feeling. Fifty percent the moment, I couldn’t even remember where I ‘d clicked something 10 seconds previously.
It felt like making use of software application constructed by designers, for designers– not everyday entrepreneur.
The “Budget friendly” Plan That Got Actual Costly, Real Rapid
Let’s talk cash.
Among GoHighLevel’s big selling points is the cost. I imply, $97/month for all those features? Seems fantastic, right?
However right here’s what they don’t tell you:.
You pay additional per email if you use their SMTP.
You have to link services like Mailgun or Twilio and manage their invoicing independently.
You’ll get random microcharges that aren’t explained plainly.
Desire better e-mail deliverability? That’s gon na cost you as well.
By the time I included every little thing up, I was paying more than I had been with Keap. And becoming worse outcomes.
That’s not a bargain– it’s just bad math.
My Email Metrics Tanked GoHighLevel Automations
The last straw? Watching my email open prices go down like a rock.
I would certainly been getting a strong 35% open rate with Keap. My audience was engaged, my automations were called in, and points simply functioned.
After switching over to GoHighLevel? Opens dropped listed below 15%. Clicks were almost nonexistent. Something was plainly off.
Maybe it was a deliverability problem. Perhaps the system was just sending at bad times or otherwise individualizing messages properly. Whatever the cause, I had not been sticking around to play detective while my list rotted.
Lessons I Discovered by hand
If you’re thinking of changing to GoHighLevel– or any type of brand-new system– below’s what I wish somebody had actually told me before I made the leap:.
1. Don’t Chase the Shiny Toy
It’s simple to get hyped about the current “revolutionary” device. Yet just because every person’s talking about something does not indicate 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 always better. A system with a clean, instinctive user interface will certainly save you time and frustrations in the future– even if it does not have every feature under the sun.
3. Need Openness
Hidden prices are the most awful. Select tools that are upfront regarding pricing, integrations, and limits. You should not need a calculator and a synonym replacement tool to understand your month-to-month expense.
4. Pay Attention to Genuine Individuals (Not Just Marketing Professionals)
Check honest reviews, user forums, and Reddit strings. Pay attention to actual customer experience– not simply glossy sales pages.
Still Desire an All-in-One CRM? Below Are Much better Options
If you’re still on the hunt for a trustworthy, easy to use platform to run your company, I’ve examined a lot. Right here are a few I ‘d really recommend:.
Keap— My current go-to. Powerful automations, solid support, and it simply functions. Well worth every dime.
HubSpot— Great for organizations that need scalability and advanced CRM features.
GreenRope— A strong all-in-one service for tiny to mid-sized services with strong reporting tools.
Monday.com— Superb for job monitoring, team collaboration, and sales pipeline tracking.
Bonsai— Especially terrific for freelancers and service-based solopreneurs.
Conclusion
GoHighLevel may work for some. But for me? It was an aggravating, expensive experiment that I could not wait to finish.
So if you’re standing at the edge, asking yourself whether to make the leap– concentrate. Ask yourself what’s actually not operating in your current arrangement. Do not melt your systems down even if something newer and shinier turned up.
Stick to what works. Your sanity (and your clients) will thank you.