You recognize that feeling when you’re 99% sure something’s a wonderful concept, only to recognize later … it was an overall dumpster fire? That’s precisely what happened when I decided to switch my whole agency over to GoHighLevel.
It looked shiny. It seemed revolutionary. But in reality? It turned into among the most painful software application choices I have actually made in over a years of running my service.
So prior to you jump on the GoHighLevel bandwagon, let me walk you through specifically what dropped– since if you’re anything like me, you’re always trying to find smarter, a lot more efficient methods to grow your business. Simply … not such as this.
The Seductive All-in-One Guarantee
Right here’s things. When GoHighLevel hit the scene, it seemed like a dream happened. A single system to manage your CRM, sales funnels, email campaigns, visit bookings, automation, settlements– you name it.
If you’ve ever handled a Monster pile of devices simply to run your day-to-day, you understand exactly how tempting the “all-in-one” pitch can be. I ‘d been making use of Keap for years (and enjoying it, truthfully), yet still– I obtained tempted in by the promise of simplifying whatever under one roof.
And yeah, I’ll admit it: I had a bad instance of shiny item syndrome.
Why I Left Keap (A Tool That In Fact Worked)
Let me be actual with you: Keap wasn’t damaged. It did everything I needed. It handled my e-mail automations, sales funnels, visit scheduling, invoicing– you call it. Sure, the interface really felt a little outdated in position, and often things took a few even more clicks than I suched as, but hey, it worked.
So why modification?
Honestly, I simply began asking yourself if I was losing out. GoHighLevel was less costly (on the surface), offered extra features, and all the awesome marketers online appeared to be going crazy about it. FOMO is a hell of a drug.
That inquisitiveness price me more than simply money– it cost me time, energy, and peace of mind.
What It Expense Me to Change
I went done in. Signed up for the $297/month agency plan. Spent a solid 30 to 40 hours migrating data, reconstructing workflows, and generally trying to reproduce my entire Keap arrangement inside GoHighLevel.
Here’s what I needed to move:
- 20,000+ email clients
- Dozens of automations
- All client profiles and notes
- Stripe payment integration
- Entire funnel facilities
- Custom-made forms, landing pages, causes … every little thing
Let’s not also talk about the shed productivity throughout those couple of weeks. I was up to my eyeballs in Zapier workarounds, enjoying tutorials, and attempting to identify where the hell fundamental setups were.
And simply when I assumed points were working … they weren’t.
The Bugs Started Slipping In
In the beginning, whatever looked okay. Yet after that, out of nowhere, individuals on my checklist began getting e-mails they weren’t expected to obtain. I’m speaking completely pointless messages– sent out in batches of 171 customers each time. Three days in a row.
Complete mayhem.
I rebuilt the automations from square one. Still happened. I contacted assistance. They criticized “web server issues.” But absolutely nothing made sense, and the problem didn’t go away. Envision waking up every morning questioning who your system might’ve spammed over night.
That’s not simply irritating– it threatens. When your entire brand name is improved count on, you can not manage to appear like an unaware amateur blasting the wrong e-mails to the incorrect individuals.
Support? Yeah, All The Best
Currently, I do not anticipate perfection from any type of system. Bugs happen. Yet when they do? I expect the assistance team to step up quick.
That didn’t take place below.
Reactions were vague. Tickets went unanswered. I felt like I was shouting into deep space while my service melted. Meanwhile, every min I spent repairing was a minute I wasn’t serving clients or expanding my company.
For a device that markets itself to major entrepreneurs, GoHighLevel certain didn’t treat me like one.
The Interface Was a Warm Mess
You ever before use a tool and just feel … lost? That was me inside GoHighLevel Docs.
The UX was clunky. Things were buried in strange locations. Also easy jobs like editing a funnel or tweaking an email circulation became a scavenger hunt.
And their funnel builder? Don’t even get me began. Wish to transform item settings, page designs, and overall circulation? Great– you’ll need to search with three various locations that make absolutely no sensible sense. Fifty percent the time, I could not also remember where I would certainly clicked something ten secs previously.
It felt like making use of software constructed by engineers, for engineers– not day-to-day entrepreneur.
The “Budget-friendly” Plan That Got Actual Pricey, Genuine Quick
Let’s talk cash.
Among GoHighLevel’s big selling factors is the price. I mean, $97/month for all those features? Appears outstanding, appropriate?
However here’s what they do not inform you:.
You pay added per e-mail if you utilize their SMTP.
You need to attach services like Mailgun or Twilio and manage their billing individually.
You’ll get arbitrary microcharges that aren’t discussed clearly.
Want far better e-mail deliverability? That’s gon na cost you too.
By the time I included every little thing up, I was paying more than I had been with Keap. And getting worse outcomes.
That’s not a good deal– it’s simply poor mathematics.
My Email Metrics Tanked GoHighLevel Docs
The final straw? Seeing my e-mail open rates go down like a rock.
I would certainly been obtaining a strong 35% open price with Keap. My audience was involved, my automations were called in, and things just functioned.
After switching to GoHighLevel? Opens dropped below 15%. Clicks were virtually nonexistent. Something was plainly off.
Maybe it was a deliverability issue. Possibly the system was just sending at hard times or otherwise personalizing messages appropriately. Whatever the reason, I wasn’t staying to play detective while my checklist decayed.
Lessons I Found Out by hand
If you’re thinking about switching to GoHighLevel– or any new system– here’s what I desire someone had told me prior to I made the leap:.
1. Don’t Chase the Shiny Toy
It’s easy to obtain hyped about the current “innovative” device. Yet even if every person’s discussing something does not imply it’s right for you. If your present system is functioning, think twice before blowing it up.
2. Worth Simpleness Over Features
A lot more isn’t always much better. A platform with a clean, intuitive user interface will certainly conserve you time and migraines over time– even if it does not have every feature under the sun.
3. Demand Transparency
Surprise costs are the most awful. Choose devices that are ahead of time about pricing, integrations, and restrictions. You shouldn’t need a calculator and a synonym replacement tool to comprehend your month-to-month bill.
4. Listen to Actual Customers (Not Simply Online Marketers)
Examine honest evaluations, customer discussion forums, and Reddit threads. Focus on actual individual experience– not simply glossy sales pages.
Still Desire an All-in-One CRM? Right Here Are Better Options
If you’re still on the hunt for a trusted, easy to use system to run your service, I have actually tested a lot. Right here are a couple of I ‘d in fact recommend:.
Keap— My present go-to. Effective automations, solid assistance, and it simply works. Well worth every dime.
HubSpot— Great for services that require scalability and progressed CRM features.
GreenRope— A strong all-in-one solution for little to mid-sized companies with solid coverage tools.
Monday.com— Wonderful for task management, team cooperation, and sales pipeline monitoring.
Bonsai— Especially great for consultants and service-based solopreneurs.
Verdict
GoHighLevel might help some. However, for me? It was a discouraging, costly experiment that I couldn’t wait to finish.
So if you’re standing at the edge, questioning whether to make the jump– think hard. Ask on your own what’s really not operating in your existing arrangement. Do not burn your systems down even if something more recent and shinier turned up.
Stick to what works. Your sanity (and your clients) will certainly thanks.