You know that feeling when you’re 99% certain something’s a terrific idea, only to realize later … it was a total dumpster fire? That’s specifically what took place when I made a decision to change my entire firm over to GoHighLevel.
It looked glossy. It seemed revolutionary. Yet in reality? It developed into among one of the most excruciating software program decisions I’ve made in over a decade of running my organization.
So before you jump on the GoHighLevel bandwagon, let me stroll you via exactly what decreased– since if you’re anything like me, you’re always searching for smarter, much more effective methods to expand your business. Just … not such as this.
The Sexy All-in-One Pledge
Below’s the important things. When GoHighLevel hit the scene, it sounded like a dream come to life. A single system to manage your CRM, sales funnels, email campaigns, visit bookings, automation, settlements– you call it.
If you have actually ever managed a Frankenstein stack of tools just to run your everyday, you understand exactly how alluring the “all-in-one” pitch can be. I would certainly been making use of Keap for many years (and loving it, honestly), yet still– I obtained tempted in by the guarantee of simplifying everything under one roof.
And yeah, I’ll confess: I had a negative case of shiny item disorder.
Why I Left Keap (A Device That In Fact Worked)
Let me be actual with you: Keap had not been broken. It did everything I required. It managed my email automations, sales funnels, consultation organizing, invoicing– you name it. Certain, the user interface felt a little dated in position, and sometimes points took a few more clicks than I liked, yet hey, it worked.
So why adjustment?
Honestly, I simply started wondering if I was losing out. GoHighLevel was cheaper (on the surface), supplied much more features, and all the awesome marketers on-line appeared to be going crazy concerning it. FOMO is a hell of a medicine.
That curiosity price me more than just cash– it cost me time, power, and comfort.
What It Expense Me to Switch
I went all in. Registered for the $297/month agency plan. Invest a solid 30 to 40 hours migrating data, restoring workflows, and basically attempting to reproduce my whole Keap arrangement inside GoHighLevel.
Here’s what I needed to relocate:
- 20,000+ email subscribers
- Lots of automations
- All client accounts and notes
- Stripe invoicing integration
- Entire funnel facilities
- Customized forms, landing pages, causes … whatever
Allow’s not even talk about the lost performance throughout those couple of weeks. I was up to my eyeballs in Zapier workarounds, watching tutorials, and attempting to find out where the hell basic setups were.
And just when I thought points were functioning … they weren’t.
The Vermin Started Creeping In
In the beginning, every little thing looked fine. But after that, out of no place, individuals on my list began getting emails they weren’t expected to obtain. I’m speaking totally unimportant messages– sent out in batches of 171 customers at a time. Three days straight.
Complete chaos.
I reconstruct the automations from square one. Still occurred. I spoke to support. They criticized “web server concerns.” However absolutely nothing made good sense, and the trouble didn’t disappear. Envision awakening every early morning questioning who your system may’ve spammed overnight.
That’s not simply bothersome– it threatens. When your entire brand name is built on count on, you can’t afford to look like an unaware amateur blowing up the wrong emails to the incorrect individuals.
Support? Yeah, Best Of Luck
Now, I do not anticipate excellence from any type of system. Bugs happen. Yet when they do? I anticipate the assistance group to step up quickly.
That didn’t occur right here.
Reactions were unclear. Tickets went unanswered. I seemed like I was shouting right into the void while my company melted. Meanwhile, every minute I spent fixing was a minute I had not been offering customers or growing my firm.
For a device that markets itself to severe business owners, GoHighLevel certain didn’t treat me like one.
The Interface Was a Hot Mess
You ever use a tool and simply feel … lost? That was me inside GoHighLevel Email Warm Up.
The UX was cumbersome. Things were hidden in strange areas. Even basic tasks like editing and enhancing a funnel or tweaking an e-mail circulation became a scavenger hunt.
And their funnel builder? Don’t even get me started. Want to alter product setups, page layouts, and total circulation? Awesome– you’ll need to search with three various areas that make zero rational sense. Half the time, I couldn’t also keep in mind where I ‘d clicked something ten seconds earlier.
It seemed like using software application constructed by designers, for engineers– not daily business owners.
The “Budget-friendly” Plan That Obtained Genuine Expensive, Genuine Quick
Let’s talk cash.
One of GoHighLevel’s huge selling factors is the cost. I mean, $97/month for all those features? Sounds outstanding, ideal?
Yet below’s what they do not inform you:.
You pay additional per email if you utilize their SMTP.
You need to connect solutions like Mailgun or Twilio and handle their billing independently.
You’ll obtain arbitrary microcharges that aren’t explained clearly.
Desire better email deliverability? That’s gon na cost you also.
By the time I included everything up, I was paying more than I had actually been with Keap. And worsening outcomes.
That’s not a bargain– it’s just poor mathematics.
My Email Metrics Tanked GoHighLevel Email Warm Up
The final straw? Watching my e-mail open prices drop like a rock.
I ‘d been obtaining a solid 35% open price with Keap. My target market was involved, my automations were dialed in, and things just functioned.
After switching over to GoHighLevel? Opens dropped listed below 15%. Clicks were virtually nonexistent. Something was clearly off.
Possibly it was a deliverability concern. Perhaps the system was just sending at hard times or not individualizing messages correctly. Whatever the cause, I had not been lingering to play detective while my list decayed.
Lessons I Learned by hand
If you’re thinking of switching to GoHighLevel– or any kind of new system– below’s what I want someone had actually told me before I made the leap:.
1. Do Not Chase the Shiny Toy
It’s easy to obtain hyped concerning the most recent “revolutionary” tool. However even if everyone’s speaking about something does not mean it’s right for you. If your current system is working, think twice before blowing it up.
2. Worth Simplicity Over Features
A lot more isn’t always far better. A platform with a clean, intuitive user interface will certainly save you time and frustrations in the future– even if it doesn’t have every feature imaginable.
3. Demand Transparency
Covert prices are the worst. Choose tools that are in advance regarding pricing, integrations, and limits. You should not require a calculator and a thesaurus to recognize your regular monthly bill.
4. Pay Attention to Actual Individuals (Not Just Marketing Professionals)
Check honest reviews, user forums, and Reddit strings. Pay attention to actual customer experience– not simply glossy sales pages.
Still Want an All-in-One CRM? Here Are Better Options
If you’re still on the hunt for a dependable, user-friendly system to run your organization, I have actually examined a number. Below are a couple of I ‘d actually recommend:.
Keap— My existing go-to. Powerful automations, solid assistance, and it simply works. Worth every penny.
HubSpot— Great for services that need scalability and progressed CRM features.
GreenRope— A solid all-in-one option for tiny to mid-sized businesses with solid coverage devices.
Monday.com— Great for job administration, team partnership, and sales pipe monitoring.
Bonsai— Especially wonderful for consultants and service-based solopreneurs.
Verdict
GoHighLevel might benefit some. However, for me? It was an irritating, pricey experiment that I couldn’t wait to finish.
So if you’re standing at the edge, asking yourself whether to make the leap– think hard. Ask yourself what’s actually not working in your existing arrangement. Don’t shed your systems down even if something more recent and shinier showed up.
Stick with what works. Your peace of mind (and your clients) will certainly thanks.