You recognize that sensation when you’re 99% sure something’s a wonderful idea, only to recognize later … it was a total dumpster fire? That’s precisely what occurred when I decided to change my entire company over to GoHighLevel.
It looked shiny. It sounded revolutionary. But in truth? It developed into one of the most unpleasant software program decisions I have actually made in over a decade of running my business.
So before you get on the GoHighLevel bandwagon, let me stroll you with specifically what decreased– due to the fact that if you’re anything like me, you’re constantly trying to find smarter, extra effective means to expand your company. Just … not such as this.
The Seductive All-in-One Pledge
Here’s the thing. When GoHighLevel hit the scene, it sounded like a dream happened. A solitary system to handle your CRM, sales funnels, e-mail campaigns, consultation reservations, automation, repayments– you name it.
If you’ve ever handled a Frankenstein stack of devices simply to run your daily, you understand how alluring the “all-in-one” pitch can be. I ‘d been using Keap for many years (and liking it, honestly), however still– I got enticed in by the guarantee of simplifying whatever under one roof.
And yeah, I’ll admit it: I had a poor case of glossy things syndrome.
Why I Left Keap (A Device That In Fact Functioned)
Let me be real with you: Keap had not been damaged. It did every little thing I required. It handled my e-mail automations, sales funnels, visit scheduling, invoicing– you call it. Certain, the interface felt a little dated in position, and in some cases points took a couple of even more clicks than I liked, but hey, it functioned.
So why change?
Truthfully, I just began asking yourself if I was losing out. GoHighLevel was less expensive (on the surface), supplied a lot more features, and all the awesome marketing professionals online seemed to be going crazy regarding it. FOMO is a hell of a drug.
That inquisitiveness price me greater than simply cash– it cost me time, power, and peace of mind.
What It Price Me to Switch
I went all in. Registered for the $297/month agency plan. Invest a solid 30 to 40 hours migrating data, restoring workflows, and generally attempting to replicate my whole Keap setup inside GoHighLevel.
Here’s what I needed to relocate:
- 20,000+ e-mail customers
- Lots of automations
- All client accounts and notes
- Stripe payment integration
- Whole funnel facilities
- Customized types, landing pages, sets off … everything
Allow’s not even discuss the shed efficiency during those couple of weeks. I was up to my eyeballs in Zapier workarounds, enjoying tutorials, and trying to figure out where the heck basic settings were.
And just when I thought points were functioning … they weren’t.
The Vermin Began Sneaking In
Initially, every little thing looked all right. Yet after that, out of nowhere, people on my listing started obtaining emails they weren’t supposed to receive. I’m speaking totally unnecessary messages– sent in sets of 171 users at a time. 3 days in a row.
Total chaos.
I restore the automations from square one. Still taken place. I got in touch with assistance. They condemned “web server problems.” However nothing made good sense, and the trouble really did not vanish. Imagine waking up every early morning questioning who your system could’ve spammed overnight.
That’s not simply irritating– it threatens. When your whole brand name is built on trust, you can not pay for to look like an unaware amateur blasting the wrong emails to the wrong people.
Assistance? Yeah, All The Best
Currently, I do not expect excellence from any type of platform. Insects take place. Yet when they do? I expect the assistance group to step up quickly.
That really did not take place here.
Feedbacks were unclear. Tickets went unanswered. I seemed like I was shouting right into deep space while my company burned. At the same time, every min I spent fixing was a minute I wasn’t serving customers or growing my firm.
For a device that markets itself to serious business owners, GoHighLevel certain didn’t treat me like one.
The Interface Was a Hot Mess
You ever before utilize a device and simply feel … lost? That was me inside GoHighLevel Consulting Team.
The UX was clunky. Things were buried in strange places. Even easy tasks like modifying a funnel or tweaking an e-mail circulation turned into a scavenger hunt.
And their funnel builder? Don’t also get me began. Want to transform product settings, page formats, and overall flow? Trendy– you’ll need to quest with three different locations that make no rational sense. Fifty percent the moment, I couldn’t also keep in mind where I would certainly clicked something 10 secs previously.
It felt like making use of software program built by engineers, for designers– not daily business owners.
The “Cost effective” Plan That Obtained Actual Costly, Actual Fast
Let’s chat cash.
One of GoHighLevel’s huge marketing factors is the price. I suggest, $97/month for all those features? Appears amazing, best?
However right here’s what they don’t inform you:.
You pay extra per email if you utilize their SMTP.
You need to link solutions like Mailgun or Twilio and manage their payment independently.
You’ll get random microcharges that aren’t discussed plainly.
Want much better email deliverability? That’s gon na cost you as well.
By the time I added everything up, I was paying more than I had been with Keap. And becoming worse outcomes.
That’s not a bargain– it’s just bad mathematics.
My Email Metrics Tanked GoHighLevel Consulting Team
The final straw? Seeing my e-mail open rates go down like a rock.
I would certainly been getting a solid 35% open rate with Keap. My audience was involved, my automations were called in, and things simply functioned.
After changing to GoHighLevel? Opens went down below 15%. Clicks were virtually nonexistent. Something was clearly off.
Possibly it was a deliverability issue. Maybe the system was just sending at bad times or otherwise personalizing messages appropriately. Whatever the cause, I had not been lingering to play investigator while my list decomposed.
Lessons I Discovered by hand
If you’re thinking about switching over to GoHighLevel– or any brand-new platform– right here’s what I desire someone had told me before I made the leap:.
1. Don’t Chase the Shiny Toy
It’s simple to obtain hyped about the latest “innovative” device. Yet even if every person’s discussing something does not indicate it’s right for you. If your present system is working, reconsider prior to blowing it up.
2. Value Simpleness Over Features
A lot more isn’t constantly better. A platform with a tidy, intuitive interface will conserve you time and headaches over time– even if it does not have every feature imaginable.
3. Demand Openness
Hidden prices are the most awful. Select tools that are ahead of time about pricing, integrations, and limits. You should not require a calculator and a thesaurus to understand your regular monthly expense.
4. Pay Attention to Real Individuals (Not Simply Online Marketers)
Examine impartial reviews, customer discussion forums, and Reddit threads. Take notice of actual individual experience– not simply glossy sales web pages.
Still Desire an All-in-One CRM? Here Are Better Options
If you’re still on the hunt for a trusted, user-friendly system to run your company, I have actually evaluated a number. Right here are a few I ‘d actually advise:.
Keap— My existing go-to. Powerful automations, solid support, and it simply functions. Well worth every cent.
HubSpot— Great for companies that require scalability and progressed CRM features.
GreenRope— A strong all-in-one remedy for small to mid-sized organizations with strong reporting devices.
Monday.com— Great for job monitoring, team partnership, and sales pipeline tracking.
Bonsai— Specifically fantastic for consultants and service-based solopreneurs.
Verdict
GoHighLevel might benefit some. But for me? It was a frustrating, expensive experiment that I could not wait to end.
So if you’re standing at the edge, wondering whether to make the leap– concentrate. Ask on your own what’s actually not operating in your present configuration. Don’t burn your systems down just because something newer and shinier turned up.
Stick to what works. Your sanity (and your customers) will thank you.