You recognize that feeling when you’re 99% sure something’s a great concept, just to understand later … it was a complete dumpster fire? That’s precisely what happened when I determined to switch my whole company over to GoHighLevel.
It looked glossy. It seemed revolutionary. But in truth? It became among the most uncomfortable software decisions I have actually made in over a years of running my business.
So before you jump on the GoHighLevel bandwagon, let me stroll you through exactly what dropped– because if you’re anything like me, you’re always trying to find smarter, more efficient means to grow your business. Just … not like this.
The Seductive All-in-One Pledge
Right here’s the important things. When GoHighLevel hit the scene, it sounded like a dream come to life. A solitary platform to handle your CRM, sales funnels, e-mail campaigns, consultation bookings, automation, payments– you call it.
If you have actually ever juggled a Monster pile of tools just to run your day-to-day, you know just how appealing the “all-in-one” pitch can be. I would certainly been utilizing Keap for several years (and loving it, honestly), however still– I obtained enticed in by the assurance of streamlining everything under one roof covering.
And yeah, I’ll admit it: I had a bad instance of shiny item syndrome.
Why I Left Keap (A Tool That Actually Functioned)
Let me be genuine with you: Keap wasn’t broken. It did every little thing I required. It managed my email automations, sales funnels, appointment organizing, invoicing– you name it. Certain, the user interface felt a little outdated in position, and in some cases points took a couple of more clicks than I liked, yet hey, it worked.
So why change?
Honestly, I simply began wondering if I was missing out. GoHighLevel was cheaper (on the surface), supplied a lot more features, and all the cool marketers on the internet seemed to be raving concerning it. FOMO is a hell of a medication.
That interest price me greater than just cash– it cost me time, energy, and satisfaction.
What It Expense Me to Change
I went done in. Registered for the $297/month agency plan. Invest a solid 30 to 40 hours moving data, restoring workflows, and basically attempting to duplicate my whole Keap arrangement inside GoHighLevel.
Below’s what I had to relocate:
- 20,000+ email clients
- Loads of automations
- All customer profiles and notes
- Stripe invoicing integration
- Whole funnel infrastructure
- Customized forms, landing pages, causes … everything
Let’s not also discuss the shed productivity during those couple of weeks. I was up to my eyeballs in Zapier workarounds, watching tutorials, and trying to figure out where the heck basic setups were.
And just when I believed things were working … they weren’t.
The Vermin Began Slipping In
At first, every little thing looked okay. Yet after that, out of no place, people on my list began obtaining e-mails they weren’t expected to get. I’m talking entirely irrelevant messages– sent in batches of 171 individuals at once. 3 days in a row.
Complete chaos.
I restore the automations from square one. Still happened. I contacted assistance. They blamed “web server problems.” However absolutely nothing made good sense, and the problem really did not disappear. Visualize awakening every early morning wondering who your system might’ve spammed over night.
That’s not just frustrating– it threatens. When your entire brand is improved trust fund, you can’t manage to resemble a clueless amateur blasting the incorrect e-mails to the incorrect people.
Assistance? Yeah, Good Luck
Currently, I do not anticipate excellence from any type of system. Bugs take place. But when they do? I anticipate the assistance team to step up quickly.
That didn’t happen here.
Feedbacks were unclear. Tickets went unanswered. I felt like I was yelling right into deep space while my organization melted. Meanwhile, every min I invested repairing was a minute I had not been offering customers or growing my agency.
For a device that markets itself to major entrepreneurs, GoHighLevel certain really did not treat me like one.
The Interface Was a Warm Mess
You ever utilize a tool and just feel … lost? That was me inside GoHighLevel Calendar Setup.
The UX was clunky. Points were buried in unusual locations. Even basic tasks like editing and enhancing a funnel or tweaking an email circulation turned into a scavenger hunt.
And their funnel builder? Don’t also get me started. Wish to change product settings, web page layouts, and general flow? Cool– you’ll need to hunt with 3 various locations that make absolutely no logical feeling. Half the moment, I could not also remember where I would certainly clicked something 10 secs previously.
It seemed like utilizing software application constructed by engineers, for engineers– not daily entrepreneur.
The “Affordable” Plan That Got Genuine Costly, Real Quick
Let’s talk money.
One of GoHighLevel’s big selling factors is the rate. I mean, $97/month for all those features? Sounds remarkable, ideal?
However here’s what they don’t inform you:.
You pay extra per email if you use their SMTP.
You have to link solutions like Mailgun or Twilio and manage their billing independently.
You’ll get random microcharges that aren’t described clearly.
Desire much better email deliverability? That’s gon na cost you also.
By the time I added everything up, I was paying more than I had been with Keap. And getting worse results.
That’s not a bargain– it’s simply poor mathematics.
My Email Metrics Tanked GoHighLevel Calendar Setup
The final straw? Enjoying my e-mail open rates go down like a rock.
I would certainly been getting a strong 35% open rate with Keap. My target market was involved, my automations were called in, and things just worked.
After switching to GoHighLevel? Opens dropped listed below 15%. Clicks were practically missing. Something was plainly off.
Perhaps it was a deliverability problem. Perhaps the system was simply sending at hard times or otherwise customizing messages properly. Whatever the reason, I had not been staying to play investigator while my listing decayed.
Lessons I Discovered by hand
If you’re thinking of changing to GoHighLevel– or any type of new system– here’s what I want a person had informed me before I made the jump:.
1. Do Not Chase the Shiny Toy
It’s simple to get hyped about the current “advanced” device. Yet just because every person’s talking about something does not mean it’s right for you. If your current system is working, think twice prior to blowing it up.
2. Worth Simplicity Over Features
More isn’t constantly far better. A platform with a tidy, user-friendly user interface will certainly conserve you time and frustrations over time– even if it does not have every feature under the sun.
3. Need Openness
Surprise prices are the most awful. Choose devices that are upfront concerning pricing, integrations, and limitations. You shouldn’t require a calculator and a synonym replacement tool to understand your month-to-month costs.
4. Pay Attention to Actual Users (Not Simply Marketers)
Inspect honest evaluations, individual discussion forums, and Reddit threads. Take notice of real individual experience– not simply slick sales web pages.
Still Want an All-in-One CRM? Here Are Better Options
If you’re still on the hunt for a reputable, straightforward platform to run your service, I have actually checked a bunch. Here are a few I ‘d actually advise:.
Keap— My existing go-to. Powerful automations, strong assistance, and it just functions. Worth every dime.
HubSpot— Great for businesses that need scalability and advanced CRM features.
GreenRope— A solid all-in-one service for tiny to mid-sized businesses with solid reporting tools.
Monday.com— Amazing for job monitoring, group collaboration, and sales pipe monitoring.
Bonsai— Especially excellent for freelancers and service-based solopreneurs.
Conclusion
GoHighLevel may benefit some. However, for me? It was a frustrating, expensive experiment that I could not wait to end.
So if you’re standing at the edge, asking yourself whether to make the leap– think hard. Ask yourself what’s actually not working in your existing arrangement. Don’t melt your systems down even if something newer and shinier turned up.
Stick with what jobs. Your peace of mind (and your clients) will certainly thanks.