You know that feeling when you’re 99% sure something’s a terrific concept, just to understand later on … it was a complete dumpster fire? That’s precisely what took place when I determined to change my whole company over to GoHighLevel.
It looked shiny. It sounded revolutionary. But in truth? It became among one of the most uncomfortable software decisions I have actually made in over a decade of running my organization.
So prior to you get on the GoHighLevel bandwagon, let me stroll you through precisely what dropped– since if you’re anything like me, you’re always looking for smarter, more reliable means to expand your company. Just … not like this.
The Seductive All-in-One Assurance
Right here’s the thing. When GoHighLevel hit the scene, it sounded like a dream come true. A solitary system to handle your CRM, sales funnels, email campaigns, appointment bookings, automation, repayments– you call it.
If you have actually ever before managed a Monster pile of tools simply to run your everyday, you know just how appealing the “all-in-one” pitch can be. I would certainly been making use of Keap for many years (and loving it, truthfully), however still– I got enticed in by the assurance of streamlining every little thing under one roofing.
And yeah, I’ll admit it: I had a bad instance of glossy object disorder.
Why I Left Keap (A Tool That Actually Functioned)
Let me be actual with you: Keap had not been damaged. It did whatever I needed. It handled my email automations, sales funnels, visit scheduling, invoicing– you name it. Certain, the user interface really felt a little dated in position, and occasionally things took a few even more clicks than I liked, yet hey, it functioned.
So why modification?
Truthfully, I just began questioning if I was missing out. GoHighLevel was more affordable (on the surface), used more features, and all the cool online marketers on-line appeared to be going crazy about it. FOMO is a heck of a medicine.
That inquisitiveness price me greater than just money– it cost me time, energy, and satisfaction.
What It Expense Me to Switch over
I went all in. Registered for the $297/month agency plan. Invest a strong 30 to 40 hours moving data, restoring workflows, and primarily attempting to replicate my whole Keap setup inside GoHighLevel.
Here’s what I needed to move:
- 20,000+ e-mail clients
- Dozens of automations
- All client profiles and notes
- Stripe invoicing integration
- Entire funnel facilities
- Custom kinds, landing pages, causes … every little thing
Allow’s not also speak about the shed productivity during those couple of weeks. I depended on my eyeballs in Zapier workarounds, enjoying tutorials, and attempting to identify where the hell fundamental setups were.
And just when I thought points were functioning … they weren’t.
The Vermin Started Slipping In
At first, every little thing looked alright. Yet after that, out of no place, people on my checklist started obtaining emails they weren’t meant to receive. I’m chatting entirely unnecessary messages– sent in sets of 171 customers at once. Three days in a row.
Complete chaos.
I rebuilt the automations from the ground up. Still taken place. I got in touch with support. They criticized “server concerns.” Yet nothing made good sense, and the trouble didn’t go away. Picture waking up every early morning wondering who your system could’ve spammed overnight.
That’s not just aggravating– it’s dangerous. When your entire brand is improved count on, you can’t afford to look like an unaware amateur blowing up the wrong emails to the incorrect individuals.
Assistance? Yeah, Good Luck
Now, I do not anticipate perfection from any type of platform. Pests take place. However when they do? I expect the assistance team to step up fast.
That really did not occur below.
Responses were obscure. Tickets went unanswered. I seemed like I was shouting right into the void while my service shed. On the other hand, every min I invested fixing was a minute I had not been serving customers or expanding my company.
For a device that markets itself to significant business owners, GoHighLevel sure really did not treat me like one.
The User interface Was a Warm Mess
You ever utilize a device and just feel … lost? That was me inside GoHighLevel DKIM.
The UX was cumbersome. Points were hidden in odd locations. Even straightforward jobs like modifying a funnel or tweaking an email circulation turned into a scavenger hunt.
And their funnel builder? Do not even obtain me began. Want to change product settings, web page layouts, and general flow? Trendy– you’ll require to hunt through 3 various locations that make zero sensible feeling. Fifty percent the time, I couldn’t also keep in mind where I ‘d clicked something ten secs previously.
It felt like using software program developed by designers, for designers– not daily entrepreneur.
The “Cost effective” Plan That Got Real Pricey, Actual Rapid
Let’s talk cash.
One of GoHighLevel’s huge selling factors is the cost. I indicate, $97/month for all those features? Sounds impressive, ideal?
However right here’s what they do not tell you:.
You pay additional per e-mail if you use their SMTP.
You need to link solutions like Mailgun or Twilio and manage their billing individually.
You’ll obtain arbitrary microcharges that aren’t described plainly.
Desire better e-mail deliverability? That’s gon na cost you too.
By the time I added every little thing up, I was paying more than I had actually been with Keap. And worsening results.
That’s not a good deal– it’s simply bad mathematics.
My Email Metrics Tanked GoHighLevel DKIM
The last straw? Watching my e-mail open rates go down like a rock.
I ‘d been getting a solid 35% open price with Keap. My audience was engaged, my automations were dialed in, and points just worked.
After changing to GoHighLevel? Opens went down listed below 15%. Clicks were nearly nonexistent. Something was clearly off.
Perhaps it was a deliverability problem. Perhaps the system was simply sending at hard times or not personalizing messages appropriately. Whatever the reason, I wasn’t sticking around to play investigator while my listing deteriorated.
Lessons I Discovered the Hard Way
If you’re considering switching to GoHighLevel– or any new platform– here’s what I desire a person had told me prior to I made the jump:.
1. Do Not Chase the Shiny Plaything
It’s easy to get hyped regarding the latest “innovative” device. But just because everybody’s speaking about something doesn’t mean it’s right for you. If your present system is working, think twice before blowing it up.
2. Worth Simpleness Over Features
A lot more isn’t constantly better. A platform with a tidy, intuitive interface will save you time and headaches in the long run– even if it does not have every feature under the sun.
3. Demand Openness
Surprise prices are the worst. Select tools that are in advance about pricing, integrations, and limits. You should not require a calculator and a synonym replacement tool to recognize your month-to-month expense.
4. Listen to Genuine Individuals (Not Just Marketers)
Check objective reviews, customer online forums, and Reddit threads. Take note of actual individual experience– not just slick 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’ve checked a lot. Below are a couple of I ‘d in fact recommend:.
Keap— My existing go-to. Effective automations, strong assistance, and it just works. Worth every dime.
HubSpot— Great for organizations that need scalability and advanced CRM features.
GreenRope— A strong all-in-one remedy for small to mid-sized companies with solid coverage devices.
Monday.com— Superb for job management, team collaboration, and sales pipeline tracking.
Bonsai— Especially great for consultants and service-based solopreneurs.
Verdict
GoHighLevel may benefit some. However, for me? It was a frustrating, costly experiment that I couldn’t wait to end.
So if you’re standing at the side, asking yourself whether to make the leap– concentrate. Ask on your own what’s really not working in your current setup. Don’t shed your systems down just because something newer and shinier turned up.
Stick to what jobs. Your sanity (and your customers) will certainly thank you.