You understand that feeling when you’re 99% sure something’s an excellent concept, only to understand later on … it was an overall dumpster fire? That’s exactly what occurred when I determined to switch my entire firm over to GoHighLevel.
It looked shiny. It seemed revolutionary. Yet in reality? It became among the most agonizing software application choices I’ve made in over a years of running my company.
So prior to you get on the GoHighLevel bandwagon, let me stroll you through exactly what went down– since if you’re anything like me, you’re always searching for smarter, extra effective methods to grow your service. Simply … not such as this.
The Sexy All-in-One Promise
Here’s the important things. When GoHighLevel hit the scene, it seemed like a dream happened. A single system to manage your CRM, sales funnels, email campaigns, visit reservations, automation, payments– you name it.
If you’ve ever before managed a Frankenstein pile of tools just to run your daily, you understand how alluring the “all-in-one” pitch can be. I would certainly been using Keap for years (and loving it, honestly), but still– I got tempted in by the pledge of simplifying everything under one roofing system.
And yeah, I’ll admit it: I had a bad situation of glossy object syndrome.
Why I Left Keap (A Tool That Really Worked)
Let me be genuine with you: Keap had not been broken. It did whatever I needed. It handled my email automations, sales funnels, visit scheduling, invoicing– you call it. Certain, the user interface felt a little dated in position, and often things took a few more clicks than I liked, but hey, it functioned.
So why modification?
Truthfully, I simply began asking yourself if I was losing out. GoHighLevel was less expensive (externally), used much more features, and all the awesome marketing experts on-line seemed to be going crazy concerning it. FOMO is a heck of a medicine.
That curiosity expense me greater than just money– it cost me time, power, and comfort.
What It Price Me to Switch over
I went all in. Registered for the $297/month agency plan. Invest a solid 30 to 40 hours migrating information, rebuilding workflows, and generally attempting to reproduce my entire Keap configuration inside GoHighLevel.
Below’s what I had to relocate:
- 20,000+ e-mail clients
- Lots of automations
- All client accounts and notes
- Stripe payment integration
- Entire funnel framework
- Custom forms, landing pages, sets off … whatever
Allow’s not even discuss 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 fundamental setups were.
And just when I believed points were working … they weren’t.
The Vermin Started Slipping In
Initially, every little thing looked okay. However after that, out of no place, individuals on my list began obtaining emails they weren’t expected to obtain. I’m speaking entirely irrelevant messages– sent in sets of 171 users each time. 3 days straight.
Overall mayhem.
I reconstruct the automations from square one. Still taken place. I called assistance. They condemned “server concerns.” However nothing made good sense, and the problem didn’t go away. Think of getting up every early morning questioning who your system might’ve spammed overnight.
That’s not just bothersome– it’s dangerous. When your entire brand name is built on depend on, you can not afford to resemble an unaware amateur blasting the wrong e-mails to the incorrect people.
Assistance? Yeah, All The Best
Now, I do not expect excellence from any type of platform. Insects occur. Yet when they do? I anticipate the support group to step up quickly.
That didn’t happen below.
Feedbacks were vague. Tickets went unanswered. I seemed like I was screaming right into deep space while my company melted. On the other hand, every min I invested fixing was a minute I had not been offering customers or expanding my agency.
For a device that markets itself to major entrepreneurs, GoHighLevel sure didn’t treat me like one.
The Interface Was a Hot Mess
You ever utilize a tool and just feel … lost? That was me inside GoHighLevel Cold Email Outreach.
The UX was clunky. Points were hidden in strange areas. Even basic tasks like editing and enhancing a funnel or tweaking an email flow developed into a scavenger hunt.
And their funnel builder? Do not even obtain me started. Wish to transform product settings, page designs, and overall flow? Trendy– you’ll need to quest via 3 various locations that make no logical sense. Half the time, I couldn’t even bear in mind where I ‘d clicked something ten secs earlier.
It seemed like utilizing software program constructed by designers, for designers– not day-to-day business owners.
The “Economical” Plan That Obtained Actual Pricey, Real Quick
Let’s speak money.
One of GoHighLevel’s big selling factors is the cost. I suggest, $97/month for all those features? Appears impressive, ideal?
Yet right here’s what they do not inform you:.
You pay extra per e-mail if you use their SMTP.
You need to connect services like Mailgun or Twilio and handle their payment individually.
You’ll obtain arbitrary microcharges that aren’t described clearly.
Desire much better e-mail deliverability? That’s gon na cost you as well.
By the time I added every little thing up, I was paying more than I had actually been with Keap. And getting worse outcomes.
That’s not a good deal– it’s simply negative math.
My Email Metrics Tanked GoHighLevel Cold Email Outreach
The last straw? Seeing my email open prices drop like a rock.
I would certainly been getting a solid 35% open rate with Keap. My target market was involved, my automations were dialed in, and points just functioned.
After switching over to GoHighLevel? Opens dropped listed below 15%. Clicks were almost missing. Something was clearly off.
Maybe it was a deliverability issue. Perhaps the system was just sending out at hard times or not customizing messages appropriately. Whatever the cause, I wasn’t sticking around to play investigator while my list decomposed.
Lessons I Found Out by hand
If you’re considering switching over to GoHighLevel– or any brand-new system– here’s what I want somebody had told me before I made the leap:.
1. Do Not Chase the Shiny Plaything
It’s very easy to obtain hyped about the most up to date “cutting edge” tool. Yet just because every person’s talking about something doesn’t imply it’s right for you. If your present system is functioning, reconsider prior to blowing it up.
2. Worth Simpleness Over Features
Extra isn’t always far better. A platform with a clean, intuitive user interface will certainly conserve you time and migraines over time– even if it does not have every feature imaginable.
3. Need Transparency
Hidden expenses are the worst. Pick tools that are upfront concerning pricing, integrations, and restrictions. You shouldn’t need a calculator and a thesaurus to comprehend your month-to-month expense.
4. Pay Attention to Actual Individuals (Not Just Online Marketers)
Inspect honest reviews, user forums, and Reddit strings. Take note of actual individual experience– not simply glossy sales pages.
Still Desire an All-in-One CRM? Below Are Much better Options
If you’re still on the hunt for a trustworthy, user-friendly platform to run your company, I’ve examined a number. Right here are a few I ‘d really recommend:.
Keap— My present go-to. Powerful automations, strong assistance, and it just functions. Worth every cent.
HubSpot— Great for businesses that need scalability and progressed CRM features.
GreenRope— A solid all-in-one solution for little to mid-sized companies with strong coverage devices.
Monday.com— Great for task management, group collaboration, and sales pipeline tracking.
Bonsai— Particularly terrific for consultants and service-based solopreneurs.
Final Thought
GoHighLevel might work for some. But also for me? It was an irritating, costly experiment that I couldn’t wait to end.
So if you’re standing at the edge, wondering whether to make the leap– think hard. Ask on your own what’s really not operating in your existing setup. Don’t burn your systems down just because something more recent and shinier turned up.
Stick to what jobs. Your peace of mind (and your customers) will certainly thank you.