You know that feeling when you’re 99% sure something’s a wonderful concept, only to recognize later … it was a total dumpster fire? That’s precisely what occurred when I made a decision to switch my entire company over to GoHighLevel.
It looked glossy. It appeared revolutionary. But in truth? It developed into one of the most painful software decisions I have actually made in over a decade of running my organization.
So before you jump on the GoHighLevel bandwagon, let me stroll you through specifically what dropped– since if you’re anything like me, you’re constantly trying to find smarter, a lot more efficient methods to grow your business. Simply … not similar to this.
The Seductive All-in-One Assurance
Right here’s the thing. When GoHighLevel hit the scene, it sounded like a desire become a reality. A solitary platform to manage your CRM, sales funnels, e-mail campaigns, appointment reservations, automation, repayments– you name it.
If you’ve ever handled a Monster pile of devices just to run your daily, you know just how appealing the “all-in-one” pitch can be. I would certainly been utilizing Keap for many years (and liking it, honestly), however still– I obtained enticed in by the promise of streamlining everything under one roofing.
And yeah, I’ll admit it: I had a poor case of glossy item syndrome.
Why I Left Keap (A Device That In Fact Worked)
Let me be actual with you: Keap wasn’t broken. It did whatever I required. It handled my email automations, sales funnels, visit scheduling, invoicing– you call it. Sure, the interface really felt a little dated in position, and sometimes things took a few more clicks than I liked, yet hey, it worked.
So why adjustment?
Honestly, I just began questioning if I was missing out. GoHighLevel was cheaper (on the surface), used more features, and all the great marketers on the internet appeared to be going crazy regarding it. FOMO is a hell of a medication.
That curiosity cost me greater than just money– it cost me time, power, and satisfaction.
What It Cost Me to Change
I went all in. Enrolled in the $297/month agency plan. Spent a strong 30 to 40 hours moving information, reconstructing workflows, and primarily trying to reproduce my entire Keap arrangement inside GoHighLevel.
Below’s what I needed to relocate:
- 20,000+ e-mail customers
- Lots of automations
- All customer accounts and notes
- Stripe billing integration
- Entire funnel framework
- Custom-made types, landing pages, causes … whatever
Let’s not also discuss the shed efficiency during those few weeks. I depended on my eyeballs in Zapier workarounds, viewing tutorials, and attempting to determine where the heck fundamental setups were.
And just when I assumed points were functioning … they weren’t.
The Bugs Started Slipping In
At first, every little thing looked all right. Yet then, out of no place, individuals on my listing began obtaining emails they weren’t meant to receive. I’m chatting totally unimportant messages– sent out in batches of 171 individuals at once. 3 days straight.
Overall turmoil.
I rebuilt the automations from square one. Still taken place. I spoke to support. They condemned “server problems.” But nothing made good sense, and the issue really did not go away. Picture getting up every morning wondering who your system may’ve spammed overnight.
That’s not simply aggravating– it’s dangerous. When your entire brand is improved count on, you can not pay for to appear like an unaware amateur blowing up the incorrect emails to the incorrect people.
Support? Yeah, Best Of Luck
Now, I do not expect excellence from any platform. Insects occur. However when they do? I anticipate the support team to step up quick.
That didn’t occur below.
Actions were obscure. Tickets went unanswered. I felt like I was yelling into deep space while my service shed. On the other hand, every minute I invested troubleshooting was a min I wasn’t serving clients or expanding my agency.
For a device that markets itself to serious business owners, GoHighLevel sure really did not treat me like one.
The User interface Was a Warm Mess
You ever before make use of a device and simply really feel … shed? That was me inside GoHighLevel Careers.
The UX was confusing. Things were buried in weird places. Also basic jobs 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 alter product setups, page formats, and overall flow? Cool– you’ll require to hunt via three different areas that make no rational sense. Fifty percent the time, I couldn’t also bear in mind where I ‘d clicked something 10 secs previously.
It felt like utilizing software application built by engineers, for engineers– not daily local business owner.
The “Budget-friendly” Plan That Got Actual Costly, Genuine Rapid
Let’s chat cash.
Among GoHighLevel’s huge selling factors is the cost. I imply, $97/month for all those features? Seems incredible, best?
Yet here’s what they don’t tell you:.
You pay added per email if you utilize their SMTP.
You have to attach services like Mailgun or Twilio and handle their billing individually.
You’ll obtain random microcharges that aren’t explained plainly.
Want much better email 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 getting worse outcomes.
That’s not a good deal– it’s simply bad mathematics.
My Email Metrics Tanked GoHighLevel Careers
The final straw? Seeing my email open prices go down like a rock.
I would certainly been getting a strong 35% open price with Keap. My audience was engaged, my automations were dialed in, and points just functioned.
After switching to GoHighLevel? Opens went down listed below 15%. Clicks were practically missing. Something was plainly off.
Perhaps it was a deliverability concern. Maybe the system was just sending at hard times or not personalizing messages properly. Whatever the cause, I wasn’t sticking around to play investigator while my listing rotted.
Lessons I Learned the Hard Way
If you’re considering switching to GoHighLevel– or any kind of new platform– below’s what I wish someone had informed me prior to I made the leap:.
1. Do Not Chase the Shiny Toy
It’s very easy to obtain hyped regarding the current “innovative” device. But even if everyone’s speaking about something doesn’t imply it’s right for you. If your present system is functioning, hesitate prior to blowing it up.
2. Worth Simplicity Over Features
A lot more isn’t always better. A platform with a tidy, intuitive interface will certainly conserve you time and frustrations in the long run– even if it does not have every feature under the sun.
3. Demand Openness
Covert expenses are the worst. Pick tools that are ahead of time about pricing, integrations, and limits. You should not require a calculator and a synonym replacement tool to comprehend your monthly costs.
4. Pay Attention to Genuine Individuals (Not Just Marketing Professionals)
Check objective reviews, individual online forums, and Reddit threads. Take notice of actual individual experience– not simply glossy sales web pages.
Still Desire an All-in-One CRM? Below Are Much better Options
If you’re still on the hunt for a trustworthy, straightforward platform to run your business, I have actually tested a bunch. Here are a few I ‘d in fact recommend:.
Keap— My existing go-to. Effective automations, solid support, and it just functions. Well worth every penny.
HubSpot— Great for companies that need scalability and advanced CRM features.
GreenRope— A strong all-in-one remedy for small to mid-sized services with solid reporting tools.
Monday.com— Great for project administration, team partnership, and sales pipeline tracking.
Bonsai— Specifically fantastic for freelancers and service-based solopreneurs.
Verdict
GoHighLevel might work for some. But also for me? It was a frustrating, costly experiment that I could not wait to end.
So if you’re standing at the side, wondering whether to make the jump– think hard. Ask yourself what’s actually not operating in your current configuration. Do not melt your systems down just because something newer and shinier turned up.
Stick with what works. Your sanity (and your customers) will certainly thanks.