You recognize that sensation when you’re 99% certain something’s a fantastic concept, just to recognize later on … it was an overall dumpster fire? That’s specifically what took place when I made a decision to switch my entire company over to GoHighLevel.
It looked shiny. It sounded revolutionary. Yet in reality? It turned into among one of the most uncomfortable software application decisions I have actually made in over a years of running my business.
So prior to you get on the GoHighLevel bandwagon, let me walk you via exactly what dropped– since if you’re anything like me, you’re constantly searching for smarter, a lot more effective methods to expand your business. Just … not such as this.
The Sexy All-in-One Promise
Below’s the important things. When GoHighLevel hit the scene, it seemed like a desire become a reality. A single system to handle your CRM, sales funnels, email campaigns, visit bookings, automation, repayments– you name it.
If you have actually ever before juggled a Monster stack of devices simply to run your daily, you know just how appealing the “all-in-one” pitch can be. I ‘d been using Keap for many years (and liking it, honestly), however still– I obtained lured in by the assurance of simplifying every little thing under one roof covering.
And yeah, I’ll admit it: I had a bad situation of glossy things syndrome.
Why I Left Keap (A Tool That Really Worked)
Let me be real with you: Keap wasn’t broken. It did every little thing I needed. It handled my email automations, sales funnels, visit organizing, invoicing– you name it. Certain, the interface felt a little dated in places, and occasionally things took a few even more clicks than I suched as, but hey, it worked.
So why modification?
Honestly, I just began questioning if I was missing out. GoHighLevel was cheaper (on the surface), supplied a lot more features, and all the awesome marketing experts on the internet appeared to be raving regarding it. FOMO is a hell of a drug.
That inquisitiveness cost me more than just money– it cost me time, energy, and satisfaction.
What It Price Me to Change
I went all in. Signed up for the $297/month agency plan. Spent a strong 30 to 40 hours migrating data, rebuilding workflows, and generally attempting to reproduce my whole Keap configuration inside GoHighLevel.
Below’s what I needed to relocate:
- 20,000+ email clients
- Dozens of automations
- All customer accounts and notes
- Stripe payment integration
- Entire funnel infrastructure
- Custom-made forms, landing pages, causes … every little thing
Let’s not even talk about the lost efficiency during those couple of weeks. I depended on my eyeballs in Zapier workarounds, seeing tutorials, and trying to figure out where the heck standard settings were.
And simply when I believed things were functioning … they weren’t.
The Bugs Started Slipping In
In the beginning, every little thing looked okay. But after that, out of no place, individuals on my list began obtaining e-mails they weren’t supposed to get. I’m chatting completely unnecessary messages– sent in batches of 171 users each time. 3 days in a row.
Overall turmoil.
I rebuilt the automations from scratch. Still taken place. I got in touch with support. They blamed “web server concerns.” However nothing made good sense, and the issue really did not vanish. Envision getting up every morning wondering who your system might’ve spammed over night.
That’s not just frustrating– it’s dangerous. When your entire brand is built on trust, you can’t pay for to appear like a clueless amateur blasting the wrong e-mails to the wrong individuals.
Assistance? Yeah, All The Best
Currently, I don’t anticipate excellence from any type of platform. Insects occur. But when they do? I anticipate the assistance team to step up quickly.
That really did not happen right here.
Feedbacks were vague. Tickets went unanswered. I felt like I was screaming into the void while my business shed. At the same time, every minute I spent repairing was a min I wasn’t serving clients or expanding my agency.
For a tool that markets itself to significant business owners, GoHighLevel certain didn’t treat me like one.
The User interface Was a Warm Mess
You ever before utilize a tool and simply feel … shed? That was me inside GoHighLevel For Digital Marketers.
The UX was clunky. Points were buried in unusual areas. Even basic tasks like editing and enhancing a funnel or tweaking an email circulation turned into a scavenger hunt.
And their funnel builder? Do not even get me began. Want to change item setups, web page layouts, and total flow? Great– you’ll require to quest through 3 various areas that make absolutely no rational sense. Fifty percent the moment, I could not even bear in mind where I would certainly clicked something 10 seconds earlier.
It seemed like making use of software constructed by designers, for engineers– not daily entrepreneur.
The “Cost effective” Plan That Got Real Costly, Actual Fast
Let’s speak money.
One of GoHighLevel’s huge selling points is the rate. I suggest, $97/month for all those features? Appears outstanding, appropriate?
Yet here’s what they don’t inform you:.
You pay additional per e-mail if you use their SMTP.
You need to connect solutions like Mailgun or Twilio and handle their billing separately.
You’ll get random microcharges that aren’t clarified plainly.
Desire far better email deliverability? That’s gon na cost you too.
By the time I included whatever up, I was paying more than I had been with Keap. And worsening outcomes.
That’s not a bargain– it’s just bad math.
My Email Metrics Tanked GoHighLevel For Digital Marketers
The final straw? Watching my email open rates drop like a rock.
I would certainly been getting a solid 35% open price with Keap. My audience was engaged, my automations were called in, and points just worked.
After changing to GoHighLevel? Opens went down listed below 15%. Clicks were virtually nonexistent. Something was plainly off.
Perhaps it was a deliverability issue. Maybe the system was just sending at bad times or otherwise customizing messages appropriately. Whatever the cause, I wasn’t remaining to play detective while my checklist decayed.
Lessons I Found Out by hand
If you’re thinking about changing to GoHighLevel– or any brand-new platform– right here’s what I want somebody had told me before I made the jump:.
1. Do Not Chase the Shiny Plaything
It’s very easy to obtain hyped about the latest “innovative” tool. However just because everyone’s speaking about something does not suggest it’s right for you. If your existing system is functioning, hesitate prior to blowing it up.
2. Worth Simplicity Over Features
Extra isn’t always much better. A platform with a clean, instinctive user interface will certainly conserve you time and migraines in the long run– even if it doesn’t have every feature under the sun.
3. Demand Openness
Surprise prices are the most awful. Select tools that are ahead of time regarding pricing, integrations, and limits. You should not need a calculator and a thesaurus to comprehend your regular monthly expense.
4. Listen to Real Individuals (Not Simply Online Marketers)
Check honest testimonials, individual online forums, and Reddit threads. Take note of actual user experience– not simply glossy sales pages.
Still Desire an All-in-One CRM? Right Here Are Much better Options
If you’re still on the hunt for a dependable, straightforward platform to run your company, I’ve tested a lot. Here are a couple of I ‘d really suggest:.
Keap— My current go-to. Powerful automations, strong assistance, and it simply functions. Well worth every cent.
HubSpot— Great for businesses that require scalability and advanced CRM features.
GreenRope— A solid all-in-one remedy for small to mid-sized businesses with strong coverage tools.
Monday.com— Fantastic for task management, team cooperation, and sales pipe monitoring.
Bonsai— Particularly terrific for freelancers and service-based solopreneurs.
Final Thought
GoHighLevel may help some. But also for me? It was a discouraging, expensive experiment that I could not wait to finish.
So if you’re standing at the side, wondering whether to make the jump– think hard. Ask yourself what’s really not working in your present setup. Don’t burn your systems down just because something newer and shinier showed up.
Stick with what works. Your peace of mind (and your clients) will thanks.