You know that feeling when you’re 99% sure something’s a fantastic idea, only to recognize later … it was a total dumpster fire? That’s specifically what happened when I determined to switch my entire agency over to GoHighLevel.
It looked glossy. It sounded revolutionary. However actually? It turned into among one of the most excruciating software decisions I have actually made in over a years of running my service.
So before you get on the GoHighLevel bandwagon, let me walk you through specifically what went down– due to the fact that if you’re anything like me, you’re always trying to find smarter, extra reliable means to expand your business. Just … not such as this.
The Sexy All-in-One Promise
Here’s the important things. When GoHighLevel struck the scene, it sounded like a dream become a reality. A solitary platform to manage your CRM, sales funnels, e-mail campaigns, appointment bookings, automation, payments– you name it.
If you have actually ever juggled a Monster pile of tools just to run your everyday, you recognize how alluring the “all-in-one” pitch can be. I ‘d been utilizing Keap for years (and enjoying it, honestly), but still– I obtained lured in by the promise of streamlining everything under one roofing system.
And yeah, I’ll confess: I had a negative instance of shiny item syndrome.
Why I Left Keap (A Tool That In Fact Functioned)
Let me be actual with you: Keap had not been damaged. It did everything I needed. It managed my e-mail automations, sales funnels, consultation organizing, invoicing– you call it. Sure, the interface felt a little dated in places, and occasionally points took a couple of even more clicks than I liked, but hey, it worked.
So why change?
Truthfully, I simply began asking yourself if I was missing out. GoHighLevel was less expensive (on the surface), used more features, and all the amazing marketers on the internet appeared to be going crazy concerning it. FOMO is a heck of a medication.
That curiosity price me greater than just money– it cost me time, power, and peace of mind.
What It Cost Me to Switch over
I went all in. Registered for the $297/month agency plan. Invest a strong 30 to 40 hours moving data, restoring workflows, and generally attempting to duplicate my entire Keap configuration inside GoHighLevel.
Right here’s what I had to relocate:
- 20,000+ email subscribers
- Lots of automations
- All client accounts and notes
- Stripe payment integration
- Whole funnel framework
- Custom types, landing pages, activates … everything
Allow’s not also discuss the lost productivity during those couple of weeks. I depended on my eyeballs in Zapier workarounds, seeing tutorials, and trying to determine where the hell standard settings were.
And just when I thought points were working … they weren’t.
The Bugs Began Slipping In
In the beginning, whatever looked fine. But after that, out of nowhere, individuals on my list started getting e-mails they weren’t supposed to get. I’m talking entirely unimportant messages– sent out in batches of 171 customers each time. 3 days in a row.
Total mayhem.
I rebuilt the automations from the ground up. Still happened. I contacted support. They criticized “web server concerns.” Yet absolutely nothing made good sense, and the problem really did not vanish. Envision getting up every morning questioning who your system may’ve spammed over night.
That’s not simply aggravating– it threatens. When your entire brand is improved trust fund, you can’t pay for to resemble an unaware amateur blasting the incorrect emails to the wrong people.
Support? Yeah, Best Of Luck
Now, I do not expect excellence from any type of platform. Bugs take place. However when they do? I anticipate the assistance team to step up quickly.
That didn’t happen right here.
Feedbacks were vague. Tickets went unanswered. I felt like I was screaming right into deep space while my company burned. On the other hand, every min I spent repairing was a min I had not been serving clients or expanding my agency.
For a tool that markets itself to serious entrepreneurs, GoHighLevel sure didn’t treat me like one.
The User interface Was a Warm Mess
You ever utilize a device and simply really feel … lost? That was me inside GoHighLevel For Life Insurance.
The UX was cumbersome. Points were buried in odd places. Even basic jobs like modifying a funnel or tweaking an email flow became a scavenger hunt.
And their funnel builder? Don’t also get me began. Want to alter item settings, page formats, and total flow? Awesome– you’ll need to quest through 3 various areas that make zero logical sense. Fifty percent the moment, I couldn’t even bear in mind where I would certainly clicked something ten seconds previously.
It seemed like utilizing software program constructed by designers, for designers– not day-to-day local business owner.
The “Cost effective” Plan That Obtained Real Pricey, Real Rapid
Let’s talk money.
One of GoHighLevel’s big marketing points is the price. I indicate, $97/month for all those features? Appears incredible, right?
Yet right here’s what they do not tell you:.
You pay extra per e-mail if you use their SMTP.
You have to attach services like Mailgun or Twilio and manage their invoicing individually.
You’ll get random microcharges that aren’t described plainly.
Want far better email deliverability? That’s gon na cost you also.
By the time I included every little thing up, I was paying greater than I had been with Keap. And worsening outcomes.
That’s not a good deal– it’s just negative math.
My Email Metrics Tanked GoHighLevel For Life Insurance
The final straw? Watching my e-mail open rates drop like a rock.
I ‘d been obtaining a strong 35% open rate with Keap. My audience was involved, my automations were dialed in, and things simply functioned.
After switching over to GoHighLevel? Opens dropped below 15%. Clicks were almost nonexistent. Something was plainly off.
Perhaps it was a deliverability concern. Maybe the system was just sending out at bad times or otherwise individualizing messages correctly. Whatever the reason, I had not been staying to play detective while my list deteriorated.
Lessons I Found Out the Hard Way
If you’re considering switching to GoHighLevel– or any kind of new system– right here’s what I want someone had actually told me prior to I made the leap:.
1. Don’t Chase the Shiny Plaything
It’s easy to get hyped about the current “cutting edge” tool. However even if everyone’s talking about something doesn’t mean it’s right for you. If your present system is working, reconsider before blowing it up.
2. Value Simplicity Over Features
Much more isn’t constantly much better. A system with a tidy, instinctive interface will conserve you time and frustrations over time– even if it doesn’t have every feature under the sun.
3. Demand Openness
Surprise costs are the worst. Select devices that are in advance about pricing, integrations, and limits. You should not need a calculator and a thesaurus to comprehend your month-to-month expense.
4. Pay Attention to Genuine Individuals (Not Simply Online Marketers)
Check honest reviews, individual forums, and Reddit strings. Pay attention to actual individual experience– not simply glossy sales web pages.
Still Want an All-in-One CRM? Right Here Are Better Options
If you’re still on the hunt for a reliable, easy to use system to run your company, I have actually evaluated a number. Here are a couple of I ‘d actually recommend:.
Keap— My current go-to. Effective automations, strong support, and it simply functions. Well worth every cent.
HubSpot— Great for businesses that require scalability and advanced CRM features.
GreenRope— A strong all-in-one remedy for little to mid-sized organizations with solid reporting tools.
Monday.com— Superb for job monitoring, group collaboration, and sales pipeline tracking.
Bonsai— Particularly excellent for consultants and service-based solopreneurs.
Final Thought
GoHighLevel may help some. But also for me? It was an aggravating, costly experiment that I could not wait to finish.
So if you’re standing at the side, questioning whether to make the jump– think hard. Ask on your own what’s truly not working in your current setup. Don’t melt your systems down just because something more recent and shinier appeared.
Stick to what works. Your sanity (and your clients) will certainly thank you.