You understand that feeling when you’re 99% sure something’s an excellent concept, only to recognize later on … it was a total dumpster fire? That’s specifically what occurred when I determined to switch my entire company over to GoHighLevel.
It looked shiny. It sounded revolutionary. Yet actually? It became among one of the most unpleasant software program choices I have actually made in over a decade of running my business.
So prior to you get on the GoHighLevel bandwagon, let me stroll you with exactly what dropped– due to the fact that if you’re anything like me, you’re always trying to find smarter, extra reliable ways to expand your company. Just … not like this.
The Sexy All-in-One Promise
Below’s the important things. When GoHighLevel struck the scene, it sounded like a desire become a reality. A single system to handle your CRM, sales funnels, email campaigns, appointment bookings, automation, payments– you name it.
If you have actually ever before managed a Frankenstein pile of tools simply to run your daily, you understand just how alluring the “all-in-one” pitch can be. I would certainly been making use of Keap for several years (and loving it, truthfully), yet still– I got enticed in by the pledge of simplifying whatever under one roof.
And yeah, I’ll confess: I had a bad instance of shiny item syndrome.
Why I Left Keap (A Tool That Actually Worked)
Let me be real with you: Keap wasn’t damaged. It did whatever I required. It managed my email automations, sales funnels, consultation scheduling, invoicing– you name it. Sure, the interface felt a little dated in places, and occasionally things took a few more clicks than I suched as, but hey, it worked.
So why modification?
Honestly, I just began asking yourself if I was missing out. GoHighLevel was less costly (externally), provided a lot more features, and all the amazing marketing experts online appeared to be going crazy about it. FOMO is a hell of a drug.
That inquisitiveness expense me more than simply money– it cost me time, energy, and satisfaction.
What It Price Me to Switch over
I went done in. Enrolled in the $297/month agency plan. Invest a strong 30 to 40 hours moving data, rebuilding workflows, and essentially attempting to reproduce my whole Keap configuration inside GoHighLevel.
Below’s what I had to relocate:
- 20,000+ email customers
- Lots of automations
- All customer profiles and notes
- Stripe billing integration
- Whole funnel infrastructure
- Custom-made kinds, landing pages, activates … every little thing
Let’s not also discuss the shed performance during those few weeks. I was up to my eyeballs in Zapier workarounds, watching tutorials, and attempting to find out where the heck standard settings were.
And just when I assumed points were working … they weren’t.
The Bugs Started Creeping In
At first, every little thing looked alright. But then, out of nowhere, individuals on my listing started obtaining e-mails they weren’t intended to receive. I’m chatting completely unimportant messages– sent out in sets of 171 individuals at once. Three days straight.
Complete mayhem.
I restore the automations from square one. Still taken place. I contacted support. They criticized “web server issues.” However nothing made sense, and the issue didn’t vanish. Think of awakening every morning questioning who your system might’ve spammed over night.
That’s not simply annoying– it’s dangerous. When your entire brand is built on depend on, you can’t afford to appear like an unaware amateur blasting the incorrect emails to the incorrect individuals.
Assistance? Yeah, All The Best
Now, I do not anticipate excellence from any kind of platform. Insects take place. But when they do? I expect the assistance group to step up quickly.
That didn’t happen below.
Responses were vague. Tickets went unanswered. I felt like I was yelling right into deep space while my service burned. On the other hand, every min I spent repairing was a min I wasn’t offering customers or growing my company.
For a device that markets itself to serious business owners, GoHighLevel certain didn’t treat me like one.
The User interface Was a Hot Mess
You ever utilize a tool and simply feel … lost? That was me inside GoHighLevel Developer.
The UX was confusing. Points were buried in strange places. Also easy tasks like modifying a funnel or tweaking an email circulation turned into a scavenger hunt.
And their funnel builder? Don’t also get me started. Wish to alter product setups, page formats, and general flow? Awesome– you’ll need to quest via three various locations that make zero rational sense. Half the time, I could not even bear in mind where I ‘d clicked something 10 secs earlier.
It felt like using software developed by designers, for designers– not everyday business owners.
The “Economical” Plan That Got Real Costly, Actual Quick
Let’s chat money.
One of GoHighLevel’s huge marketing factors is the price. I indicate, $97/month for all those features? Sounds incredible, right?
Yet right here’s what they do not inform you:.
You pay added per email if you utilize their SMTP.
You need to attach solutions like Mailgun or Twilio and handle their billing independently.
You’ll get random microcharges that aren’t clarified plainly.
Desire better e-mail deliverability? That’s gon na cost you also.
By the time I added every little thing up, I was paying more than I had actually been with Keap. And getting worse results.
That’s not a good deal– it’s simply bad math.
My Email Metrics Tanked GoHighLevel Developer
The last straw? Watching my e-mail open rates go down like a rock.
I ‘d been obtaining a solid 35% open rate with Keap. My audience was engaged, my automations were dialed in, and points just functioned.
After switching to GoHighLevel? Opens dropped listed below 15%. Clicks were nearly missing. Something was plainly off.
Perhaps it was a deliverability problem. Perhaps the system was simply sending at bad times or otherwise customizing messages appropriately. Whatever the cause, I had not been lingering to play investigator while my listing deteriorated.
Lessons I Found Out the Hard Way
If you’re thinking of switching over to GoHighLevel– or any kind of brand-new platform– right here’s what I want a person had actually informed me before I made the jump:.
1. Don’t Chase the Shiny Toy
It’s easy to obtain hyped regarding the current “cutting edge” device. But just because everyone’s speaking about something does not indicate it’s right for you. If your present system is functioning, reconsider before blowing it up.
2. Value Simplicity Over Features
A lot more isn’t constantly much better. A system with a tidy, instinctive user interface will save you time and headaches in the long run– even if it does not have every feature under the sun.
3. Need Openness
Concealed expenses are the worst. Pick devices that are upfront regarding pricing, integrations, and limitations. You shouldn’t need a calculator and a synonym replacement tool to understand your regular monthly costs.
4. Pay Attention to Actual Customers (Not Just Online Marketers)
Check objective reviews, individual discussion forums, and Reddit strings. Take notice of actual user experience– not simply slick sales pages.
Still Desire an All-in-One CRM? Here Are Much better Options
If you’re still on the hunt for a trustworthy, easy to use platform to run your organization, I’ve checked a bunch. Below are a few I ‘d actually suggest:.
Keap— My existing go-to. Powerful automations, solid assistance, and it simply works. Well worth every penny.
HubSpot— Great for organizations that need scalability and progressed CRM features.
GreenRope— A strong all-in-one remedy for little to mid-sized services with strong reporting tools.
Monday.com— Superb for project management, team cooperation, and sales pipeline monitoring.
Bonsai— Especially fantastic for freelancers and service-based solopreneurs.
Final Thought
GoHighLevel might help some. But for me? It was a discouraging, costly experiment that I could not wait to finish.
So if you’re standing at the side, questioning whether to make the leap– think hard. Ask yourself what’s actually not operating in your current arrangement. Do not shed your systems down just because something more recent and shinier showed up.
Stick with what jobs. Your sanity (and your clients) will certainly thanks.