You recognize that feeling when you’re 99% certain something’s an excellent idea, just to understand later … it was a total dumpster fire? That’s precisely what took place when I determined to switch my entire company over to GoHighLevel.
It looked glossy. It seemed revolutionary. However in truth? It developed into among one of the most painful software application decisions I’ve made in over a years of running my service.
So prior to you jump on the GoHighLevel bandwagon, let me walk you with specifically what dropped– because if you’re anything like me, you’re always trying to find smarter, extra reliable methods to expand your company. Just … not such as this.
The Sexy All-in-One Guarantee
Below’s things. When GoHighLevel struck the scene, it sounded like a dream become a reality. A single platform to handle your CRM, sales funnels, e-mail campaigns, visit bookings, automation, settlements– you call it.
If you have actually ever managed a Monster stack of devices simply to run your daily, you recognize how alluring the “all-in-one” pitch can be. I ‘d been using Keap for several years (and loving it, truthfully), yet still– I got tempted in by the guarantee of simplifying every little thing under one roof covering.
And yeah, I’ll confess: I had a negative situation of glossy object syndrome.
Why I Left Keap (A Device That Really Worked)
Let me be actual 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 Sure, the interface felt a little outdated in position, and sometimes points took a few even more clicks than I liked, yet hey, it worked.
So why modification?
Honestly, I just began asking yourself if I was missing out. GoHighLevel was less expensive (externally), provided much more features, and all the great online marketers on-line seemed to be going crazy about it. FOMO is a heck of a medicine.
That inquisitiveness cost me greater than simply cash– it cost me time, energy, and satisfaction.
What It Expense Me to Switch
I went all in. Enrolled in the $297/month agency plan. Spent a solid 30 to 40 hours migrating information, reconstructing workflows, and essentially attempting to reproduce my whole Keap setup inside GoHighLevel.
Below’s what I had to move:
- 20,000+ e-mail clients
- Lots of automations
- All customer profiles and notes
- Stripe billing integration
- Whole funnel facilities
- Custom kinds, landing pages, sets off … every little thing
Let’s not also discuss the shed productivity throughout those few weeks. I depended on my eyeballs in Zapier workarounds, enjoying tutorials, and trying to figure out where the hell standard setups were.
And just when I assumed things were working … they weren’t.
The Bugs Began Creeping In
In the beginning, everything looked alright. However after that, out of nowhere, individuals on my list started getting e-mails they weren’t supposed to receive. I’m talking totally unimportant messages– sent in batches of 171 users each time. Three days straight.
Total turmoil.
I reconstruct the automations from scratch. Still occurred. I spoke to support. They condemned “server concerns.” However absolutely nothing made good sense, and the trouble didn’t disappear. Visualize awakening every early morning wondering who your system may’ve spammed overnight.
That’s not simply irritating– it’s dangerous. When your entire brand name is improved trust fund, you can not manage to look like an unaware amateur blowing up the wrong emails to the wrong individuals.
Support? Yeah, Best Of Luck
Now, I do not expect excellence from any kind of system. Bugs occur. However when they do? I anticipate the support group to step up quickly.
That really did not take place right here.
Actions were obscure. Tickets went unanswered. I felt like I was yelling into deep space while my service shed. At the same time, every min I spent fixing was a minute I had not been serving customers or growing my agency.
For a tool that markets itself to significant entrepreneurs, GoHighLevel sure really did not treat me like one.
The Interface Was a Warm Mess
You ever utilize a tool and just really feel … shed? That was me inside GoHighLevel Call Recording.
The UX was cumbersome. Points were hidden in weird areas. Also simple tasks like editing a funnel or tweaking an e-mail flow turned into a scavenger hunt.
And their funnel builder? Do not even get me began. Wish to transform item setups, web page formats, and overall flow? Awesome– you’ll require to quest via 3 various areas that make absolutely no sensible feeling. Half the time, I couldn’t even bear in mind where I would certainly clicked something ten secs earlier.
It felt like making use of software application constructed by designers, for designers– not daily local business owner.
The “Economical” Plan That Obtained Genuine Pricey, Genuine Rapid
Let’s talk money.
One of GoHighLevel’s large selling points is the cost. I indicate, $97/month for all those features? Sounds impressive, appropriate?
Yet here’s what they do not inform you:.
You pay extra per email if you use their SMTP.
You have to link solutions like Mailgun or Twilio and handle their invoicing individually.
You’ll obtain arbitrary microcharges that aren’t discussed clearly.
Want better e-mail deliverability? That’s gon na cost you as well.
By the time I included whatever up, I was paying more than I had been with Keap. And becoming worse outcomes.
That’s not a bargain– it’s simply bad math.
My Email Metrics Tanked GoHighLevel Call Recording
The final straw? Seeing my e-mail open rates go down like a rock.
I ‘d been getting a solid 35% open rate with Keap. My audience was engaged, my automations were called in, and things simply worked.
After switching to GoHighLevel? Opens went down below 15%. Clicks were practically missing. Something was clearly off.
Possibly it was a deliverability issue. Perhaps the system was simply sending at hard times or not personalizing messages correctly. Whatever the cause, I had not been staying to play detective while my list decomposed.
Lessons I Discovered the Hard Way
If you’re thinking about switching over to GoHighLevel– or any new system– here’s what I want someone had actually informed me before I made the leap:.
1. Don’t Chase the Shiny Toy
It’s simple to get hyped about the most recent “cutting edge” device. Yet just because every person’s discussing something doesn’t mean it’s right for you. If your present system is working, reconsider before blowing it up.
2. Worth Simpleness Over Features
A lot more isn’t constantly much better. A platform with a clean, user-friendly interface will certainly save you time and headaches in the future– even if it doesn’t have every feature under the sun.
3. Need Transparency
Concealed prices are the most awful. Select tools that are upfront regarding pricing, integrations, and restrictions. You should not need a calculator and a thesaurus to recognize your regular monthly costs.
4. Listen to Real Individuals (Not Just Online Marketers)
Inspect impartial evaluations, customer discussion forums, and Reddit threads. Take note of actual user experience– not simply glossy sales pages.
Still Want an All-in-One CRM? Right Here Are Much better Options
If you’re still on the hunt for a trusted, easy to use system to run your organization, I have actually evaluated a lot. Below are a few I ‘d actually suggest:.
Keap— My current go-to. Powerful automations, solid support, and it just functions. Well worth every penny.
HubSpot— Great for companies that require scalability and progressed CRM features.
GreenRope— A strong all-in-one service for little to mid-sized companies with solid reporting devices.
Monday.com— Superb for job management, team collaboration, and sales pipe tracking.
Bonsai— Specifically terrific for freelancers and service-based solopreneurs.
Final Thought
GoHighLevel may work for some. But also for me? It was a discouraging, pricey experiment that I couldn’t wait to end.
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 present arrangement. Do not melt your systems down even if something newer and shinier turned up.
Stick with what works. Your sanity (and your clients) will thanks.