You know that feeling when you’re 99% sure something’s a great concept, just to realize later on … it was a total dumpster fire? That’s exactly what occurred when I determined to change my whole company over to GoHighLevel.
It looked shiny. It sounded revolutionary. Yet in truth? It developed into among the most unpleasant software decisions I have actually made in over a decade of running my service.
So before you jump on the GoHighLevel bandwagon, let me stroll you through specifically what decreased– due to the fact that if you’re anything like me, you’re always trying to find smarter, much more efficient means to grow your business. Simply … not such as this.
The Sexy All-in-One Promise
Right here’s the important things. When GoHighLevel struck the scene, it sounded like a desire become a reality. A solitary platform to manage your CRM, sales funnels, email campaigns, appointment bookings, automation, repayments– you call it.
If you’ve ever handled a Frankenstein stack of devices simply to run your everyday, you understand exactly how alluring the “all-in-one” pitch can be. I would certainly been using Keap for several years (and liking it, truthfully), but still– I obtained enticed in by the assurance of streamlining everything under one roof covering.
And yeah, I’ll admit it: I had a poor case of glossy item syndrome.
Why I Left Keap (A Tool That In Fact Functioned)
Let me be real with you: Keap had not been damaged. It did everything I required. It managed my e-mail automations, sales funnels, appointment organizing, invoicing– you call it. Certain, the interface felt a little outdated in position, and occasionally things took a few even more clicks than I suched as, but hey, it functioned.
So why modification?
Truthfully, I simply began wondering if I was losing out. GoHighLevel was less expensive (externally), used much more features, and all the amazing online marketers on-line appeared to be raving concerning it. FOMO is a heck of a medication.
That curiosity cost me more than just money– it cost me time, energy, and assurance.
What It Price Me to Change
I went all in. Registered for the $297/month agency plan. Spent a solid 30 to 40 hours moving data, restoring workflows, and basically trying to reproduce my entire Keap setup inside GoHighLevel.
Here’s what I had to relocate:
- 20,000+ email customers
- Loads of automations
- All customer profiles and notes
- Stripe invoicing integration
- Entire funnel framework
- Custom-made kinds, landing pages, sets off … whatever
Let’s not also talk about the shed performance during those few weeks. I was up to my eyeballs in Zapier workarounds, seeing tutorials, and trying to figure out where the hell fundamental setups were.
And just when I thought points were working … they weren’t.
The Bugs Started Creeping In
In the beginning, everything looked alright. However after that, out of nowhere, individuals on my checklist started getting e-mails they weren’t supposed to get. I’m talking entirely pointless messages– sent out in batches of 171 users at a time. Three days in a row.
Total chaos.
I restore the automations from scratch. Still taken place. I got in touch with assistance. They condemned “server concerns.” However nothing made sense, and the issue really did not vanish. Visualize getting up every early morning questioning who your system might’ve spammed over night.
That’s not simply annoying– it’s dangerous. When your whole brand name is built on depend on, you can not afford to resemble an unaware amateur blasting the incorrect e-mails to the wrong people.
Support? Yeah, All The Best
Currently, I do not expect perfection from any type of system. Pests happen. Yet when they do? I anticipate the assistance team to step up fast.
That really did not happen right here.
Responses were obscure. Tickets went unanswered. I seemed like I was yelling into the void while my service shed. At the same time, every min I invested troubleshooting was a min I had not been offering clients or growing my firm.
For a device that markets itself to serious entrepreneurs, GoHighLevel sure didn’t 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 Letting Agents.
The UX was clunky. Points were hidden in unusual locations. Even easy tasks like modifying a funnel or tweaking an e-mail circulation turned into a scavenger hunt.
And their funnel builder? Don’t also get me began. Want to transform product settings, page layouts, and overall flow? Awesome– you’ll require to quest through 3 different locations that make zero logical feeling. Fifty percent the moment, I couldn’t even keep in mind where I would certainly clicked something 10 secs earlier.
It seemed like utilizing software program developed by designers, for designers– not everyday local business owner.
The “Economical” Plan That Obtained Actual Expensive, Actual Rapid
Let’s talk money.
One of GoHighLevel’s big marketing points is the price. I indicate, $97/month for all those features? Appears fantastic, appropriate?
Yet here’s what they do not inform you:.
You pay added per e-mail if you utilize their SMTP.
You have to attach solutions like Mailgun or Twilio and handle their payment independently.
You’ll get arbitrary microcharges that aren’t clarified plainly.
Want much better email deliverability? That’s gon na cost you also.
By the time I added whatever up, I was paying greater than I had actually been with Keap. And getting worse results.
That’s not a good deal– it’s simply bad mathematics.
My Email Metrics Tanked GoHighLevel For Letting Agents
The final straw? Watching my email open rates drop like a rock.
I would certainly been getting 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 virtually missing. Something was plainly off.
Possibly it was a deliverability concern. Possibly the system was simply sending out at bad times or not personalizing messages correctly. Whatever the reason, I had not been lingering to play investigator while my list deteriorated.
Lessons I Discovered by hand
If you’re considering switching over to GoHighLevel– or any type of new system– here’s what I want a person had actually told me prior to I made the leap:.
1. Don’t Chase the Shiny Toy
It’s very easy to obtain hyped concerning the latest “innovative” tool. But just because every person’s talking about something doesn’t mean it’s right for you. If your present system is functioning, reconsider before blowing it up.
2. Worth Simplicity Over Features
A lot more isn’t always better. A system with a clean, intuitive interface will conserve you time and headaches over time– even if it doesn’t have every feature under the sun.
3. Need Transparency
Covert costs are the most awful. Select tools that are in advance concerning pricing, integrations, and restrictions. You shouldn’t require a calculator and a thesaurus to comprehend your month-to-month bill.
4. Pay Attention to Actual Individuals (Not Simply Online Marketers)
Examine objective evaluations, individual forums, and Reddit strings. Focus on real individual experience– not just slick sales web pages.
Still Desire an All-in-One CRM? Here Are Much better Options
If you’re still on the hunt for a dependable, user-friendly system to run your service, I’ve evaluated a number. Here are a couple of I ‘d in fact recommend:.
Keap— My current go-to. Effective automations, strong support, and it just functions. Worth every cent.
HubSpot— Great for businesses that need scalability and advanced CRM features.
GreenRope— A strong all-in-one service for little to mid-sized organizations with strong coverage tools.
Monday.com— Fantastic for task monitoring, group collaboration, and sales pipeline monitoring.
Bonsai— Specifically terrific for freelancers and service-based solopreneurs.
Verdict
GoHighLevel might work for some. However, for me? It was an irritating, costly experiment that I could not wait to end.
So if you’re standing at the edge, wondering whether to make the jump– concentrate. Ask on your own what’s actually not operating in your current setup. Don’t melt your systems down just because something more recent and shinier showed up.
Stick to what jobs. Your peace of mind (and your customers) will certainly thanks.