You recognize that sensation when you’re 99% sure something’s an excellent idea, only to realize later … it was an overall dumpster fire? That’s precisely what happened when I decided to change my whole company over to GoHighLevel.
It looked glossy. It sounded revolutionary. Yet in reality? It became one of one of the most uncomfortable software program decisions I’ve made in over a decade of running my business.
So before you jump on the GoHighLevel bandwagon, let me stroll you with specifically what went down– because if you’re anything like me, you’re always trying to find smarter, a lot more effective ways to expand your service. Just … not like this.
The Seductive All-in-One Promise
Right here’s things. When GoHighLevel hit the scene, it seemed like a dream happened. A solitary system to handle your CRM, sales funnels, e-mail campaigns, consultation bookings, automation, settlements– you call it.
If you have actually ever juggled a Frankenstein pile of tools simply to run your everyday, you understand how tempting the “all-in-one” pitch can be. I ‘d been making use of Keap for several years (and liking it, honestly), but still– I obtained lured in by the promise of simplifying everything under one roofing system.
And yeah, I’ll admit it: I had a poor situation of glossy item disorder.
Why I Left Keap (A Device That Actually Worked)
Let me be real with you: Keap wasn’t damaged. It did every little thing I needed. It managed my e-mail automations, sales funnels, consultation organizing, invoicing– you name it. Certain, the user interface really felt a little outdated in places, and often things took a few more clicks than I suched as, but hey, it worked.
So why modification?
Truthfully, I just began wondering if I was missing out. GoHighLevel was less expensive (externally), provided a lot more features, and all the trendy online marketers on-line seemed to be going crazy regarding it. FOMO is a hell of a medicine.
That interest price me more than just cash– it cost me time, energy, and assurance.
What It Price Me to Change
I went all in. Enrolled in the $297/month agency plan. Spent a strong 30 to 40 hours migrating information, rebuilding workflows, and basically attempting to reproduce my entire Keap arrangement inside GoHighLevel.
Below’s what I needed to move:
- 20,000+ e-mail clients
- Loads of automations
- All client profiles and notes
- Stripe payment integration
- Whole funnel facilities
- Custom forms, landing pages, causes … every little thing
Allow’s not also discuss the shed productivity throughout those couple of weeks. I depended on my eyeballs in Zapier workarounds, watching tutorials, and attempting to identify where the heck fundamental settings were.
And just when I assumed things were functioning … they weren’t.
The Bugs Began Creeping In
At first, every little thing looked fine. But then, out of no place, individuals on my checklist started getting emails they weren’t meant to receive. I’m chatting completely unnecessary messages– sent out in sets of 171 users each time. Three days in a row.
Complete turmoil.
I restore the automations from scratch. Still occurred. I contacted assistance. They blamed “server issues.” However nothing made sense, and the problem really did not disappear. Visualize waking up every morning questioning who your system could’ve spammed over night.
That’s not just aggravating– it’s dangerous. When your whole brand name is built on count on, you can not manage to look like a clueless amateur blowing up the wrong emails to the wrong individuals.
Support? Yeah, Good Luck
Now, I don’t expect perfection from any system. Insects happen. But when they do? I anticipate the support group to step up quick.
That really did not take place below.
Actions were unclear. Tickets went unanswered. I seemed like I was yelling into the void while my business burned. Meanwhile, every minute I spent fixing was a min I wasn’t serving customers or expanding my agency.
For a tool that markets itself to serious business owners, GoHighLevel sure didn’t treat me like one.
The Interface Was a Warm Mess
You ever before use a tool and simply really feel … lost? That was me inside GoHighLevel For Affiliate Marketing.
The UX was confusing. Points were buried in weird areas. Also basic tasks like editing and enhancing a funnel or tweaking an email flow developed into a scavenger hunt.
And their funnel builder? Don’t even obtain me began. Intend to change item settings, page formats, and general circulation? Great– you’ll need to quest through 3 various locations that make no rational sense. Half the time, I couldn’t also bear in mind where I would certainly clicked something ten seconds earlier.
It felt like using software program built by designers, for designers– not everyday local business owner.
The “Budget friendly” Plan That Got Genuine Pricey, Actual Quick
Let’s chat money.
One of GoHighLevel’s large marketing factors is the cost. I imply, $97/month for all those features? Sounds fantastic, ideal?
However below’s what they do not tell you:.
You pay extra 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 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 actually been with Keap. And becoming worse results.
That’s not a good deal– it’s simply poor math.
My Email Metrics Tanked GoHighLevel For Affiliate Marketing
The last straw? Seeing my email open rates 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 changing to GoHighLevel? Opens dropped below 15%. Clicks were nearly missing. Something was plainly off.
Perhaps it was a deliverability issue. Maybe the system was just sending at bad times or otherwise individualizing messages appropriately. Whatever the reason, I had not been staying to play investigative while my checklist deteriorated.
Lessons I Learned the Hard Way
If you’re considering switching over to GoHighLevel– or any kind of brand-new system– below’s what I wish a person had told me before I made the leap:.
1. Do Not Chase the Shiny Toy
It’s easy to get hyped regarding the current “cutting edge” device. But just because everybody’s talking about something does not mean it’s right for you. If your present system is working, reconsider before blowing it up.
2. Value Simpleness Over Features
Extra isn’t constantly far better. A system with a clean, user-friendly user interface will conserve you time and headaches over time– even if it does not have every feature under the sun.
3. Demand Openness
Concealed prices are the worst. Pick tools that are ahead of time concerning pricing, integrations, and limitations. You should not need a calculator and a synonym replacement tool to comprehend your month-to-month bill.
4. Pay Attention to Real Users (Not Just Marketing Professionals)
Examine honest testimonials, customer forums, and Reddit strings. Pay attention to actual individual experience– not simply glossy sales pages.
Still Want an All-in-One CRM? Here Are Much better Options
If you’re still on the hunt for a trusted, user-friendly platform to run your company, I’ve checked a bunch. Here are a couple of I ‘d in fact advise:.
Keap— My existing go-to. Powerful automations, strong assistance, and it simply functions. Well worth every penny.
HubSpot— Great for businesses that require scalability and progressed CRM features.
GreenRope— A solid all-in-one solution for little to mid-sized services with solid coverage devices.
Monday.com— Fantastic for job monitoring, group cooperation, and sales pipe monitoring.
Bonsai— Specifically great for consultants and service-based solopreneurs.
Verdict
GoHighLevel might benefit some. However, for me? It was a frustrating, costly experiment that I could not wait to end.
So if you’re standing at the side, questioning whether to make the jump– think hard. Ask yourself what’s actually not working in your existing setup. Don’t melt your systems down even if something more recent and shinier showed up.
Stick to what jobs. Your sanity (and your clients) will thank you.