You understand that sensation when you’re 99% certain something’s a fantastic concept, just to recognize later on … it was a complete dumpster fire? That’s exactly what occurred when I made a decision to switch my whole firm over to GoHighLevel.
It looked glossy. It sounded revolutionary. Yet in truth? It became one of the most painful software decisions I’ve made in over a years of running my company.
So prior to you jump on the GoHighLevel bandwagon, let me stroll you via specifically what dropped– since if you’re anything like me, you’re always looking for smarter, a lot more effective means to expand your business. Simply … not similar to this.
The Sexy All-in-One Assurance
Here’s things. When GoHighLevel struck the scene, it seemed like a desire come true. A single platform to handle your CRM, sales funnels, email campaigns, consultation reservations, automation, repayments– you call it.
If you have actually ever before handled a Frankenstein pile of tools simply to run your day-to-day, you know exactly how tempting the “all-in-one” pitch can be. I would certainly been utilizing Keap for many years (and liking it, honestly), yet still– I obtained enticed in by the pledge of streamlining every little thing under one roofing system.
And yeah, I’ll confess: I had a bad situation of glossy object disorder.
Why I Left Keap (A Tool That Really Functioned)
Let me be genuine with you: Keap had not been damaged. It did everything I required. It managed my e-mail automations, sales funnels, appointment organizing, invoicing– you call it. Certain, the user interface really felt a little dated in places, and often things took a couple of more clicks than I liked, but hey, it functioned.
So why modification?
Truthfully, I just began wondering if I was missing out. GoHighLevel was more affordable (on the surface), provided much more features, and all the cool marketing professionals on the internet seemed to be going crazy about it. FOMO is a hell of a medication.
That curiosity cost me more than simply cash– it cost me time, power, and peace of mind.
What It Expense Me to Switch
I went all in. Signed up for the $297/month agency plan. Spent a strong 30 to 40 hours migrating data, reconstructing workflows, and generally attempting to duplicate my entire Keap configuration inside GoHighLevel.
Right here’s what I needed to move:
- 20,000+ e-mail subscribers
- Dozens of automations
- All customer profiles and notes
- Stripe invoicing integration
- Whole funnel infrastructure
- Personalized types, landing pages, sets off … everything
Let’s not also speak about the shed productivity during those couple of weeks. I depended on my eyeballs in Zapier workarounds, viewing tutorials, and trying to find out where the hell standard settings were.
And just when I thought points were working … they weren’t.
The Bugs Started Creeping In
Initially, everything looked alright. Yet after that, out of no place, people on my checklist started getting e-mails they weren’t expected to get. I’m chatting completely unnecessary messages– sent in sets of 171 customers each time. 3 days in a row.
Total disorder.
I reconstruct the automations from the ground up. Still taken place. I contacted support. They blamed “server issues.” But absolutely nothing made good sense, and the trouble didn’t disappear. Think of getting up every early morning wondering who your system may’ve spammed overnight.
That’s not just irritating– it threatens. When your whole brand name is built on count on, you can not manage to resemble a clueless amateur blowing up the wrong e-mails to the incorrect people.
Assistance? Yeah, Best Of Luck
Now, I do not anticipate perfection from any kind of platform. Pests occur. However when they do? I expect the assistance group to step up fast.
That didn’t occur here.
Feedbacks were unclear. Tickets went unanswered. I felt like I was screaming right into deep space while my business burned. Meanwhile, every min I spent repairing was a minute I had not been serving clients or growing my company.
For a device that markets itself to major business owners, GoHighLevel certain didn’t treat me like one.
The Interface Was a Warm Mess
You ever before utilize a device and just really feel … lost? That was me inside GoHighLevel For Agencies.
The UX was clunky. Points were buried in strange areas. Also straightforward jobs like editing and enhancing a funnel or tweaking an email flow turned into a scavenger hunt.
And their funnel builder? Do not even get me began. Want to change product setups, web page layouts, and total circulation? Trendy– you’ll require to search with three various areas that make no rational sense. Half the moment, I could not even bear in mind where I would certainly clicked something 10 secs earlier.
It felt like making use of software application built by engineers, for designers– not daily company owner.
The “Cost effective” Plan That Got Actual Costly, Genuine Fast
Let’s speak money.
Among GoHighLevel’s big marketing points is the price. I imply, $97/month for all those features? Seems incredible, ideal?
Yet right here’s what they do not inform you:.
You pay additional per e-mail if you use their SMTP.
You have to connect services like Mailgun or Twilio and handle their invoicing separately.
You’ll get random microcharges that aren’t discussed plainly.
Want better e-mail deliverability? That’s gon na cost you also.
By the time I included whatever up, I was paying more than I had been with Keap. And worsening results.
That’s not a good deal– it’s just bad math.
My Email Metrics Tanked GoHighLevel For Agencies
The final straw? Seeing my email open prices drop like a rock.
I ‘d been getting a solid 35% open price with Keap. My target market was engaged, my automations were dialed in, and things simply worked.
After changing to GoHighLevel? Opens dropped listed below 15%. Clicks were practically nonexistent. Something was clearly off.
Maybe it was a deliverability concern. Maybe the system was simply sending out at bad times or not customizing messages appropriately. Whatever the cause, I wasn’t staying to play investigative while my listing deteriorated.
Lessons I Discovered by hand
If you’re thinking of switching to GoHighLevel– or any kind of new platform– right here’s what I wish a person had actually informed me prior to I made the leap:.
1. Do Not Chase the Shiny Toy
It’s simple to obtain hyped concerning the latest “cutting edge” tool. But even if everybody’s talking about something doesn’t indicate it’s right for you. If your current system is functioning, think twice before blowing it up.
2. Worth Simpleness Over Features
Extra isn’t always much better. A system with a tidy, intuitive user interface will certainly conserve you time and migraines in the future– even if it doesn’t have every feature under the sun.
3. Need Openness
Concealed expenses are the worst. Select devices that are upfront concerning pricing, integrations, and restrictions. You shouldn’t require a calculator and a thesaurus to understand your monthly bill.
4. Listen to Real Customers (Not Simply Marketing Professionals)
Check unbiased testimonials, customer discussion forums, and Reddit threads. Take note of actual customer experience– not just glossy sales web pages.
Still Desire an All-in-One CRM? Right Here Are Much better Options
If you’re still on the hunt for a reputable, easy to use platform to run your service, I have actually evaluated a bunch. Here are a few I ‘d really suggest:.
Keap— My present go-to. Effective automations, strong support, and it just functions. Worth every penny.
HubSpot— Great for organizations that require scalability and progressed CRM features.
GreenRope— A solid all-in-one option for little to mid-sized organizations with strong reporting tools.
Monday.com— Wonderful for task monitoring, team cooperation, and sales pipe monitoring.
Bonsai— Specifically terrific for freelancers and service-based solopreneurs.
Conclusion
GoHighLevel may benefit some. However, for me? It was a discouraging, pricey experiment that I couldn’t wait to finish.
So if you’re standing at the side, questioning whether to make the jump– think hard. Ask yourself what’s really not operating in your present setup. Do not shed your systems down just because something newer and shinier appeared.
Stick with what jobs. Your sanity (and your clients) will certainly thank you.