You understand that sensation when you’re 99% certain something’s a terrific idea, only to recognize later on … it was a complete dumpster fire? That’s exactly what happened when I made a decision to switch my whole company over to GoHighLevel.
It looked glossy. It seemed revolutionary. However actually? It became among one of the most painful software application choices I’ve made in over a decade of running my company.
So before you get on the GoHighLevel bandwagon, let me walk you through exactly what dropped– because if you’re anything like me, you’re always trying to find smarter, more reliable ways to expand your company. Just … not such as this.
The Seductive All-in-One Promise
Below’s things. When GoHighLevel hit the scene, it seemed like a desire happened. A single system to handle your CRM, sales funnels, email campaigns, consultation bookings, automation, settlements– you call it.
If you’ve ever before juggled a Frankenstein stack of devices just to run your everyday, you recognize how alluring the “all-in-one” pitch can be. I ‘d been utilizing Keap for years (and liking it, honestly), but still– I got drawn in by the assurance of streamlining everything under one roof covering.
And yeah, I’ll admit it: I had a negative case of shiny things syndrome.
Why I Left Keap (A Device That In Fact Functioned)
Let me be actual with you: Keap wasn’t broken. It did everything I needed. It handled my e-mail automations, sales funnels, consultation scheduling, invoicing– you name it. Certain, the user interface felt a little dated in position, and in some cases points took a few more clicks than I liked, however hey, it worked.
So why change?
Honestly, I just began wondering if I was missing out. GoHighLevel was less costly (externally), supplied much more features, and all the awesome marketing professionals on the internet seemed to be raving regarding it. FOMO is a hell of a medication.
That curiosity cost me more than just money– it cost me time, energy, and satisfaction.
What It Price Me to Switch
I went all in. Registered for the $297/month agency plan. Invest a solid 30 to 40 hours migrating data, restoring workflows, and basically trying to reproduce my entire Keap setup inside GoHighLevel.
Below’s what I had to relocate:
- 20,000+ email clients
- Loads of automations
- All customer accounts and notes
- Stripe payment integration
- Entire funnel facilities
- Custom-made kinds, landing pages, triggers … every little thing
Let’s not also discuss the shed efficiency throughout those couple of weeks. I depended on my eyeballs in Zapier workarounds, viewing tutorials, and trying to figure out where the heck fundamental setups were.
And just when I assumed points were functioning … they weren’t.
The Vermin Started Sneaking In
Initially, every little thing looked all right. But after that, out of nowhere, individuals on my checklist started getting e-mails they weren’t expected to obtain. I’m talking entirely irrelevant messages– sent out in batches of 171 users at a time. Three days straight.
Total mayhem.
I rebuilt the automations from the ground up. Still taken place. I contacted support. They blamed “server issues.” However nothing made sense, and the problem didn’t go away. Visualize waking up every early morning wondering who your system may’ve spammed overnight.
That’s not just frustrating– it’s dangerous. When your whole brand is improved trust, you can not afford to look like a clueless amateur blasting the incorrect emails to the incorrect individuals.
Assistance? Yeah, Best Of Luck
Currently, I don’t anticipate excellence from any type of system. Pests take place. However when they do? I anticipate the assistance team to step up quick.
That didn’t happen below.
Feedbacks were obscure. Tickets went unanswered. I seemed like I was yelling into the void while my company shed. At the same time, every min I spent repairing was a minute I had not been serving clients or expanding my company.
For a tool that markets itself to serious business owners, GoHighLevel sure didn’t treat me like one.
The Interface Was a Hot Mess
You ever utilize a tool and just feel … lost? That was me inside GoHighLevel For Coaching.
The UX was confusing. Things were buried in weird places. Also easy tasks like editing and enhancing a funnel or tweaking an e-mail circulation turned into a scavenger hunt.
And their funnel builder? Don’t even get me started. Want to change item settings, page formats, and total circulation? Awesome– you’ll require to hunt via three various locations that make zero sensible sense. Fifty percent the moment, I could not also remember where I ‘d clicked something 10 secs earlier.
It seemed like utilizing software application built by engineers, for engineers– not everyday entrepreneur.
The “Affordable” Plan That Obtained Genuine Expensive, Real Rapid
Let’s talk money.
Among GoHighLevel’s large marketing points is the cost. I mean, $97/month for all those features? Seems incredible, ideal?
Yet here’s what they do not tell you:.
You pay added per email if you use their SMTP.
You need to attach solutions like Mailgun or Twilio and handle their payment independently.
You’ll get arbitrary microcharges that aren’t described clearly.
Desire far better e-mail deliverability? That’s gon na cost you also.
By the time I added every little thing up, I was paying greater than I had been with Keap. And getting worse outcomes.
That’s not a bargain– it’s simply bad mathematics.
My Email Metrics Tanked GoHighLevel For Coaching
The final straw? Viewing my e-mail open rates go down like a rock.
I ‘d been obtaining a strong 35% open price with Keap. My audience was engaged, my automations were dialed in, and points simply functioned.
After changing to GoHighLevel? Opens went down below 15%. Clicks were almost nonexistent. Something was clearly off.
Perhaps it was a deliverability concern. Perhaps the system was simply sending out at bad times or not customizing messages correctly. Whatever the reason, I wasn’t sticking around to play investigative while my list deteriorated.
Lessons I Learned by hand
If you’re thinking about changing to GoHighLevel– or any new platform– right here’s what I want a person had told me before I made the leap:.
1. Don’t Chase the Shiny Toy
It’s easy to get hyped concerning the most up to date “innovative” tool. Yet just because every person’s speaking about something doesn’t mean it’s right for you. If your present system is working, think twice prior to blowing it up.
2. Worth Simpleness Over Features
A lot more isn’t constantly far better. A system with a tidy, instinctive user interface will save you time and headaches in the long run– even if it does not have every feature under the sun.
3. Demand Openness
Surprise prices are the worst. Select devices that are upfront concerning pricing, integrations, and restrictions. You should not require a calculator and a thesaurus to recognize your regular monthly expense.
4. Listen to Genuine Users (Not Just Online Marketers)
Examine unbiased evaluations, customer online forums, and Reddit strings. Pay attention to real customer experience– not just glossy sales web pages.
Still Desire an All-in-One CRM? Below Are Much better Options
If you’re still on the hunt for a dependable, straightforward system to run your company, I have actually evaluated a bunch. Below are a couple of I ‘d actually recommend:.
Keap— My current go-to. Powerful automations, solid support, and it just functions. Worth every cent.
HubSpot— Great for businesses that need scalability and progressed CRM features.
GreenRope— A strong all-in-one service for little to mid-sized organizations with strong coverage devices.
Monday.com— Great for project monitoring, team cooperation, and sales pipeline tracking.
Bonsai— Especially wonderful for freelancers and service-based solopreneurs.
Conclusion
GoHighLevel might benefit some. But also for me? It was an aggravating, pricey experiment that I couldn’t wait to end.
So if you’re standing at the side, asking yourself whether to make the jump– concentrate. Ask on your own what’s actually 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 peace of mind (and your customers) will certainly thanks.