You know that feeling when you’re 99% certain something’s a wonderful idea, just to recognize later … it was an overall dumpster fire? That’s exactly what happened when I determined to change my entire firm over to GoHighLevel.
It looked glossy. It appeared revolutionary. However in reality? It developed into among one of the most agonizing software program decisions I have actually made in over a decade of running my business.
So prior to you get on the GoHighLevel bandwagon, let me walk you with exactly what went down– because if you’re anything like me, you’re constantly looking for smarter, a lot more effective methods to expand your service. Just … not similar to this.
The Sexy All-in-One Promise
Below’s things. When GoHighLevel hit the scene, it seemed like a dream come true. A solitary platform to handle your CRM, sales funnels, email campaigns, visit bookings, automation, payments– you name it.
If you’ve ever handled a Frankenstein stack of tools simply to run your day-to-day, you recognize exactly how alluring the “all-in-one” pitch can be. I ‘d been making use of Keap for many years (and enjoying it, honestly), yet still– I got drawn in by the guarantee of simplifying every little thing under one roof.
And yeah, I’ll confess: I had a bad situation of glossy things disorder.
Why I Left Keap (A Tool That Actually Functioned)
Let me be genuine with you: Keap wasn’t broken. It did whatever I needed. It managed my email automations, sales funnels, visit organizing, invoicing– you call it. Sure, the user interface really felt a little dated in places, and in some cases things took a few more clicks than I suched as, but hey, it functioned.
So why modification?
Truthfully, I just started asking yourself if I was losing out. GoHighLevel was more affordable (externally), offered a lot more features, and all the cool marketing experts on-line appeared to be going crazy concerning it. FOMO is a heck of a drug.
That interest cost me greater than simply cash– it cost me time, power, and comfort.
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 moving information, reconstructing workflows, and essentially trying to duplicate my whole Keap setup inside GoHighLevel.
Right here’s what I had to move:
- 20,000+ e-mail subscribers
- Loads of automations
- All client accounts and notes
- Stripe payment integration
- Whole funnel framework
- Custom types, landing pages, activates … whatever
Let’s not even talk about the shed productivity during those few weeks. I was up to my eyeballs in Zapier workarounds, enjoying tutorials, and trying to find out where the hell basic setups were.
And simply when I believed points were functioning … they weren’t.
The Vermin Began Slipping In
In the beginning, every little thing looked alright. But then, out of no place, people on my list began getting e-mails they weren’t expected to receive. I’m chatting completely pointless messages– sent out in batches of 171 users at a time. Three days in a row.
Overall mayhem.
I rebuilt the automations from square one. Still happened. I spoke to support. They condemned “web server issues.” However absolutely nothing made sense, and the problem really did not disappear. Visualize awakening every early morning wondering who your system may’ve spammed overnight.
That’s not just irritating– it threatens. When your whole brand name is improved trust, you can not pay for to look like an unaware amateur blasting the incorrect emails to the incorrect individuals.
Support? Yeah, Good Luck
Currently, I don’t anticipate perfection from any platform. Bugs occur. However when they do? I expect the assistance team to step up quick.
That really did not occur below.
Feedbacks were vague. Tickets went unanswered. I seemed like I was yelling right into the void while my business burned. At the same time, every min I spent fixing was a minute I wasn’t serving customers 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 Hot Mess
You ever utilize a tool and simply really feel … shed? That was me inside GoHighLevel Billy Gene.
The UX was clunky. Things were buried in strange locations. Even simple tasks like editing a funnel or tweaking an e-mail flow turned into a scavenger hunt.
And their funnel builder? Do not also get me began. Wish to transform item setups, web page formats, and overall flow? Trendy– you’ll need to quest with 3 various areas that make no logical sense. Fifty percent the moment, I could not also keep in mind where I ‘d clicked something ten seconds previously.
It felt like making use of software built by designers, for engineers– not day-to-day company owner.
The “Budget-friendly” Plan That Obtained Actual Expensive, Actual Fast
Let’s talk money.
Among GoHighLevel’s big selling points is the cost. I suggest, $97/month for all those features? Appears impressive, right?
However below’s what they don’t inform you:.
You pay additional per e-mail if you utilize their SMTP.
You need to attach solutions like Mailgun or Twilio and manage their billing independently.
You’ll obtain arbitrary microcharges that aren’t explained plainly.
Want far 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 been with Keap. And becoming worse results.
That’s not a good deal– it’s simply poor math.
My Email Metrics Tanked GoHighLevel Billy Gene
The last straw? Viewing my email open rates go down like a rock.
I would certainly been obtaining a solid 35% open price with Keap. My audience was engaged, my automations were dialed in, and things simply worked.
After changing to GoHighLevel? Opens dropped listed below 15%. Clicks were nearly nonexistent. Something was plainly off.
Maybe it was a deliverability problem. Perhaps the system was just sending at hard times or otherwise personalizing messages correctly. Whatever the reason, I wasn’t remaining to play investigative while my list rotted.
Lessons I Learned the Hard Way
If you’re thinking about switching to GoHighLevel– or any new system– right here’s what I want somebody had actually informed me prior to I made the jump:.
1. Don’t Chase the Shiny Toy
It’s very easy to get hyped concerning the latest “revolutionary” device. But just because everyone’s discussing something does not suggest it’s right for you. If your current system is working, hesitate before blowing it up.
2. Value Simplicity Over Features
Much more isn’t constantly better. A system with a tidy, instinctive interface will save you time and frustrations in the future– even if it does not have every feature under the sun.
3. Demand Openness
Hidden expenses are the most awful. Pick devices that are ahead of time regarding pricing, integrations, and limits. You should not require a calculator and a synonym replacement tool to understand your month-to-month bill.
4. Pay Attention to Actual Individuals (Not Just Marketers)
Examine objective reviews, individual online forums, and Reddit threads. Pay attention to real customer experience– not just slick sales web pages.
Still Desire an All-in-One CRM? Below Are Much better Options
If you’re still on the hunt for a trusted, user-friendly system to run your service, I have actually evaluated a bunch. Below are a couple of I ‘d actually suggest:.
Keap— My present go-to. Powerful automations, solid support, and it simply functions. Worth every cent.
HubSpot— Great for companies that need scalability and progressed CRM features.
GreenRope— A strong all-in-one option for small to mid-sized services with solid reporting tools.
Monday.com— Fantastic for task administration, group collaboration, and sales pipeline monitoring.
Bonsai— Particularly wonderful for consultants and service-based solopreneurs.
Conclusion
GoHighLevel might help some. But also for me? It was an aggravating, costly experiment that I couldn’t wait to end.
So if you’re standing at the edge, questioning whether to make the jump– concentrate. Ask on your own what’s really not operating in your present arrangement. Do not burn your systems down even if something newer and shinier turned up.
Stick with what works. Your sanity (and your customers) will certainly thank you.