You understand that feeling when you’re 99% certain something’s a wonderful concept, only to realize later … it was a total dumpster fire? That’s precisely what occurred when I decided to switch my entire agency over to GoHighLevel.
It looked shiny. It sounded revolutionary. However in truth? It became one of the most agonizing software application choices I have actually made in over a decade of running my organization.
So before you get on the GoHighLevel bandwagon, let me walk you through specifically what decreased– because if you’re anything like me, you’re always looking for smarter, more efficient means to grow your company. Just … not such as this.
The Seductive All-in-One Pledge
Here’s the important things. When GoHighLevel hit the scene, it seemed like a dream come to life. A single platform to manage your CRM, sales funnels, email campaigns, appointment bookings, automation, settlements– you call it.
If you’ve ever before handled a Frankenstein stack of tools just to run your day-to-day, you recognize exactly how tempting the “all-in-one” pitch can be. I ‘d been using Keap for years (and enjoying it, honestly), however still– I got lured in by the assurance of streamlining whatever under one roofing system.
And yeah, I’ll admit it: I had a negative case of shiny object syndrome.
Why I Left Keap (A Device That In Fact Worked)
Let me be actual with you: Keap wasn’t broken. It did everything I needed. It managed my email automations, sales funnels, appointment scheduling, invoicing– you call it. Sure, the interface felt a little outdated in position, and often points took a few more clicks than I suched as, yet hey, it worked.
So why modification?
Truthfully, I just began asking yourself if I was missing out. GoHighLevel was less expensive (on the surface), offered more features, and all the cool marketers on-line seemed to be raving about it. FOMO is a hell of a medication.
That curiosity price me greater than simply cash– it cost me time, energy, and satisfaction.
What It Expense Me to Switch
I went done in. Enrolled in the $297/month agency plan. Spent a strong 30 to 40 hours moving information, rebuilding workflows, and primarily attempting to duplicate my whole Keap arrangement inside GoHighLevel.
Below’s what I had to relocate:
- 20,000+ e-mail clients
- Loads of automations
- All customer accounts and notes
- Stripe billing integration
- Entire funnel facilities
- Customized types, landing pages, causes … whatever
Allow’s not even speak about the lost productivity throughout those few weeks. I was up to my eyeballs in Zapier workarounds, enjoying tutorials, and trying to determine where the heck fundamental settings were.
And just when I thought points were working … they weren’t.
The Vermin Began Creeping In
In the beginning, whatever looked okay. But then, out of nowhere, people on my listing started obtaining e-mails they weren’t meant to obtain. I’m speaking completely unimportant messages– sent in sets of 171 individuals at once. Three days straight.
Overall chaos.
I rebuilt the automations from the ground up. Still happened. I spoke to support. They blamed “server issues.” Yet absolutely nothing made good sense, and the trouble didn’t go away. Imagine awakening every early morning wondering who your system may’ve spammed over night.
That’s not just irritating– it threatens. When your whole brand is improved trust, you can not manage to resemble a clueless amateur blasting the wrong emails to the incorrect individuals.
Assistance? Yeah, All The Best
Currently, I don’t anticipate excellence from any type of platform. Bugs happen. But when they do? I expect the assistance team to step up quickly.
That didn’t occur right here.
Responses were unclear. Tickets went unanswered. I felt like I was yelling right into the void while my business shed. Meanwhile, every minute I spent troubleshooting was a minute I wasn’t offering clients or growing my company.
For a tool that markets itself to serious entrepreneurs, GoHighLevel sure really did not treat me like one.
The User interface Was a Hot Mess
You ever before use a tool and simply feel … lost? That was me inside GoHighLevel For Construction.
The UX was clunky. Things were hidden in odd areas. Even straightforward tasks 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 began. Want to change item settings, page formats, and general circulation? Amazing– you’ll require to search through 3 various areas that make zero logical sense. Fifty percent the moment, I could not even keep in mind where I would certainly clicked something 10 seconds previously.
It seemed like using software developed by engineers, for engineers– not day-to-day company owner.
The “Budget-friendly” Plan That Got Genuine Costly, Genuine Rapid
Let’s chat money.
Among GoHighLevel’s big selling factors is the cost. I suggest, $97/month for all those features? Sounds fantastic, ideal?
Yet right here’s what they don’t tell you:.
You pay extra per email if you utilize their SMTP.
You need to link solutions like Mailgun or Twilio and handle their payment individually.
You’ll obtain arbitrary microcharges that aren’t discussed clearly.
Desire much better email deliverability? That’s gon na cost you too.
By the time I included everything up, I was paying greater than I had been with Keap. And getting worse outcomes.
That’s not a good deal– it’s simply negative math.
My Email Metrics Tanked GoHighLevel For Construction
The final straw? Watching my e-mail open rates go down like a rock.
I ‘d been obtaining a strong 35% open rate with Keap. My target market was involved, my automations were dialed in, and things just worked.
After switching to GoHighLevel? Opens dropped listed below 15%. Clicks were virtually nonexistent. Something was clearly off.
Perhaps it was a deliverability problem. Possibly the system was simply sending out at bad times or not customizing messages correctly. Whatever the reason, I had not been sticking around to play detective while my list deteriorated.
Lessons I Learned by hand
If you’re thinking of switching over to GoHighLevel– or any type of brand-new system– below’s what I wish somebody had actually told me before I made the leap:.
1. Don’t Chase the Shiny Toy
It’s very easy to obtain hyped about the current “revolutionary” device. Yet just because every person’s speaking about something doesn’t indicate it’s right for you. If your existing system is functioning, hesitate before blowing it up.
2. Value Simpleness Over Features
Extra isn’t always far better. A platform with a tidy, instinctive user interface will certainly save you time and headaches in the long run– even if it does not have every feature under the sun.
3. Need Openness
Concealed expenses are the worst. Pick devices that are upfront concerning pricing, integrations, and limitations. You should not require a calculator and a thesaurus to understand your monthly bill.
4. Pay Attention to Genuine Individuals (Not Just Marketers)
Inspect unbiased evaluations, individual online forums, and Reddit strings. Take note of real 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, user-friendly platform to run your service, I’ve tested a bunch. Below are a few I ‘d actually recommend:.
Keap— My present go-to. Powerful automations, solid support, and it simply functions. Worth every dime.
HubSpot— Great for companies that require scalability and advanced CRM features.
GreenRope— A solid all-in-one option for small to mid-sized services with solid coverage tools.
Monday.com— Superb for job management, team collaboration, and sales pipeline tracking.
Bonsai— Specifically great for freelancers and service-based solopreneurs.
Conclusion
GoHighLevel may help some. But also for me? It was a discouraging, costly experiment that I couldn’t wait to end.
So if you’re standing at the edge, questioning whether to make the jump– think hard. Ask on your own what’s actually not working in your existing setup. Don’t melt your systems down even if something more recent and shinier appeared.
Stick to what jobs. Your sanity (and your customers) will certainly thanks.