You recognize that sensation when you’re 99% certain something’s a wonderful concept, only to understand later … it was a complete dumpster fire? That’s specifically what occurred when I chose to change my whole company over to GoHighLevel.
It looked glossy. It seemed revolutionary. But in truth? It developed into one of the most uncomfortable software decisions I have actually made in over a decade of running my service.
So before you get on the GoHighLevel bandwagon, let me stroll you via specifically what dropped– since if you’re anything like me, you’re always looking for smarter, extra effective ways to grow your service. Just … not like this.
The Seductive All-in-One Pledge
Right here’s the important things. When GoHighLevel hit the scene, it sounded like a desire become a reality. A solitary system to handle your CRM, sales funnels, email campaigns, appointment bookings, automation, payments– you name it.
If you have actually ever before handled a Frankenstein pile of tools just to run your day-to-day, you know just how tempting the “all-in-one” pitch can be. I ‘d been using Keap for many years (and liking it, honestly), however still– I got drawn in by the assurance of streamlining every little thing under one roofing.
And yeah, I’ll admit it: I had a bad case of glossy item syndrome.
Why I Left Keap (A Device That In Fact Worked)
Let me be real with you: Keap had not been damaged. It did everything I required. It managed my e-mail automations, sales funnels, consultation scheduling, invoicing– you name it. Certain, the user interface felt a little dated in places, and occasionally things took a couple of even more clicks than I suched as, yet hey, it functioned.
So why adjustment?
Honestly, I just began questioning if I was losing out. GoHighLevel was cheaper (on the surface), provided much more features, and all the awesome marketing experts on-line appeared to be raving regarding it. FOMO is a hell of a medicine.
That inquisitiveness price me greater than just money– it cost me time, power, and peace of mind.
What It Cost Me to Switch
I went done in. Registered for the $297/month agency plan. Spent a solid 30 to 40 hours migrating data, restoring workflows, and essentially attempting to duplicate my whole Keap configuration inside GoHighLevel.
Below’s what I had to move:
- 20,000+ e-mail customers
- Dozens of automations
- All client profiles and notes
- Stripe invoicing integration
- Whole funnel facilities
- Custom kinds, landing pages, activates … whatever
Allow’s not even talk about the lost productivity throughout those few weeks. I was up to my eyeballs in Zapier workarounds, seeing tutorials, and attempting to find out where the hell basic setups were.
And just when I believed points were working … they weren’t.
The Vermin Started Sneaking In
In the beginning, everything looked okay. But then, out of no place, individuals on my listing started getting e-mails they weren’t intended to receive. I’m speaking completely unimportant messages– sent in sets of 171 customers at a time. 3 days straight.
Complete disorder.
I rebuilt the automations from scratch. Still taken place. I spoke to support. They criticized “web server problems.” But nothing made good sense, and the trouble really did not disappear. Picture awakening every morning questioning who your system could’ve spammed overnight.
That’s not simply aggravating– it threatens. When your whole brand name is improved count on, you can not manage to resemble an unaware amateur blasting the wrong emails to the wrong individuals.
Assistance? Yeah, Best Of Luck
Now, I don’t expect excellence from any kind of system. Bugs happen. Yet when they do? I anticipate the support group to step up quickly.
That really did not occur here.
Feedbacks were unclear. Tickets went unanswered. I felt like I was shouting right into the void while my business melted. At the same time, every min I invested fixing was a minute I had not been serving clients or growing my firm.
For a device that markets itself to serious entrepreneurs, GoHighLevel sure didn’t treat me like one.
The Interface Was a Hot Mess
You ever before make use of a device and simply really feel … shed? That was me inside GoHighLevel For Freelancers.
The UX was clunky. Things were hidden in weird places. Even easy tasks like editing and enhancing a funnel or tweaking an e-mail circulation became a scavenger hunt.
And their funnel builder? Don’t also get me started. Want to change item settings, web page layouts, and total circulation? Awesome– you’ll need to hunt with 3 various locations that make zero rational sense. Half the moment, I could not also keep in mind where I would certainly clicked something 10 seconds earlier.
It seemed like utilizing software built by designers, for engineers– not everyday company owner.
The “Inexpensive” Plan That Got Genuine Pricey, Genuine Fast
Let’s speak money.
One of GoHighLevel’s big marketing points is the cost. I suggest, $97/month for all those features? Appears impressive, best?
Yet here’s what they don’t inform you:.
You pay added per e-mail if you utilize their SMTP.
You have to connect services like Mailgun or Twilio and handle their invoicing individually.
You’ll obtain arbitrary microcharges that aren’t explained clearly.
Want better email deliverability? That’s gon na cost you as well.
By the time I added everything up, I was paying more than I had actually been with Keap. And becoming worse results.
That’s not a good deal– it’s just poor math.
My Email Metrics Tanked GoHighLevel For Freelancers
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 audience was engaged, my automations were called in, and things simply worked.
After changing to GoHighLevel? Opens dropped listed below 15%. Clicks were practically missing. Something was clearly off.
Perhaps it was a deliverability issue. Perhaps the system was simply sending at hard times or not personalizing messages appropriately. Whatever the cause, I had not been sticking around to play investigator while my list rotted.
Lessons I Discovered the Hard Way
If you’re thinking of switching to GoHighLevel– or any kind of brand-new platform– right here’s what I want someone had told me before I made the jump:.
1. Do Not Chase the Shiny Plaything
It’s simple to obtain hyped regarding the latest “advanced” device. Yet just because everyone’s speaking about something does not mean it’s right for you. If your current system is working, think twice prior to blowing it up.
2. Value Simpleness Over Features
Much more isn’t constantly better. A platform with a tidy, user-friendly user interface will certainly save you time and frustrations in the long run– even if it does not have every feature imaginable.
3. Demand Openness
Concealed prices are the most awful. Pick tools that are upfront regarding pricing, integrations, and restrictions. You shouldn’t require a calculator and a thesaurus to understand your regular monthly bill.
4. Listen to Genuine Users (Not Just Marketing Experts)
Inspect objective testimonials, customer discussion forums, and Reddit threads. Take notice of actual user experience– not simply slick sales pages.
Still Desire an All-in-One CRM? Right Here Are Better Options
If you’re still on the hunt for a trusted, straightforward platform to run your service, I’ve checked a lot. Here are a couple of I ‘d in fact recommend:.
Keap— My existing go-to. Powerful automations, solid support, and it simply functions. Worth every cent.
HubSpot— Great for organizations that require scalability and advanced CRM features.
GreenRope— A solid all-in-one service for little to mid-sized companies with strong coverage devices.
Monday.com— Amazing for task administration, group partnership, and sales pipe tracking.
Bonsai— Particularly excellent for freelancers and service-based solopreneurs.
Conclusion
GoHighLevel may help 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 edge, asking yourself whether to make the leap– concentrate. Ask on your own what’s actually not operating in your current setup. Do not melt your systems down even if something more recent and shinier appeared.
Stick to what jobs. Your sanity (and your customers) will thanks.