You know that sensation when you’re 99% sure something’s a wonderful concept, only to recognize later on … it was a complete dumpster fire? That’s exactly what happened when I made a decision to switch my entire company over to GoHighLevel.
It looked shiny. It sounded revolutionary. However in truth? It turned into among one of the most painful software choices I have actually made in over a years of running my service.
So prior to you get on the GoHighLevel bandwagon, let me walk you through precisely what went down– because if you’re anything like me, you’re always searching for smarter, a lot more reliable ways to grow your company. Just … not similar to this.
The Seductive All-in-One Guarantee
Right here’s the thing. When GoHighLevel struck the scene, it seemed like a desire come to life. A solitary system to manage your CRM, sales funnels, email campaigns, appointment bookings, automation, settlements– you name it.
If you’ve ever before managed a Monster pile of devices just to run your day-to-day, you know exactly how tempting the “all-in-one” pitch can be. I would certainly been making use of Keap for many years (and liking it, truthfully), but still– I obtained lured in by the promise of streamlining whatever under one roofing.
And yeah, I’ll confess: I had a bad instance of glossy object 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 needed. It managed my e-mail automations, sales funnels, consultation scheduling, invoicing– you call it. Certain, the user interface felt a little dated in position, and in some cases things took a couple of more clicks than I liked, but hey, it functioned.
So why change?
Truthfully, I just started questioning if I was losing out. GoHighLevel was less costly (on the surface), provided much more features, and all the amazing marketing experts online appeared to be raving concerning it. FOMO is a heck of a medicine.
That interest price me greater than just cash– it cost me time, power, and peace of mind.
What It Cost Me to Switch over
I went done in. Signed up for the $297/month agency plan. Spent a strong 30 to 40 hours migrating data, restoring workflows, and basically attempting to replicate my whole Keap arrangement inside GoHighLevel.
Here’s what I had to relocate:
- 20,000+ email subscribers
- Loads of automations
- All client accounts and notes
- Stripe invoicing integration
- Entire funnel framework
- Custom forms, landing pages, activates … every little thing
Allow’s not also talk about the lost productivity during those couple of weeks. I was up to my eyeballs in Zapier workarounds, viewing tutorials, and trying to find out where the heck basic settings were.
And just when I thought points were functioning … they weren’t.
The Vermin Began Sneaking In
At first, every little thing looked all right. But after that, out of nowhere, individuals on my checklist started getting emails they weren’t meant to receive. I’m chatting totally unimportant messages– sent out in batches of 171 individuals each time. Three days straight.
Total disorder.
I restore the automations from the ground up. Still happened. I spoke to assistance. They blamed “server issues.” But nothing made good sense, and the issue didn’t disappear. Envision waking up every morning questioning who your system could’ve spammed overnight.
That’s not simply frustrating– it’s dangerous. When your whole brand is built on depend on, you can’t manage to resemble an unaware amateur blasting the wrong e-mails to the wrong people.
Support? Yeah, Good Luck
Now, I don’t expect perfection from any type of system. Insects happen. However when they do? I anticipate the support group to step up quick.
That didn’t take place here.
Actions were unclear. Tickets went unanswered. I seemed like I was screaming into the void while my service melted. Meanwhile, every minute I spent repairing was a minute I wasn’t offering customers or growing my firm.
For a tool that markets itself to significant business owners, GoHighLevel sure really did not treat me like one.
The Interface Was a Hot Mess
You ever use a device and just feel … shed? That was me inside GoHighLevel For Quality Leads.
The UX was clunky. Things were buried in strange locations. Even basic jobs like editing and enhancing a funnel or tweaking an email circulation developed into a scavenger hunt.
And their funnel builder? Don’t also get me began. Want to alter product setups, web page layouts, and overall circulation? Awesome– you’ll need to hunt with 3 different locations that make absolutely no sensible feeling. Fifty percent the time, I couldn’t also bear in mind where I ‘d clicked something 10 secs earlier.
It seemed like utilizing software constructed by designers, for designers– not daily entrepreneur.
The “Budget-friendly” Plan That Got Real Costly, Actual Quick
Let’s talk money.
One of GoHighLevel’s big marketing factors is the cost. I indicate, $97/month for all those features? Seems amazing, ideal?
But here’s what they don’t inform you:.
You pay additional per email if you use their SMTP.
You have to attach solutions like Mailgun or Twilio and manage their invoicing separately.
You’ll get random microcharges that aren’t described plainly.
Want better email deliverability? That’s gon na cost you too.
By the time I included whatever up, I was paying greater than I had actually been with Keap. And getting worse results.
That’s not a bargain– it’s simply negative math.
My Email Metrics Tanked GoHighLevel For Quality Leads
The final straw? Watching my email open rates drop like a rock.
I ‘d been getting a solid 35% open rate with Keap. My audience was engaged, my automations were dialed in, and points simply worked.
After switching to GoHighLevel? Opens dropped listed below 15%. Clicks were nearly missing. Something was plainly off.
Possibly it was a deliverability problem. Maybe the system was just sending at bad times or not individualizing messages properly. Whatever the reason, I wasn’t staying to play investigator while my checklist decomposed.
Lessons I Found Out the Hard Way
If you’re considering changing to GoHighLevel– or any brand-new platform– here’s what I wish someone had actually informed me before I made the jump:.
1. Don’t Chase the Shiny Plaything
It’s easy to obtain hyped regarding the most up to date “innovative” device. However just because every person’s discussing something does not indicate it’s right for you. If your current system is functioning, hesitate prior to blowing it up.
2. Worth Simpleness Over Features
More isn’t always far better. A system with a clean, instinctive interface will certainly conserve you time and frustrations in the future– even if it does not have every feature imaginable.
3. Need Openness
Covert expenses are the worst. Choose devices that are ahead of time about pricing, integrations, and limitations. You shouldn’t require a calculator and a thesaurus to recognize your monthly costs.
4. Pay Attention to Genuine Customers (Not Just Marketing Experts)
Examine honest evaluations, user online forums, and Reddit threads. Pay attention to actual customer experience– not just slick sales web pages.
Still Want an All-in-One CRM? Below Are Better Options
If you’re still on the hunt for a trustworthy, straightforward system to run your service, I’ve examined a number. Here are a couple of I ‘d really advise:.
Keap— My present go-to. Powerful automations, solid assistance, and it just works. Worth every dime.
HubSpot— Great for companies that require scalability and advanced CRM features.
GreenRope— A solid all-in-one remedy for small to mid-sized organizations with strong reporting devices.
Monday.com— Amazing for job administration, team cooperation, and sales pipe monitoring.
Bonsai— Particularly fantastic for consultants and service-based solopreneurs.
Conclusion
GoHighLevel might benefit some. However, for me? It was an aggravating, expensive experiment that I couldn’t wait to end.
So if you’re standing at the side, wondering whether to make the leap– concentrate. Ask on your own what’s actually not operating in your existing configuration. Do not burn your systems down just because something more recent and shinier showed up.
Stick with what jobs. Your sanity (and your customers) will certainly thank you.