You recognize that sensation when you’re 99% certain something’s an excellent idea, just to realize later … it was an overall dumpster fire? That’s precisely what took place when I determined to switch my whole agency over to GoHighLevel.
It looked shiny. It sounded revolutionary. But in truth? It developed into one of one of the most painful software program choices I’ve made in over a decade of running my company.
So before you jump on the GoHighLevel bandwagon, let me walk you with precisely what decreased– because if you’re anything like me, you’re constantly seeking smarter, more effective methods to grow your service. Simply … not similar to this.
The Sexy All-in-One Assurance
Below’s things. When GoHighLevel struck the scene, it seemed like a desire become a reality. A single platform to manage your CRM, sales funnels, e-mail campaigns, consultation bookings, automation, settlements– you call it.
If you’ve ever handled a Monster stack of tools simply to run your daily, you know how appealing the “all-in-one” pitch can be. I ‘d been utilizing Keap for many years (and enjoying it, honestly), but still– I got lured in by the guarantee of streamlining every little thing under one roofing system.
And yeah, I’ll admit it: I had a poor situation of glossy item disorder.
Why I Left Keap (A Tool That Actually Worked)
Let me be genuine with you: Keap had not been broken. It did everything I required. It managed my e-mail automations, sales funnels, visit organizing, invoicing– you call it. Certain, the user interface really felt a little dated in position, and sometimes things took a couple of even more clicks than I suched as, however hey, it worked.
So why change?
Honestly, I simply started questioning if I was missing out. GoHighLevel was more affordable (externally), offered a lot more features, and all the cool online marketers on the internet seemed to be raving regarding it. FOMO is a heck of a drug.
That interest cost me more than simply cash– it cost me time, energy, and satisfaction.
What It Price Me to Change
I went all in. Registered for the $297/month agency plan. Spent a strong 30 to 40 hours migrating data, rebuilding workflows, and generally attempting to duplicate my whole Keap configuration inside GoHighLevel.
Below’s what I needed to move:
- 20,000+ e-mail customers
- Loads of automations
- All customer profiles and notes
- Stripe payment integration
- Entire funnel infrastructure
- Custom-made types, landing pages, triggers … everything
Let’s not even discuss the shed performance throughout those couple of weeks. I depended on my eyeballs in Zapier workarounds, viewing tutorials, and attempting to figure out where the heck basic setups were.
And simply when I assumed points were functioning … they weren’t.
The Bugs Began Sneaking In
At first, every little thing looked fine. Yet after that, out of nowhere, people on my list began getting emails they weren’t supposed to obtain. I’m speaking totally unnecessary messages– sent in batches of 171 customers at a time. 3 days in a row.
Overall mayhem.
I rebuilt the automations from square one. Still occurred. I called support. They condemned “web server concerns.” But absolutely nothing made sense, and the problem didn’t go away. Imagine getting up every morning questioning who your system could’ve spammed overnight.
That’s not just aggravating– it’s dangerous. When your entire brand is built on count on, you can’t pay for to look like a clueless amateur blasting the wrong emails to the incorrect people.
Assistance? Yeah, All The Best
Now, I don’t anticipate perfection from any type of platform. Pests take place. Yet when they do? I expect the assistance group to step up fast.
That didn’t occur below.
Reactions were unclear. Tickets went unanswered. I felt like I was yelling right into deep space while my business melted. On the other hand, every min I spent fixing was a minute I wasn’t offering customers or growing my firm.
For a device that markets itself to significant entrepreneurs, GoHighLevel sure really did not treat me like one.
The Interface Was a Warm Mess
You ever use a device and just feel … lost? That was me inside GoHighLevel DMARC.
The UX was clunky. Things were buried in strange locations. Even easy tasks like editing and enhancing a funnel or tweaking an e-mail flow turned into a scavenger hunt.
And their funnel builder? Do not also obtain me began. Intend to alter product setups, page layouts, and total circulation? Awesome– you’ll need to hunt with 3 various areas that make absolutely no rational feeling. Half the time, I could not even bear in mind where I ‘d clicked something 10 seconds previously.
It seemed like using software program developed by designers, for engineers– not everyday local business owner.
The “Budget friendly” Plan That Got Real Expensive, Genuine Fast
Let’s speak cash.
One of GoHighLevel’s huge selling points is the rate. I mean, $97/month for all those features? Appears impressive, ideal?
But below’s what they do not inform you:.
You pay added per email if you use their SMTP.
You need to link solutions like Mailgun or Twilio and manage their billing independently.
You’ll obtain arbitrary microcharges that aren’t described clearly.
Desire far better email deliverability? That’s gon na cost you too.
By the time I included everything up, I was paying greater than I had actually been with Keap. And getting worse outcomes.
That’s not a bargain– it’s just negative math.
My Email Metrics Tanked GoHighLevel DMARC
The last straw? Watching my email open prices go down like a rock.
I would certainly been obtaining a strong 35% open rate with Keap. My audience was engaged, my automations were called in, and points just functioned.
After switching over to GoHighLevel? Opens went down listed below 15%. Clicks were almost missing. Something was plainly off.
Maybe it was a deliverability issue. Maybe the system was simply sending out at hard times or not personalizing messages correctly. Whatever the cause, I had not been remaining to play investigative while my list decomposed.
Lessons I Learned by hand
If you’re considering switching over to GoHighLevel– or any type of brand-new platform– below’s what I wish somebody had actually told me prior to I made the jump:.
1. Don’t Chase the Shiny Plaything
It’s very easy to get hyped about the latest “advanced” tool. However just because every person’s talking about something does not imply it’s right for you. If your present system is working, think twice prior to blowing it up.
2. Worth Simplicity Over Features
A lot more isn’t always much better. A platform with a tidy, user-friendly user interface will certainly conserve you time and frustrations in the long run– even if it doesn’t have every feature under the sun.
3. Need Transparency
Concealed costs are the most awful. Pick devices that are ahead of time concerning pricing, integrations, and limits. You should not require a calculator and a thesaurus to recognize your monthly costs.
4. Listen to Genuine Customers (Not Simply Marketing Experts)
Check objective reviews, customer discussion forums, and Reddit strings. Take note of actual customer experience– not just slick sales pages.
Still Want an All-in-One CRM? Below Are Better Options
If you’re still on the hunt for a trustworthy, easy to use system to run your service, I have actually tested a bunch. Below are a couple of I ‘d actually recommend:.
Keap— My present go-to. Effective automations, strong assistance, and it just functions. Worth every cent.
HubSpot— Great for services that require scalability and progressed CRM features.
GreenRope— A solid all-in-one service for tiny to mid-sized services with solid coverage devices.
Monday.com— Superb for project monitoring, group collaboration, and sales pipe monitoring.
Bonsai— Especially terrific for consultants and service-based solopreneurs.
Verdict
GoHighLevel may benefit some. However, for me? It was a frustrating, pricey experiment that I couldn’t wait to finish.
So if you’re standing at the edge, wondering whether to make the jump– concentrate. Ask on your own what’s really not operating in your existing setup. Don’t shed your systems down just because something newer and shinier turned up.
Stick with what works. Your peace of mind (and your clients) will certainly thanks.