You understand that feeling when you’re 99% sure something’s an excellent concept, just to understand later … it was a complete dumpster fire? That’s exactly what happened when I made a decision to switch my entire agency over to GoHighLevel.
It looked glossy. It appeared revolutionary. Yet actually? It turned into among one of the most excruciating software decisions I’ve made in over a decade of running my organization.
So before you jump on the GoHighLevel bandwagon, let me walk you through exactly what decreased– because if you’re anything like me, you’re constantly looking for smarter, more efficient ways to grow your business. Simply … not such as this.
The Sexy All-in-One Assurance
Right here’s things. When GoHighLevel struck the scene, it sounded like a dream come to life. A solitary platform to manage your CRM, sales funnels, e-mail campaigns, visit reservations, automation, repayments– you name it.
If you have actually ever before managed a Frankenstein pile of tools just to run your daily, you recognize exactly how alluring the “all-in-one” pitch can be. I would certainly been making use of Keap for many years (and enjoying it, truthfully), however still– I obtained drawn in by the promise of streamlining everything under one roofing.
And yeah, I’ll admit it: I had a poor case of glossy things disorder.
Why I Left Keap (A Tool That Actually Functioned)
Let me be actual with you: Keap wasn’t broken. It did every little thing I required. It managed my email automations, sales funnels, consultation organizing, invoicing– you call it. Certain, the interface felt a little outdated in places, and in some cases things took a few even more clicks than I liked, however hey, it worked.
So why modification?
Honestly, I simply began wondering if I was losing out. GoHighLevel was cheaper (externally), offered more features, and all the cool marketing experts on-line appeared to be going crazy concerning it. FOMO is a hell of a medicine.
That inquisitiveness price me more than simply money– it cost me time, power, and comfort.
What It Price Me to Switch
I went all in. Signed up for the $297/month agency plan. Invest a solid 30 to 40 hours moving data, rebuilding workflows, and basically trying to reproduce my whole Keap arrangement inside GoHighLevel.
Right here’s what I had to move:
- 20,000+ email subscribers
- Loads of automations
- All client accounts and notes
- Stripe billing integration
- Entire funnel framework
- Personalized types, landing pages, activates … every little thing
Let’s not even speak about the shed performance during those few weeks. I was up to my eyeballs in Zapier workarounds, enjoying tutorials, and attempting to identify where the heck basic setups were.
And simply when I assumed things were working … they weren’t.
The Bugs Began Sneaking In
In the beginning, every little thing looked alright. But after that, out of nowhere, people on my checklist started getting e-mails they weren’t intended to obtain. I’m talking entirely pointless messages– sent in sets of 171 individuals at once. 3 days in a row.
Complete turmoil.
I restore the automations from square one. Still occurred. I spoke to support. They condemned “server problems.” Yet absolutely nothing made good sense, and the problem really did not vanish. Picture awakening every morning questioning who your system may’ve spammed overnight.
That’s not simply frustrating– it threatens. When your entire brand is improved trust fund, you can’t manage to resemble an unaware amateur blasting the wrong emails to the wrong people.
Assistance? Yeah, All The Best
Now, I don’t expect excellence from any type of system. Insects take place. Yet when they do? I expect the support team to step up quickly.
That didn’t happen right here.
Responses were obscure. Tickets went unanswered. I seemed like I was screaming into deep space while my company shed. On the other hand, every min I spent repairing was a min I wasn’t offering clients or growing my company.
For a device that markets itself to severe business owners, GoHighLevel certain didn’t treat me like one.
The Interface Was a Hot Mess
You ever before use a tool and just really feel … shed? That was me inside GoHighLevel Data Processing Agreement.
The UX was cumbersome. Points were hidden in odd locations. Even easy jobs like editing a funnel or tweaking an e-mail flow turned into a scavenger hunt.
And their funnel builder? Don’t also get me began. Wish to transform product settings, web page designs, and general flow? Trendy– you’ll need to hunt with three different areas that make no rational feeling. Fifty percent the moment, I couldn’t even remember where I ‘d clicked something 10 seconds earlier.
It felt like utilizing software application built by designers, for engineers– not day-to-day local business owner.
The “Affordable” Plan That Got Actual Pricey, Real Fast
Let’s chat money.
Among GoHighLevel’s big marketing points is the cost. I indicate, $97/month for all those features? Sounds remarkable, best?
But right here’s what they don’t inform you:.
You pay added per e-mail if you use their SMTP.
You need to attach solutions like Mailgun or Twilio and manage their billing individually.
You’ll get arbitrary microcharges that aren’t explained plainly.
Want far better email deliverability? That’s gon na cost you too.
By the time I added everything up, I was paying greater than I had actually been with Keap. And becoming worse results.
That’s not a bargain– it’s just bad mathematics.
My Email Metrics Tanked GoHighLevel Data Processing Agreement
The last straw? Viewing my e-mail open prices go down like a rock.
I ‘d been getting a solid 35% open rate with Keap. My audience was engaged, my automations were called in, and points simply worked.
After switching to GoHighLevel? Opens went down listed below 15%. Clicks were almost nonexistent. Something was plainly off.
Perhaps it was a deliverability issue. Maybe the system was simply sending out at bad times or otherwise personalizing messages correctly. Whatever the reason, I wasn’t sticking around to play detective while my listing deteriorated.
Lessons I Discovered the Hard Way
If you’re thinking of switching to GoHighLevel– or any kind of new system– here’s what I want somebody had actually told me prior to I made the jump:.
1. Do Not Chase the Shiny Toy
It’s easy to get hyped about the latest “cutting edge” device. However just because every person’s discussing something does not indicate it’s right for you. If your current system is functioning, think twice prior to blowing it up.
2. Value Simpleness Over Features
More isn’t constantly far better. A system with a tidy, user-friendly interface will certainly conserve you time and headaches in the future– even if it does not have every feature under the sun.
3. Demand Openness
Covert prices are the most awful. Pick devices that are in advance concerning pricing, integrations, and limits. You should not need a calculator and a synonym replacement tool to comprehend your month-to-month bill.
4. Pay Attention to Actual Customers (Not Just Marketing Professionals)
Examine impartial testimonials, individual online forums, and Reddit strings. Take notice of actual customer experience– not simply glossy sales web pages.
Still Want an All-in-One CRM? Right Here Are Much better Options
If you’re still on the hunt for a reputable, easy to use platform to run your business, I’ve evaluated a bunch. Below are a couple of I ‘d actually advise:.
Keap— My current go-to. Effective automations, strong support, and it just functions. Worth every penny.
HubSpot— Great for organizations that need scalability and progressed CRM features.
GreenRope— A strong all-in-one solution for tiny to mid-sized companies with strong reporting tools.
Monday.com— Amazing for job monitoring, team collaboration, and sales pipe monitoring.
Bonsai— Particularly great for freelancers and service-based solopreneurs.
Final Thought
GoHighLevel might work for some. However, for me? It was a discouraging, pricey experiment that I could not wait to end.
So if you’re standing at the edge, asking yourself whether to make the leap– concentrate. Ask on your own what’s truly not working in your current configuration. Don’t burn your systems down even if something more recent and shinier turned up.
Stick to what jobs. Your peace of mind (and your customers) will certainly thanks.