You understand that sensation when you’re 99% sure something’s a wonderful concept, just to realize later … it was an overall dumpster fire? That’s specifically what occurred when I determined to change my entire agency over to GoHighLevel.
It looked shiny. It seemed revolutionary. Yet in reality? It became among the most painful software choices I’ve made in over a decade of running my company.
So before you get on the GoHighLevel bandwagon, let me stroll you through specifically what went down– due to the fact that if you’re anything like me, you’re constantly searching for smarter, extra reliable methods to grow your company. Simply … not like this.
The Sexy All-in-One Promise
Right here’s the important things. When GoHighLevel struck the scene, it sounded like a desire become a reality. A solitary system to manage your CRM, sales funnels, e-mail campaigns, consultation reservations, automation, repayments– you call it.
If you have actually ever before managed a Frankenstein stack of tools simply to run your day-to-day, you understand how alluring the “all-in-one” pitch can be. I would certainly been utilizing Keap for years (and liking it, honestly), however still– I got drawn in by the promise of simplifying every little thing under one roofing.
And yeah, I’ll confess: I had a bad instance of shiny object disorder.
Why I Left Keap (A Tool That In Fact Worked)
Let me be real with you: Keap wasn’t broken. It did every little thing I required. It managed my email automations, sales funnels, appointment scheduling, invoicing– you call it. Sure, the user interface felt a little outdated in places, and often things took a couple of even more clicks than I liked, yet hey, it functioned.
So why adjustment?
Truthfully, I simply began questioning if I was losing out. GoHighLevel was more affordable (on the surface), provided a lot more features, and all the trendy marketers online appeared to be going crazy concerning it. FOMO is a heck of a drug.
That curiosity cost me more than simply cash– it cost me time, energy, and comfort.
What It Expense Me to Change
I went all in. Signed up for the $297/month agency plan. Spent a strong 30 to 40 hours migrating data, rebuilding workflows, and essentially trying to replicate my entire Keap configuration inside GoHighLevel.
Below’s what I had to relocate:
- 20,000+ e-mail customers
- Lots of automations
- All customer profiles and notes
- Stripe billing integration
- Whole funnel facilities
- Personalized forms, landing pages, causes … whatever
Let’s not also discuss the lost productivity throughout those few weeks. I was up to my eyeballs in Zapier workarounds, enjoying tutorials, and attempting to figure out where the heck basic settings were.
And just when I assumed points were working … they weren’t.
The Bugs Began Creeping In
Initially, everything looked all right. Yet after that, out of no place, people on my listing started getting e-mails they weren’t meant to obtain. I’m speaking completely pointless messages– sent out in batches of 171 users at once. Three days straight.
Complete disorder.
I rebuilt the automations from scratch. Still occurred. I called support. They blamed “web server concerns.” Yet nothing made sense, and the problem didn’t vanish. Visualize getting up every early morning wondering who your system may’ve spammed over night.
That’s not just irritating– it’s dangerous. When your whole brand name is improved depend on, you can’t manage to resemble an unaware amateur blasting the incorrect emails to the incorrect individuals.
Assistance? Yeah, All The Best
Now, I don’t expect excellence from any type of platform. Bugs happen. But when they do? I expect the assistance group to step up quickly.
That didn’t take place below.
Actions were vague. Tickets went unanswered. I seemed like I was yelling right into the void while my company burned. At the same time, every min I spent troubleshooting was a min I had not been offering customers or expanding my company.
For a device that markets itself to major business owners, GoHighLevel certain didn’t treat me like one.
The Interface Was a Warm Mess
You ever before use a device and simply really feel … lost? That was me inside GoHighLevel Custom CSS.
The UX was cumbersome. Points were hidden in weird areas. Even straightforward jobs like editing a funnel or tweaking an e-mail flow developed into a scavenger hunt.
And their funnel builder? Do not also get me began. Wish to transform item settings, web page layouts, and general flow? Awesome– you’ll require to quest via three various areas that make absolutely no logical sense. Half the time, I could not even bear in mind where I would certainly clicked something 10 seconds earlier.
It felt like using software application developed by designers, for designers– not daily business owners.
The “Cost effective” Plan That Obtained Actual Costly, Actual Quick
Let’s chat money.
Among GoHighLevel’s huge marketing factors is the price. I mean, $97/month for all those features? Sounds outstanding, right?
Yet right here’s what they do not inform you:.
You pay added per email if you utilize their SMTP.
You need to connect services like Mailgun or Twilio and manage their payment individually.
You’ll get random microcharges that aren’t described plainly.
Desire better e-mail deliverability? That’s gon na cost you also.
By the time I included everything up, I was paying greater than I had been with Keap. And becoming worse outcomes.
That’s not a good deal– it’s just negative mathematics.
My Email Metrics Tanked GoHighLevel Custom CSS
The last straw? Watching my e-mail open rates drop like a rock.
I ‘d been getting a strong 35% open rate with Keap. My target market was involved, my automations were dialed in, and points simply worked.
After switching to GoHighLevel? Opens dropped listed below 15%. Clicks were practically nonexistent. Something was clearly off.
Perhaps it was a deliverability issue. Possibly the system was simply sending out at bad times or not personalizing messages appropriately. Whatever the reason, I had not been lingering to play investigator while my list decomposed.
Lessons I Learned the Hard Way
If you’re considering changing to GoHighLevel– or any new platform– right here’s what I wish a person had actually told me prior to I made the jump:.
1. Don’t Chase the Shiny Toy
It’s simple to get hyped regarding the current “revolutionary” device. But even if everyone’s talking about something does not imply it’s right for you. If your existing system is working, reconsider prior to blowing it up.
2. Value Simpleness Over Features
More isn’t always much better. A system with a tidy, instinctive user interface will save you time and frustrations over time– even if it doesn’t have every feature under the sun.
3. Need Transparency
Concealed costs are the most awful. Choose devices that are ahead of time about pricing, integrations, and limits. You shouldn’t need a calculator and a synonym replacement tool to recognize your monthly bill.
4. Listen to Actual Individuals (Not Just Online Marketers)
Examine honest testimonials, individual forums, and Reddit strings. Pay attention to real customer 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 reliable, straightforward system to run your business, I have actually checked a lot. Right here are a couple of I ‘d in fact suggest:.
Keap— My existing go-to. Effective automations, strong assistance, and it simply works. Worth every cent.
HubSpot— Great for companies that require scalability and progressed CRM features.
GreenRope— A strong all-in-one remedy for tiny to mid-sized organizations with strong reporting tools.
Monday.com— Great for job management, team partnership, and sales pipe tracking.
Bonsai— Particularly great for freelancers and service-based solopreneurs.
Verdict
GoHighLevel might help some. But for me? It was a discouraging, pricey experiment that I could not wait to finish.
So if you’re standing at the side, questioning whether to make the leap– concentrate. Ask yourself what’s truly not working in your current arrangement. Don’t shed your systems down just because something more recent and shinier appeared.
Stick with what jobs. Your sanity (and your customers) will certainly thank you.