You understand that feeling when you’re 99% sure something’s an excellent concept, only to realize later on … it was a total dumpster fire? That’s exactly what occurred when I made a decision to switch my whole agency over to GoHighLevel.
It looked shiny. It seemed revolutionary. But in reality? It turned into one of one of the most agonizing software program choices I have actually made in over a years of running my organization.
So before you jump on the GoHighLevel bandwagon, let me walk you via precisely what went down– because if you’re anything like me, you’re always trying to find smarter, more effective ways to grow your organization. Just … not such as this.
The Sexy All-in-One Pledge
Right here’s the important things. When GoHighLevel struck the scene, it seemed like a desire happened. A solitary platform to manage your CRM, sales funnels, e-mail campaigns, appointment reservations, automation, repayments– you name it.
If you’ve ever before handled a Frankenstein pile of devices just to run your everyday, you recognize just how tempting the “all-in-one” pitch can be. I ‘d been using Keap for years (and enjoying it, honestly), however still– I got enticed in by the promise of simplifying whatever under one roofing system.
And yeah, I’ll confess: I had a poor instance of glossy things disorder.
Why I Left Keap (A Device That In Fact Worked)
Let me be actual with you: Keap wasn’t damaged. It did everything I required. It handled my e-mail automations, sales funnels, appointment organizing, invoicing– you call it. Certain, the interface really felt a little outdated in position, and occasionally things took a couple of more clicks than I suched as, yet hey, it functioned.
So why modification?
Honestly, I just began questioning if I was losing out. GoHighLevel was more affordable (externally), supplied more features, and all the cool marketing professionals online seemed to be going crazy about it. FOMO is a hell of a medicine.
That interest cost me more than simply money– it cost me time, energy, and comfort.
What It Cost Me to Switch
I went done in. Signed up for the $297/month agency plan. Invest a solid 30 to 40 hours migrating information, reconstructing workflows, and basically trying to duplicate my whole Keap arrangement inside GoHighLevel.
Below’s what I needed to relocate:
- 20,000+ e-mail customers
- Loads of automations
- All customer accounts and notes
- Stripe invoicing integration
- Entire funnel facilities
- Customized types, landing pages, triggers … every little thing
Let’s not even discuss the shed performance throughout those few weeks. I was up to my eyeballs in Zapier workarounds, viewing tutorials, and attempting to identify where the heck fundamental setups were.
And just when I thought things were working … they weren’t.
The Vermin Started Slipping In
In the beginning, whatever looked fine. But after that, out of nowhere, people on my list began getting emails they weren’t intended to get. I’m talking totally unimportant messages– sent out in batches of 171 individuals at once. Three days in a row.
Complete chaos.
I reconstruct the automations from scratch. Still taken place. I called support. They condemned “web server problems.” Yet absolutely nothing made sense, and the trouble didn’t vanish. Imagine waking up every morning wondering who your system may’ve spammed over night.
That’s not just frustrating– it’s dangerous. When your entire brand name is built on trust fund, you can’t pay for to resemble a clueless amateur blowing up the wrong e-mails to the incorrect individuals.
Support? Yeah, Good Luck
Currently, I do not expect perfection from any system. Pests happen. However when they do? I anticipate the support team to step up quickly.
That really did not take place below.
Responses were obscure. Tickets went unanswered. I felt like I was screaming into deep space while my business shed. Meanwhile, every min I spent repairing was a min I had not been offering customers or growing my agency.
For a device that markets itself to severe entrepreneurs, GoHighLevel certain really did not treat me like one.
The User interface Was a Hot Mess
You ever before utilize a device and just really feel … lost? That was me inside GoHighLevel Email Automation.
The UX was clunky. Things were buried in strange areas. Even basic jobs like editing a funnel or tweaking an e-mail flow developed into a scavenger hunt.
And their funnel builder? Do not also get me began. Wish to transform item settings, page formats, and overall circulation? Awesome– you’ll need to quest via 3 various areas that make zero rational feeling. Fifty percent the time, I could not also remember where I ‘d clicked something ten seconds earlier.
It felt like making use of software application built by engineers, for designers– not daily local business owner.
The “Budget-friendly” Plan That Obtained Actual Pricey, Genuine Quick
Let’s chat money.
Among GoHighLevel’s big marketing points is the price. I suggest, $97/month for all those features? Appears remarkable, right?
But here’s what they do not tell you:.
You pay additional per email if you use their SMTP.
You have to link services like Mailgun or Twilio and handle their payment separately.
You’ll get random microcharges that aren’t clarified plainly.
Want better e-mail deliverability? That’s gon na cost you too.
By the time I added whatever up, I was paying greater than I had been with Keap. And becoming worse results.
That’s not a bargain– it’s just poor mathematics.
My Email Metrics Tanked GoHighLevel Email Automation
The last straw? Watching my e-mail open prices drop like a rock.
I ‘d been getting a solid 35% open rate with Keap. My target market was involved, my automations were dialed in, and things simply worked.
After switching over to GoHighLevel? Opens dropped listed below 15%. Clicks were almost missing. Something was plainly off.
Maybe it was a deliverability issue. Possibly the system was simply sending out at hard times or otherwise personalizing messages appropriately. Whatever the reason, I had not been sticking around to play investigator while my checklist decomposed.
Lessons I Discovered the Hard Way
If you’re thinking about switching to GoHighLevel– or any type of new system– here’s what I wish someone had informed me prior to I made the jump:.
1. Do Not Chase the Shiny Plaything
It’s easy to obtain hyped concerning the current “advanced” device. But even if every person’s discussing something doesn’t suggest it’s right for you. If your current system is functioning, think twice prior to blowing it up.
2. Value Simpleness Over Features
A lot more isn’t constantly better. A platform with a clean, instinctive user interface will certainly conserve you time and headaches in the long run– even if it doesn’t have every feature imaginable.
3. Demand Transparency
Surprise prices are the worst. Select devices that are in advance concerning pricing, integrations, and restrictions. You should not need a calculator and a thesaurus to comprehend your month-to-month expense.
4. Pay Attention to Actual Users (Not Simply Online Marketers)
Examine objective reviews, individual forums, and Reddit strings. Focus on actual customer experience– not just slick sales web pages.
Still Want an All-in-One CRM? Below Are Much better Options
If you’re still on the hunt for a dependable, easy to use platform to run your service, I have actually checked a bunch. Here are a couple of I ‘d really advise:.
Keap— My existing go-to. Powerful automations, strong assistance, and it just works. Worth every dime.
HubSpot— Great for services that need scalability and progressed CRM features.
GreenRope— A strong all-in-one solution for tiny to mid-sized organizations with strong coverage devices.
Monday.com— Fantastic for job monitoring, group partnership, and sales pipe monitoring.
Bonsai— Specifically wonderful for freelancers and service-based solopreneurs.
Final Thought
GoHighLevel might help some. But also for me? It was a discouraging, pricey experiment that I couldn’t wait to end.
So if you’re standing at the side, asking yourself whether to make the leap– think hard. Ask on your own what’s really not working in your present configuration. Do not shed your systems down even if something more recent and shinier showed up.
Stick to what jobs. Your sanity (and your customers) will thanks.