You recognize that feeling when you’re 99% sure something’s a great idea, just to understand later on … it was an overall dumpster fire? That’s specifically what occurred when I made a decision to change my entire firm over to GoHighLevel.
It looked glossy. It seemed revolutionary. But in truth? It turned into one of one of the most excruciating software program decisions I have actually made in over a decade of running my organization.
So before you jump on the GoHighLevel bandwagon, let me stroll you with precisely what went down– due to the fact that if you’re anything like me, you’re always trying to find smarter, extra reliable methods to expand your organization. Just … not similar to this.
The Sexy All-in-One Promise
Below’s the important things. When GoHighLevel struck the scene, it seemed like a desire come to life. A solitary system to handle your CRM, sales funnels, e-mail campaigns, visit bookings, automation, payments– you name it.
If you’ve ever before managed a Monster pile of devices simply to run your daily, you understand just how tempting the “all-in-one” pitch can be. I would certainly been using Keap for years (and liking it, truthfully), however still– I obtained enticed in by the assurance of streamlining every little thing under one roofing.
And yeah, I’ll admit it: I had a negative situation of glossy item disorder.
Why I Left Keap (A Device That Actually Worked)
Let me be genuine with you: Keap had not been broken. It did every little thing I needed. It handled my email automations, sales funnels, appointment scheduling, invoicing– you name it. Certain, the user interface really felt a little dated in position, and sometimes points took a few more clicks than I liked, however hey, it worked.
So why change?
Honestly, I simply began asking yourself if I was missing out. GoHighLevel was less costly (on the surface), provided more features, and all the trendy marketers on-line seemed to be going crazy about it. FOMO is a heck of a medication.
That curiosity price me greater than simply money– it cost me time, power, and comfort.
What It Price Me to Switch
I went done in. Registered for the $297/month agency plan. Spent a strong 30 to 40 hours migrating information, restoring workflows, and generally trying to reproduce my whole Keap setup inside GoHighLevel.
Here’s what I needed to relocate:
- 20,000+ email customers
- Dozens of automations
- All customer accounts and notes
- Stripe payment integration
- Entire funnel facilities
- Personalized kinds, landing pages, causes … every little thing
Allow’s not even discuss the shed productivity throughout those couple of weeks. I was up to my eyeballs in Zapier workarounds, watching tutorials, and attempting to find out where the heck fundamental setups were.
And just when I believed points were working … they weren’t.
The Vermin Began Creeping In
In the beginning, whatever looked alright. Yet after that, out of no place, individuals on my checklist began getting e-mails they weren’t expected to obtain. I’m talking entirely unnecessary messages– sent out in sets of 171 customers at a time. 3 days in a row.
Total mayhem.
I rebuilt the automations from square one. Still happened. I got in touch with support. They criticized “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 overnight.
That’s not simply annoying– it’s dangerous. When your whole brand is built on trust fund, you can not manage to appear like a clueless amateur blowing up the incorrect emails to the incorrect individuals.
Assistance? Yeah, Best Of Luck
Now, I do not expect perfection from any kind of platform. Insects happen. Yet when they do? I anticipate the support group to step up quick.
That didn’t take place below.
Actions were unclear. Tickets went unanswered. I felt like I was yelling right into deep space while my organization shed. On the other hand, every minute I spent troubleshooting was a min I had not been offering customers or expanding my company.
For a tool that markets itself to significant business owners, GoHighLevel sure didn’t treat me like one.
The User interface Was a Warm Mess
You ever make use of a tool and simply really feel … lost? That was me inside GoHighLevel For Ecommerce.
The UX was clunky. Things were buried in weird locations. Even basic jobs 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 started. Wish to change product setups, web page designs, and total flow? Great– you’ll need to hunt via 3 different locations that make absolutely no logical feeling. Half the moment, I could not also remember where I ‘d clicked something ten seconds previously.
It seemed like utilizing software program constructed by engineers, for designers– not daily entrepreneur.
The “Affordable” Plan That Got Real Costly, Genuine Rapid
Let’s chat money.
One of GoHighLevel’s huge selling points is the price. I suggest, $97/month for all those features? Appears outstanding, appropriate?
Yet below’s what they don’t tell you:.
You pay added per email if you utilize their SMTP.
You need to attach services like Mailgun or Twilio and handle their payment separately.
You’ll obtain arbitrary microcharges that aren’t explained clearly.
Want far 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 getting worse outcomes.
That’s not a good deal– it’s just bad math.
My Email Metrics Tanked GoHighLevel For Ecommerce
The last straw? Viewing my e-mail open rates drop like a rock.
I ‘d been getting a strong 35% open price with Keap. My target market was engaged, my automations were dialed in, and things simply functioned.
After switching to GoHighLevel? Opens went down listed below 15%. Clicks were nearly nonexistent. Something was clearly off.
Perhaps it was a deliverability problem. Possibly the system was just sending out at bad times or not individualizing messages appropriately. Whatever the cause, I wasn’t sticking around to play detective while my list rotted.
Lessons I Discovered by hand
If you’re considering switching to GoHighLevel– or any type of brand-new platform– here’s what I desire a person had informed me before I made the leap:.
1. Do Not Chase the Shiny Plaything
It’s easy to get hyped concerning the most recent “cutting edge” device. But just because everyone’s talking about something doesn’t suggest it’s right for you. If your current system is working, think twice before blowing it up.
2. Worth Simpleness Over Features
More isn’t always far better. A platform with a clean, intuitive interface will certainly conserve you time and migraines over time– even if it doesn’t have every feature imaginable.
3. Need Transparency
Hidden costs are the most awful. Select tools that are ahead of time about pricing, integrations, and limitations. You should not need a calculator and a thesaurus to understand your monthly bill.
4. Pay Attention to Actual Users (Not Simply Online Marketers)
Examine unbiased evaluations, customer discussion forums, and Reddit strings. Take notice of real individual experience– not just glossy sales web pages.
Still Desire an All-in-One CRM? Here Are Much better Options
If you’re still on the hunt for a trustworthy, straightforward platform to run your service, I have actually examined a lot. Below are a few I ‘d actually recommend:.
Keap— My existing go-to. Effective automations, solid assistance, and it just works. Well worth every cent.
HubSpot— Great for businesses that require scalability and progressed CRM features.
GreenRope— A solid all-in-one service for small to mid-sized organizations with strong coverage devices.
Monday.com— Fantastic for task monitoring, group collaboration, and sales pipeline tracking.
Bonsai— Especially great for freelancers and service-based solopreneurs.
Conclusion
GoHighLevel may work for some. But also for me? It was a discouraging, expensive experiment that I could not wait to end.
So if you’re standing at the side, asking yourself whether to make the leap– concentrate. Ask yourself what’s actually not operating in your existing setup. Do not burn your systems down even if something newer and shinier showed up.
Stick to what works. Your peace of mind (and your clients) will thanks.