You understand that feeling when you’re 99% sure something’s an excellent concept, only to realize later … it was an overall dumpster fire? That’s precisely what took place when I determined to change my whole company over to GoHighLevel.
It looked glossy. It appeared revolutionary. Yet in truth? It turned into among the most unpleasant software application choices I have actually made in over a decade of running my company.
So prior to you jump on the GoHighLevel bandwagon, let me walk you with precisely what dropped– since if you’re anything like me, you’re always searching for smarter, a lot more reliable methods to grow your business. Just … not similar to this.
The Sexy All-in-One Guarantee
Below’s the important things. When GoHighLevel hit the scene, it sounded like a dream come to life. A single system to manage your CRM, sales funnels, email campaigns, appointment reservations, automation, repayments– you call it.
If you’ve ever before handled a Frankenstein pile of devices simply to run your day-to-day, you recognize exactly how appealing the “all-in-one” pitch can be. I ‘d been making use of Keap for several years (and enjoying it, honestly), but still– I obtained enticed in by the pledge of simplifying whatever under one roofing system.
And yeah, I’ll admit it: I had a poor situation of glossy item disorder.
Why I Left Keap (A Tool That Actually Worked)
Let me be actual with you: Keap wasn’t damaged. It did everything I needed. It handled my e-mail automations, sales funnels, visit scheduling, invoicing– you name it. Certain, the user interface felt a little outdated in places, and often points took a couple of even more clicks than I liked, but hey, it functioned.
So why modification?
Honestly, I simply started questioning if I was missing out. GoHighLevel was less costly (externally), supplied more features, and all the cool online marketers on-line appeared to be going crazy about it. FOMO is a hell of a medication.
That curiosity expense me greater than just money– it cost me time, energy, and comfort.
What It Expense Me to Change
I went all in. Registered for the $297/month agency plan. Spent a solid 30 to 40 hours migrating data, rebuilding workflows, and essentially attempting to replicate my entire Keap setup inside GoHighLevel.
Here’s what I had to move:
- 20,000+ e-mail customers
- Loads of automations
- All customer profiles and notes
- Stripe invoicing integration
- Entire funnel infrastructure
- Personalized types, landing pages, sets off … whatever
Let’s not even discuss the shed efficiency throughout those few weeks. I depended on my eyeballs in Zapier workarounds, watching tutorials, and trying to identify where the hell basic setups were.
And simply when I believed points were working … they weren’t.
The Bugs Began Creeping In
Initially, whatever looked alright. But after that, out of no place, individuals on my listing started obtaining emails they weren’t meant to obtain. I’m chatting totally unimportant messages– sent out in batches of 171 users each time. 3 days in a row.
Complete chaos.
I restore the automations from scratch. Still taken place. I called assistance. They criticized “web server concerns.” Yet absolutely nothing made sense, and the problem really did not disappear. Envision waking up every morning wondering who your system could’ve spammed overnight.
That’s not simply frustrating– it threatens. When your whole brand name is improved count on, you can’t afford to appear like an unaware amateur blasting the wrong emails to the wrong people.
Assistance? Yeah, Good Luck
Currently, I don’t expect excellence from any type of platform. Bugs take place. But when they do? I anticipate the support group to step up fast.
That really did not happen here.
Responses were vague. Tickets went unanswered. I felt like I was screaming right into the void while my organization burned. Meanwhile, every minute I spent troubleshooting was a minute I wasn’t offering clients or expanding my company.
For a device that markets itself to severe entrepreneurs, GoHighLevel sure didn’t treat me like one.
The Interface Was a Warm Mess
You ever before use a tool and just really feel … shed? That was me inside GoHighLevel ClickFunnels 2.0 Importer.
The UX was clunky. Things were buried in odd places. Also simple jobs like editing and enhancing a funnel or tweaking an email flow became a scavenger hunt.
And their funnel builder? Do not also obtain me started. Wish to transform product settings, web page formats, and total flow? Great– you’ll need to hunt through 3 different areas that make zero logical sense. Fifty percent the time, I could not even keep in mind where I ‘d clicked something ten secs earlier.
It felt like making use of software program built by engineers, for engineers– not day-to-day business owners.
The “Inexpensive” Plan That Got Real Costly, Real Quick
Let’s talk cash.
One of GoHighLevel’s huge marketing points is the cost. I mean, $97/month for all those features? Seems remarkable, appropriate?
Yet here’s what they don’t tell you:.
You pay added per email if you use their SMTP.
You have to attach solutions like Mailgun or Twilio and manage their billing individually.
You’ll obtain random microcharges that aren’t described clearly.
Want far better e-mail deliverability? That’s gon na cost you also.
By the time I added everything up, I was paying greater than I had been with Keap. And getting worse results.
That’s not a bargain– it’s just poor mathematics.
My Email Metrics Tanked GoHighLevel ClickFunnels 2.0 Importer
The last straw? Seeing my email open rates drop like a rock.
I would certainly been getting a strong 35% open price with Keap. My audience was involved, my automations were called in, and things just functioned.
After switching to GoHighLevel? Opens dropped below 15%. Clicks were nearly nonexistent. Something was plainly off.
Possibly it was a deliverability issue. Possibly the system was simply sending at hard times or otherwise individualizing messages appropriately. Whatever the cause, I had not been lingering to play investigative while my list decayed.
Lessons I Found Out the Hard Way
If you’re thinking of switching to GoHighLevel– or any kind of brand-new platform– here’s what I wish a person had informed me before I made the leap:.
1. Do Not Chase the Shiny Plaything
It’s simple to obtain hyped concerning the most recent “innovative” device. But even if every person’s discussing something doesn’t indicate it’s right for you. If your present system is functioning, reconsider prior to blowing it up.
2. Worth Simpleness Over Features
A lot more isn’t always much better. A system with a clean, instinctive interface will save you time and frustrations over time– even if it doesn’t have every feature under the sun.
3. Demand Transparency
Surprise expenses are the worst. Choose devices that are in advance about pricing, integrations, and limitations. You shouldn’t require a calculator and a synonym replacement tool to recognize your month-to-month bill.
4. Pay Attention to Actual Users (Not Just Marketers)
Check unbiased evaluations, individual forums, and Reddit threads. Take note of real individual experience– not simply glossy sales web pages.
Still Want an All-in-One CRM? Here Are Much better Options
If you’re still on the hunt for a reliable, user-friendly platform to run your service, I’ve checked a lot. Below are a couple of I ‘d really advise:.
Keap— My current go-to. Powerful automations, solid assistance, and it just functions. Worth every dime.
HubSpot— Great for businesses that require scalability and advanced CRM features.
GreenRope— A solid all-in-one option for tiny to mid-sized companies with strong coverage tools.
Monday.com— Fantastic for task administration, group partnership, and sales pipeline tracking.
Bonsai— Especially wonderful for consultants and service-based solopreneurs.
Final Thought
GoHighLevel might work for some. But also for me? It was an aggravating, pricey experiment that I could not wait to finish.
So if you’re standing at the side, wondering whether to make the leap– concentrate. Ask on your own what’s really not operating in your existing configuration. Do not melt your systems down even if something newer and shinier appeared.
Stick with what jobs. Your sanity (and your clients) will thank you.