You know that sensation when you’re 99% certain something’s a wonderful idea, only to recognize later on … it was an overall dumpster fire? That’s specifically what took place when I decided to change my whole company over to GoHighLevel.
It looked glossy. It appeared revolutionary. But actually? It turned into one of the most agonizing software decisions I have actually made in over a years of running my organization.
So prior to you get on the GoHighLevel bandwagon, let me walk you via specifically what went down– due to the fact that if you’re anything like me, you’re constantly seeking smarter, a lot more efficient means to expand your company. Just … not like this.
The Sexy All-in-One Guarantee
Right here’s things. When GoHighLevel struck the scene, it seemed like a desire come true. A solitary platform to manage your CRM, sales funnels, email campaigns, appointment reservations, automation, payments– you name it.
If you’ve ever juggled a Frankenstein pile of tools just to run your day-to-day, you know just how appealing the “all-in-one” pitch can be. I ‘d been making use of Keap for many years (and loving it, truthfully), however still– I obtained lured in by the pledge of streamlining every little thing under one roofing system.
And yeah, I’ll confess: I had a negative instance of glossy item disorder.
Why I Left Keap (A Tool That Actually Worked)
Let me be real with you: Keap wasn’t damaged. It did everything I required. It handled my e-mail automations, sales funnels, consultation organizing, invoicing– you name it. Sure, the user interface felt a little dated in places, and often points took a few even more clicks than I liked, however hey, it functioned.
So why change?
Truthfully, I just started questioning if I was losing out. GoHighLevel was more affordable (externally), provided more features, and all the awesome marketers on-line seemed to be raving regarding it. FOMO is a heck of a medication.
That interest cost me more than simply money– it cost me time, energy, and assurance.
What It Expense Me to Change
I went done in. Signed up for the $297/month agency plan. Invest a solid 30 to 40 hours migrating information, reconstructing workflows, and essentially attempting to reproduce my whole Keap configuration inside GoHighLevel.
Right here’s what I had to move:
- 20,000+ e-mail clients
- Lots of automations
- All client profiles and notes
- Stripe billing integration
- Whole funnel infrastructure
- Customized forms, landing pages, triggers … whatever
Allow’s not also speak about the lost productivity during those few weeks. I depended on my eyeballs in Zapier workarounds, watching tutorials, and attempting to figure out where the heck standard settings were.
And simply when I assumed points were working … they weren’t.
The Vermin Began Slipping In
In the beginning, whatever looked alright. But after that, out of nowhere, people on my list began obtaining e-mails they weren’t meant to receive. I’m speaking entirely irrelevant messages– sent in batches of 171 customers at a time. 3 days in a row.
Total chaos.
I reconstruct the automations from the ground up. Still occurred. I contacted assistance. They criticized “server concerns.” But absolutely nothing made good sense, and the problem didn’t go away. Imagine getting up every morning wondering who your system might’ve spammed over night.
That’s not simply frustrating– it threatens. When your entire brand is improved trust fund, you can not manage to appear like a clueless amateur blasting the wrong e-mails to the incorrect individuals.
Support? Yeah, All The Best
Currently, I do not anticipate perfection from any system. Bugs take place. But when they do? I expect the support group to step up quickly.
That really did not take place below.
Reactions were obscure. Tickets went unanswered. I felt like I was screaming right into the void while my organization melted. Meanwhile, every min I spent troubleshooting was a min I had not been serving clients or growing my firm.
For a device that markets itself to serious entrepreneurs, GoHighLevel certain really did not treat me like one.
The User interface Was a Warm Mess
You ever before use a tool and simply really feel … shed? That was me inside GoHighLevel For B2B.
The UX was confusing. Points were buried in odd areas. Even basic tasks like editing a funnel or tweaking an e-mail flow developed into a scavenger hunt.
And their funnel builder? Do not even get me started. Intend to alter item setups, web page formats, and overall circulation? Awesome– you’ll require to hunt with 3 various areas that make no sensible feeling. Half the moment, I couldn’t also keep in mind where I ‘d clicked something 10 seconds earlier.
It seemed like making use of software program constructed by designers, for engineers– not day-to-day business owners.
The “Cost effective” Plan That Got Real Costly, Genuine Quick
Let’s speak money.
Among GoHighLevel’s big marketing points is the rate. I suggest, $97/month for all those features? Seems amazing, right?
But right here’s what they don’t tell you:.
You pay added per e-mail if you utilize their SMTP.
You have to attach services like Mailgun or Twilio and handle their invoicing individually.
You’ll obtain arbitrary microcharges that aren’t described clearly.
Desire better email deliverability? That’s gon na cost you also.
By the time I included whatever up, I was paying greater 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 B2B
The last straw? Viewing my e-mail open rates go down like a rock.
I would certainly been obtaining a strong 35% open rate with Keap. My audience was engaged, my automations were called in, and things just worked.
After switching over to GoHighLevel? Opens went down listed below 15%. Clicks were almost missing. Something was clearly off.
Perhaps it was a deliverability problem. Maybe the system was simply sending at bad times or not personalizing messages properly. Whatever the cause, I had not been lingering to play investigator while my list decayed.
Lessons I Found Out by hand
If you’re thinking about switching to GoHighLevel– or any kind of brand-new platform– here’s what I want somebody 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 “innovative” device. But just because every person’s talking about something doesn’t suggest it’s right for you. If your current system is functioning, hesitate prior to blowing it up.
2. Value Simplicity Over Features
Extra isn’t always better. A system with a clean, intuitive interface will save you time and frustrations over time– even if it doesn’t have every feature under the sun.
3. Need Openness
Covert prices are the worst. Select devices that are ahead of time regarding pricing, integrations, and limits. You should not need a calculator and a thesaurus to comprehend your month-to-month bill.
4. Listen to Genuine Users (Not Just Online Marketers)
Check unbiased evaluations, customer discussion forums, and Reddit strings. Focus on actual user experience– not just slick sales pages.
Still Desire an All-in-One CRM? Right Here Are Much better Options
If you’re still on the hunt for a reliable, straightforward system to run your company, I have actually checked a lot. Below are a couple of I ‘d actually recommend:.
Keap— My existing go-to. Effective automations, solid assistance, and it simply functions. Well worth every penny.
HubSpot— Great for businesses that need scalability and advanced CRM features.
GreenRope— A solid all-in-one remedy for small to mid-sized organizations with strong reporting tools.
Monday.com— Superb for job monitoring, group cooperation, and sales pipe tracking.
Bonsai— Particularly excellent for freelancers and service-based solopreneurs.
Conclusion
GoHighLevel might work for some. But for me? It was a discouraging, pricey experiment that I could not wait to end.
So if you’re standing at the edge, questioning whether to make the jump– concentrate. Ask on your own what’s really not operating in your current setup. Do not burn your systems down even if something more recent and shinier showed up.
Stick to what works. Your sanity (and your customers) will certainly thanks.