You know that sensation when you’re 99% sure something’s an excellent concept, only to recognize later on … it was a total dumpster fire? That’s specifically what happened when I made a decision to change my entire company over to GoHighLevel.
It looked glossy. It appeared revolutionary. Yet in reality? It became one of the most unpleasant software choices I’ve made in over a decade of running my company.
So prior to you jump on the GoHighLevel bandwagon, let me walk you through exactly what decreased– due to the fact that if you’re anything like me, you’re constantly trying to find smarter, a lot more effective methods to grow your service. Simply … not similar to this.
The Seductive All-in-One Promise
Below’s the thing. When GoHighLevel struck the scene, it sounded like a dream come true. A solitary platform to handle your CRM, sales funnels, e-mail campaigns, appointment reservations, automation, settlements– you name it.
If you have actually ever handled a Frankenstein pile of devices simply to run your day-to-day, you know exactly how tempting the “all-in-one” pitch can be. I ‘d been utilizing Keap for several years (and enjoying it, truthfully), however still– I got drawn in by the pledge of streamlining everything under one roof covering.
And yeah, I’ll admit it: I had a bad situation of glossy things disorder.
Why I Left Keap (A Tool That Actually Functioned)
Let me be genuine with you: Keap wasn’t broken. It did every little thing I needed. It handled my e-mail automations, sales funnels, consultation organizing, invoicing– you call it. Certain, the interface really felt a little dated in position, and occasionally things took a few more clicks than I liked, however hey, it worked.
So why change?
Truthfully, I just started asking yourself if I was missing out. GoHighLevel was more affordable (externally), offered a lot more features, and all the awesome online marketers online seemed to be raving concerning it. FOMO is a heck of a drug.
That interest price me greater than simply money– it cost me time, energy, and satisfaction.
What It Cost Me to Switch over
I went done in. Enrolled in the $297/month agency plan. Invest a solid 30 to 40 hours moving information, rebuilding workflows, and basically attempting to replicate my entire Keap setup inside GoHighLevel.
Right here’s what I needed to move:
- 20,000+ email subscribers
- Lots of automations
- All client profiles and notes
- Stripe invoicing integration
- Entire funnel facilities
- Personalized kinds, landing pages, triggers … whatever
Let’s not even speak about the lost efficiency throughout those couple of weeks. I was up to my eyeballs in Zapier workarounds, enjoying tutorials, and trying to find out where the heck fundamental setups were.
And simply when I assumed points were working … they weren’t.
The Vermin Started Slipping In
Initially, every little thing looked alright. Yet after that, out of nowhere, people on my listing began getting e-mails they weren’t meant to get. I’m chatting completely unimportant messages– sent in batches of 171 individuals each time. Three days straight.
Overall chaos.
I reconstruct the automations from the ground up. Still occurred. I called assistance. They criticized “web server issues.” Yet absolutely nothing made good sense, and the issue really did not disappear. Picture awakening every morning wondering who your system could’ve spammed over night.
That’s not just aggravating– it’s dangerous. When your entire brand is built on trust fund, you can not pay for to resemble an unaware amateur blasting the wrong emails to the incorrect individuals.
Assistance? Yeah, All The Best
Now, I do not anticipate excellence from any kind of system. Pests happen. However when they do? I anticipate the support team to step up fast.
That didn’t happen here.
Responses were obscure. Tickets went unanswered. I seemed like I was shouting right into deep space while my organization burned. Meanwhile, every minute I spent fixing was a minute I had not been serving clients or growing my firm.
For a tool that markets itself to severe entrepreneurs, GoHighLevel sure really did not treat me like one.
The User interface Was a Warm Mess
You ever utilize a device and just really feel … lost? That was me inside GoHighLevel For Coaches.
The UX was cumbersome. Points were buried in odd areas. Even simple jobs like editing and enhancing a funnel or tweaking an e-mail circulation turned into a scavenger hunt.
And their funnel builder? Don’t also obtain me started. Wish to transform item setups, page formats, and general flow? Trendy– you’ll require to hunt with 3 various locations that make absolutely no rational feeling. Fifty percent the moment, I could not even bear in mind where I ‘d clicked something 10 seconds previously.
It felt like using software built by engineers, for engineers– not everyday company owner.
The “Budget-friendly” Plan That Obtained Actual Expensive, Real Fast
Let’s talk money.
Among GoHighLevel’s huge marketing points is the cost. I suggest, $97/month for all those features? Appears remarkable, right?
But right here’s what they don’t inform you:.
You pay extra per e-mail if you use their SMTP.
You have to attach solutions like Mailgun or Twilio and handle their payment independently.
You’ll obtain arbitrary microcharges that aren’t explained plainly.
Desire much better e-mail deliverability? That’s gon na cost you too.
By the time I included everything up, I was paying more than I had been with Keap. And worsening outcomes.
That’s not a good deal– it’s just bad math.
My Email Metrics Tanked GoHighLevel For Coaches
The last straw? Watching my email open rates drop like a rock.
I ‘d been getting a solid 35% open price with Keap. My target market was engaged, my automations were called in, and things simply functioned.
After switching over to GoHighLevel? Opens dropped below 15%. Clicks were virtually missing. Something was clearly off.
Possibly it was a deliverability problem. Maybe the system was simply sending at hard times or not customizing messages properly. Whatever the reason, I had not been lingering to play detective while my listing decayed.
Lessons I Discovered the Hard Way
If you’re thinking about switching over to GoHighLevel– or any type of brand-new platform– below’s what I desire somebody had told me prior to I made the jump:.
1. Do Not Chase the Shiny Plaything
It’s very easy to obtain hyped concerning the latest “innovative” device. However even if everybody’s talking about something does not indicate it’s right for you. If your existing system is functioning, think twice prior to blowing it up.
2. Worth Simplicity Over Features
A lot more isn’t constantly much better. A system with a tidy, intuitive interface will certainly save you time and frustrations over time– even if it doesn’t have every feature under the sun.
3. Demand Openness
Hidden prices are the most awful. Choose devices that are in advance concerning pricing, integrations, and restrictions. You should not require a calculator and a synonym replacement tool to understand your regular monthly expense.
4. Listen to Actual Users (Not Just Marketing Professionals)
Inspect honest testimonials, individual discussion forums, and Reddit threads. Take notice of real user experience– not just glossy sales web pages.
Still Want an All-in-One CRM? Right Here Are Better Options
If you’re still on the hunt for a reputable, straightforward system to run your organization, I have actually checked a number. Below are a few I ‘d actually recommend:.
Keap— My existing go-to. Powerful automations, solid support, and it simply functions. Worth every cent.
HubSpot— Great for companies that need scalability and advanced CRM features.
GreenRope— A solid all-in-one service for small to mid-sized businesses with strong coverage devices.
Monday.com— Amazing for project monitoring, team collaboration, and sales pipe monitoring.
Bonsai— Particularly wonderful for freelancers and service-based solopreneurs.
Conclusion
GoHighLevel may help some. However, for me? It was a discouraging, costly experiment that I couldn’t wait to finish.
So if you’re standing at the edge, questioning whether to make the leap– concentrate. Ask on your own what’s truly not working in your existing configuration. Do not burn your systems down just because something newer and shinier appeared.
Stick to what works. Your peace of mind (and your clients) will thank you.