You recognize that sensation when you’re 99% sure something’s a terrific idea, only to recognize later on … it was an overall dumpster fire? That’s precisely what took place when I chose to change my entire firm over to GoHighLevel.
It looked shiny. It appeared revolutionary. However in reality? It developed into among one of the most painful software program decisions 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 exactly what dropped– since if you’re anything like me, you’re always seeking smarter, a lot more effective ways to expand your company. Simply … not like this.
The Sexy All-in-One Guarantee
Right here’s the thing. When GoHighLevel struck the scene, it seemed like a dream come to life. A single platform to manage your CRM, sales funnels, email campaigns, visit reservations, automation, payments– you call it.
If you’ve ever before managed 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 years (and liking it, honestly), but still– I got enticed in by the guarantee of streamlining everything under one roofing.
And yeah, I’ll confess: I had a bad situation of glossy object syndrome.
Why I Left Keap (A Device That Actually Worked)
Let me be genuine with you: Keap had not been broken. It did everything I required. It handled my e-mail automations, sales funnels, appointment scheduling, invoicing– you name it. Certain, the interface really felt a little dated in position, and sometimes points took a couple of more clicks than I suched as, however hey, it functioned.
So why modification?
Truthfully, I just began questioning if I was losing out. GoHighLevel was more affordable (on the surface), supplied extra features, and all the cool marketing experts online seemed to be going crazy concerning it. FOMO is a heck of a drug.
That inquisitiveness expense me greater than simply money– it cost me time, power, and satisfaction.
What It Expense Me to Switch
I went all in. Enrolled in the $297/month agency plan. Invest a strong 30 to 40 hours moving information, rebuilding workflows, and basically trying to reproduce my entire Keap configuration inside GoHighLevel.
Right here’s what I needed to move:
- 20,000+ email customers
- Lots of automations
- All client profiles and notes
- Stripe billing integration
- Whole funnel infrastructure
- Personalized types, landing pages, sets off … whatever
Allow’s not even talk about the shed performance during those couple of weeks. I depended on my eyeballs in Zapier workarounds, seeing tutorials, and trying to figure out where the hell fundamental settings were.
And simply when I believed things were functioning … they weren’t.
The Vermin Began Creeping In
In the beginning, whatever looked alright. Yet then, out of no place, individuals on my checklist started obtaining emails they weren’t expected to receive. I’m talking entirely irrelevant messages– sent in batches of 171 users at once. Three days in a row.
Overall disorder.
I rebuilt the automations from scratch. Still happened. I got in touch with support. They condemned “server issues.” However absolutely nothing made good sense, and the issue didn’t go away. Picture awakening every early morning wondering who your system could’ve spammed overnight.
That’s not simply aggravating– it threatens. When your entire brand is improved trust, you can not pay for to look like a clueless amateur blowing up the incorrect e-mails to the incorrect people.
Assistance? Yeah, Good Luck
Now, I don’t expect perfection from any system. Bugs take place. Yet when they do? I expect the assistance team to step up quick.
That really did not occur right here.
Responses were vague. Tickets went unanswered. I seemed like I was screaming into deep space while my company burned. On the other hand, every min I spent fixing was a min I wasn’t offering clients or growing my agency.
For a tool 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 use a device and just really feel … shed? That was me inside GoHighLevel Conference.
The UX was confusing. Things were hidden in unusual places. Even easy tasks like editing and enhancing a funnel or tweaking an e-mail flow became a scavenger hunt.
And their funnel builder? Do not even get me started. Intend to transform product setups, web page layouts, and overall flow? Cool– you’ll need to hunt with three various areas that make absolutely no logical sense. Fifty percent the moment, I couldn’t even keep in mind where I would certainly clicked something ten secs earlier.
It seemed like utilizing software application constructed by designers, for engineers– not everyday business owners.
The “Affordable” Plan That Obtained Real Expensive, Actual Rapid
Let’s chat money.
Among GoHighLevel’s large selling points is the rate. I imply, $97/month for all those features? Appears remarkable, ideal?
However here’s what they do not inform you:.
You pay extra per email if you utilize their SMTP.
You need to attach services like Mailgun or Twilio and manage their invoicing separately.
You’ll obtain arbitrary microcharges that aren’t explained plainly.
Desire far better e-mail 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 becoming worse results.
That’s not a bargain– it’s simply bad mathematics.
My Email Metrics Tanked GoHighLevel Conference
The final straw? Enjoying my e-mail open prices 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 changing to GoHighLevel? Opens dropped below 15%. Clicks were nearly nonexistent. Something was clearly off.
Perhaps it was a deliverability concern. Possibly the system was simply sending out at hard times or otherwise individualizing messages correctly. Whatever the cause, I wasn’t lingering to play investigator while my list decomposed.
Lessons I Learned by hand
If you’re thinking of switching to GoHighLevel– or any kind of new system– below’s what I want someone had actually told me prior to I made the leap:.
1. Don’t Chase the Shiny Toy
It’s very easy to get hyped regarding the most recent “innovative” tool. Yet just because every person’s discussing something doesn’t suggest it’s right for you. If your present system is functioning, think twice prior to blowing it up.
2. Worth Simpleness Over Features
Extra isn’t always better. A platform with a clean, user-friendly interface will save you time and migraines over time– even if it doesn’t have every feature under the sun.
3. Need Transparency
Covert costs are the most awful. Pick devices that are in advance about pricing, integrations, and restrictions. You should not require a calculator and a synonym replacement tool to comprehend your monthly bill.
4. Pay Attention to Genuine Users (Not Simply Marketers)
Inspect unbiased reviews, customer online forums, and Reddit strings. Take note of actual user experience– not just 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 trusted, straightforward system to run your organization, I have actually tested a lot. Below are a few I ‘d in fact recommend:.
Keap— My current go-to. Powerful automations, solid assistance, and it just functions. Worth every penny.
HubSpot— Great for services that require scalability and progressed CRM features.
GreenRope— A strong all-in-one service for little to mid-sized organizations with solid coverage devices.
Monday.com— Amazing for task administration, team partnership, and sales pipeline tracking.
Bonsai— Particularly fantastic for consultants and service-based solopreneurs.
Final Thought
GoHighLevel might benefit some. However, for me? It was a discouraging, pricey experiment that I couldn’t wait to finish.
So if you’re standing at the edge, asking yourself whether to make the jump– think hard. Ask yourself what’s truly not operating in your current configuration. Do not burn your systems down even if something newer and shinier turned up.
Stick to what jobs. Your sanity (and your customers) will thanks.