You know that sensation when you’re 99% sure something’s a fantastic idea, just to understand later … it was an overall dumpster fire? That’s exactly what occurred when I chose to switch my entire firm over to GoHighLevel.
It looked glossy. It sounded revolutionary. Yet in truth? It turned into among one of the most unpleasant software decisions 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– due to the fact that if you’re anything like me, you’re constantly seeking smarter, a lot more efficient means to grow your business. Simply … not such as this.
The Seductive All-in-One Promise
Below’s the important things. When GoHighLevel hit the scene, it sounded like a desire come to life. A solitary platform to handle your CRM, sales funnels, e-mail campaigns, appointment bookings, automation, settlements– you call it.
If you have actually ever juggled a Monster stack of devices just to run your day-to-day, you understand how appealing the “all-in-one” pitch can be. I would certainly been making use of Keap for many years (and enjoying it, honestly), yet still– I got enticed in by the guarantee of streamlining every little thing under one roofing.
And yeah, I’ll admit it: I had a negative situation of glossy object syndrome.
Why I Left Keap (A Device That Really Functioned)
Let me be actual with you: Keap had not been broken. It did every little thing I required. It managed my e-mail automations, sales funnels, consultation scheduling, invoicing– you name it. Certain, the interface really felt a little dated in position, and occasionally things took a couple of even more clicks than I suched as, however hey, it worked.
So why change?
Honestly, I simply started asking yourself if I was missing out. GoHighLevel was less expensive (externally), supplied a lot more features, and all the amazing online marketers online appeared to be raving regarding it. FOMO is a heck of a medicine.
That inquisitiveness expense me greater than just money– it cost me time, power, and satisfaction.
What It Expense Me to Switch over
I went all in. Registered for the $297/month agency plan. Spent a solid 30 to 40 hours migrating data, restoring workflows, and essentially attempting to duplicate my entire Keap setup inside GoHighLevel.
Below’s what I needed to relocate:
- 20,000+ email subscribers
- Loads of automations
- All customer profiles and notes
- Stripe billing integration
- Whole funnel infrastructure
- Personalized forms, landing pages, sets off … whatever
Let’s not even speak about the lost efficiency throughout those few weeks. I was up to my eyeballs in Zapier workarounds, watching tutorials, and attempting to find out where the heck standard setups were.
And just when I assumed things were functioning … they weren’t.
The Vermin Started Sneaking In
At first, whatever looked alright. But after that, out of no place, people on my list began getting emails they weren’t supposed to obtain. I’m chatting entirely unimportant messages– sent in batches of 171 individuals each time. Three days straight.
Complete mayhem.
I reconstruct the automations from square one. Still taken place. I got in touch with support. They condemned “server issues.” But nothing made good sense, and the problem really did not vanish. Imagine waking up every morning wondering who your system might’ve spammed over night.
That’s not just bothersome– it threatens. When your whole brand is improved trust fund, you can not pay for to resemble a clueless amateur blasting the wrong e-mails to the incorrect people.
Assistance? Yeah, All The Best
Currently, I don’t expect excellence from any kind of system. Pests take place. However when they do? I expect the support group to step up quick.
That really did not take place here.
Feedbacks were obscure. Tickets went unanswered. I seemed like I was yelling into deep space while my company melted. Meanwhile, every minute I spent troubleshooting was a minute I wasn’t serving clients or expanding my firm.
For a device that markets itself to serious entrepreneurs, GoHighLevel certain didn’t treat me like one.
The User interface Was a Warm Mess
You ever before make use of a tool and simply feel … shed? That was me inside GoHighLevel For Advertising Agencies.
The UX was cumbersome. Things were hidden in odd locations. Also straightforward tasks like editing and enhancing a funnel or tweaking an email circulation became a scavenger hunt.
And their funnel builder? Don’t also obtain me started. Intend to change product settings, web page formats, and overall flow? Amazing– you’ll need to search through 3 various locations that make no rational sense. Fifty percent the moment, I could not also bear in mind where I ‘d clicked something ten secs earlier.
It felt like utilizing software application built by engineers, for engineers– not daily business owners.
The “Inexpensive” Plan That Got Real Costly, Genuine Rapid
Let’s speak cash.
Among GoHighLevel’s big marketing factors is the cost. I suggest, $97/month for all those features? Sounds remarkable, ideal?
Yet right here’s what they don’t tell you:.
You pay added per e-mail if you utilize their SMTP.
You need to connect solutions like Mailgun or Twilio and manage their invoicing individually.
You’ll get random microcharges that aren’t explained plainly.
Want much better e-mail deliverability? That’s gon na cost you also.
By the time I included everything up, I was paying greater than I had actually been with Keap. And becoming worse results.
That’s not a good deal– it’s just poor math.
My Email Metrics Tanked GoHighLevel For Advertising Agencies
The last straw? Viewing my email open prices go down like a rock.
I ‘d been getting a strong 35% open price with Keap. My audience was engaged, my automations were dialed in, and things simply functioned.
After switching to GoHighLevel? Opens dropped below 15%. Clicks were practically nonexistent. Something was clearly off.
Perhaps it was a deliverability concern. Perhaps the system was simply sending at bad times or otherwise individualizing messages correctly. Whatever the reason, I had not been lingering to play detective while my list decayed.
Lessons I Found Out by hand
If you’re thinking of changing to GoHighLevel– or any type of brand-new platform– right here’s what I wish someone had actually told me before I made the jump:.
1. Do Not Chase the Shiny Toy
It’s very easy to obtain hyped about the most recent “revolutionary” device. However just because everybody’s speaking about something doesn’t imply it’s right for you. If your current system is functioning, reconsider prior to blowing it up.
2. Value Simpleness Over Features
More isn’t constantly much better. A system with a clean, intuitive interface will conserve you time and headaches in the future– even if it doesn’t have every feature imaginable.
3. Demand Transparency
Hidden prices are the most awful. Pick devices that are in advance concerning pricing, integrations, and limits. You should not require a calculator and a synonym replacement tool to understand your regular monthly costs.
4. Pay Attention to Real Customers (Not Simply Marketing Professionals)
Inspect objective reviews, individual discussion forums, and Reddit threads. Pay attention to real customer experience– not simply slick sales web pages.
Still Desire an All-in-One CRM? Below Are Better Options
If you’re still on the hunt for a reputable, straightforward system to run your organization, I’ve examined a bunch. Here are a couple of I ‘d in fact recommend:.
Keap— My present go-to. Effective automations, strong assistance, and it just works. Well worth every cent.
HubSpot— Great for organizations that need scalability and progressed CRM features.
GreenRope— A strong all-in-one service for small to mid-sized organizations with solid reporting devices.
Monday.com— Superb for project administration, group collaboration, and sales pipeline monitoring.
Bonsai— Especially wonderful for freelancers and service-based solopreneurs.
Verdict
GoHighLevel may help some. However, for me? It was a discouraging, costly experiment that I could not wait to finish.
So if you’re standing at the edge, asking yourself whether to make the jump– concentrate. Ask on your own what’s really not operating in your existing setup. Do not burn your systems down even if something newer and shinier showed up.
Stick to what works. Your sanity (and your customers) will thank you.