You recognize that sensation when you’re 99% sure something’s a fantastic idea, only to recognize later on … it was a total dumpster fire? That’s precisely what took place when I determined to switch my entire agency over to GoHighLevel.
It looked shiny. It sounded revolutionary. Yet in reality? It developed into one of one of the most uncomfortable software application decisions I’ve made in over a years of running my service.
So prior to you get on the GoHighLevel bandwagon, let me stroll you via precisely what decreased– since if you’re anything like me, you’re constantly seeking smarter, a lot more effective methods to grow your business. Simply … not such as this.
The Seductive All-in-One Pledge
Below’s things. When GoHighLevel hit the scene, it seemed like a desire happened. A solitary platform to manage your CRM, sales funnels, e-mail campaigns, consultation reservations, automation, payments– you name it.
If you’ve ever juggled a Monster stack of devices just to run your everyday, you understand exactly how alluring the “all-in-one” pitch can be. I would certainly been using Keap for years (and liking it, truthfully), yet still– I got enticed in by the guarantee of streamlining every little thing under one roof.
And yeah, I’ll admit it: I had a bad case of shiny object disorder.
Why I Left Keap (A Tool That In Fact Worked)
Let me be actual with you: Keap had not been broken. It did every little thing I needed. It handled my e-mail automations, sales funnels, visit scheduling, invoicing– you name it. Sure, the user interface really felt a little dated in position, and occasionally points took a couple of more clicks than I suched as, yet hey, it worked.
So why modification?
Honestly, I simply started wondering if I was losing out. GoHighLevel was less costly (externally), supplied more features, and all the cool online marketers on the internet seemed to be going crazy about it. FOMO is a hell of a medication.
That curiosity price me greater than just money– it cost me time, power, and comfort.
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 data, restoring workflows, and essentially attempting to duplicate my whole Keap arrangement inside GoHighLevel.
Below’s what I had to relocate:
- 20,000+ e-mail customers
- Lots of automations
- All customer accounts and notes
- Stripe billing integration
- Whole funnel framework
- Custom kinds, landing pages, triggers … whatever
Let’s not even talk about the lost productivity throughout those couple of weeks. I depended on my eyeballs in Zapier workarounds, watching tutorials, and attempting to determine where the hell standard settings were.
And just when I assumed things were functioning … they weren’t.
The Bugs Began Slipping In
At first, every little thing looked all right. Yet then, out of nowhere, individuals on my list started getting e-mails they weren’t supposed to obtain. I’m chatting completely unnecessary messages– sent out in sets of 171 customers each time. 3 days straight.
Total chaos.
I restore the automations from the ground up. Still happened. I got in touch with assistance. They blamed “server issues.” But nothing made good sense, and the trouble really did not disappear. Picture getting up every early morning wondering who your system could’ve spammed over night.
That’s not simply irritating– it’s dangerous. When your whole brand is built on count on, you can’t manage to appear like a clueless amateur blowing up the wrong e-mails to the wrong people.
Assistance? Yeah, Best Of Luck
Currently, I don’t anticipate excellence from any type of system. Pests take place. Yet when they do? I anticipate the support team to step up quickly.
That didn’t occur right here.
Actions were obscure. Tickets went unanswered. I seemed like I was screaming into the void while my business melted. Meanwhile, every minute I invested fixing was a min I had not been offering clients or growing my agency.
For a device that markets itself to major entrepreneurs, GoHighLevel sure really did not treat me like one.
The Interface Was a Hot Mess
You ever make use of a device and simply feel … lost? That was me inside GoHighLevel Customer Experiences.
The UX was cumbersome. Points were buried in strange locations. Even basic jobs like modifying a funnel or tweaking an email circulation developed into a scavenger hunt.
And their funnel builder? Do not also get me started. Intend to transform item setups, page layouts, and overall circulation? Trendy– you’ll need to quest via 3 various areas that make zero rational sense. Half the time, I couldn’t even remember where I would certainly clicked something 10 seconds previously.
It felt like using software built by engineers, for engineers– not everyday company owner.
The “Budget friendly” Plan That Obtained Actual Pricey, Genuine Quick
Let’s chat money.
One of GoHighLevel’s huge selling points is the rate. I suggest, $97/month for all those features? Sounds incredible, right?
Yet below’s what they don’t tell you:.
You pay added per e-mail if you utilize their SMTP.
You have to connect services like Mailgun or Twilio and manage their billing individually.
You’ll get random microcharges that aren’t discussed plainly.
Desire better email deliverability? That’s gon na cost you also.
By the time I included whatever up, I was paying greater than I had been with Keap. And worsening outcomes.
That’s not a good deal– it’s just bad mathematics.
My Email Metrics Tanked GoHighLevel Customer Experiences
The last straw? Seeing my e-mail open rates drop like a rock.
I ‘d been obtaining a strong 35% open rate with Keap. My audience was involved, my automations were dialed in, and things just worked.
After switching to GoHighLevel? Opens dropped listed below 15%. Clicks were nearly missing. Something was clearly off.
Possibly it was a deliverability issue. Perhaps the system was just sending at bad times or not customizing messages properly. Whatever the reason, I wasn’t sticking around to play investigative while my checklist deteriorated.
Lessons I Found Out by hand
If you’re thinking of changing to GoHighLevel– or any kind of brand-new system– right here’s what I wish a person had actually told me before I made the leap:.
1. Do Not Chase the Shiny Toy
It’s very easy to obtain hyped concerning the latest “innovative” device. Yet even if everybody’s speaking about something doesn’t mean it’s right for you. If your existing system is working, hesitate before blowing it up.
2. Worth Simpleness Over Features
A lot more isn’t constantly far better. A system with a tidy, intuitive user interface will save you time and headaches over time– even if it doesn’t have every feature under the sun.
3. Demand Transparency
Covert prices are the worst. Pick tools that are ahead of time regarding pricing, integrations, and restrictions. You shouldn’t require a calculator and a synonym replacement tool to recognize your monthly expense.
4. Pay Attention to Real Customers (Not Simply Marketing Professionals)
Check honest testimonials, customer forums, and Reddit threads. Take notice of actual customer experience– not simply slick sales pages.
Still Desire an All-in-One CRM? Right Here Are Better Options
If you’re still on the hunt for a trustworthy, straightforward system to run your service, I have actually examined a bunch. Right here are a few I ‘d really suggest:.
Keap— My present go-to. Effective automations, solid assistance, and it just works. Worth every cent.
HubSpot— Great for services that need scalability and progressed CRM features.
GreenRope— A strong all-in-one option for small to mid-sized services with solid reporting devices.
Monday.com— Great for task administration, team partnership, and sales pipeline tracking.
Bonsai— Especially terrific for consultants and service-based solopreneurs.
Verdict
GoHighLevel may work for some. However, for me? It was an aggravating, expensive experiment that I couldn’t wait to end.
So if you’re standing at the edge, asking yourself whether to make the jump– 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 with what works. Your peace of mind (and your clients) will thank you.