You know that feeling when you’re 99% certain something’s a fantastic concept, only to realize later on … it was an overall dumpster fire? That’s exactly what occurred when I determined to switch my whole agency over to GoHighLevel.
It looked shiny. It sounded revolutionary. However in truth? It turned into one of one of the most uncomfortable software choices I have actually made in over a years of running my business.
So prior to you jump on the GoHighLevel bandwagon, let me walk you through specifically what went down– because if you’re anything like me, you’re always seeking smarter, a lot more efficient means to expand your service. Simply … not like this.
The Sexy All-in-One Pledge
Below’s the important things. When GoHighLevel hit 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 call it.
If you have actually ever juggled a Frankenstein pile of devices just to run your daily, you know exactly how tempting the “all-in-one” pitch can be. I would certainly been using Keap for years (and loving it, truthfully), however still– I obtained tempted in by the guarantee of streamlining everything under one roof.
And yeah, I’ll admit it: I had a negative case of glossy object syndrome.
Why I Left Keap (A Tool That Actually Worked)
Let me be real with you: Keap had not been damaged. It did whatever I needed. It handled my email automations, sales funnels, appointment scheduling, invoicing– you name it. Sure, the interface felt a little dated in places, and often things took a few more clicks than I liked, yet hey, it functioned.
So why modification?
Honestly, I simply started asking yourself if I was missing out. GoHighLevel was cheaper (on the surface), offered much more features, and all the trendy marketing experts on-line seemed to be going crazy regarding it. FOMO is a heck of a drug.
That inquisitiveness cost me more than simply money– it cost me time, power, and comfort.
What It Expense Me to Change
I went all in. Signed up for the $297/month agency plan. Invest a solid 30 to 40 hours migrating information, rebuilding workflows, and generally trying to reproduce my entire Keap setup inside GoHighLevel.
Here’s what I needed to relocate:
- 20,000+ e-mail clients
- Loads of automations
- All customer accounts and notes
- Stripe payment integration
- Whole funnel infrastructure
- Customized forms, landing pages, causes … everything
Allow’s not also talk about the lost productivity throughout those couple of weeks. I was up to my eyeballs in Zapier workarounds, viewing tutorials, and trying to find out where the hell standard settings were.
And just when I assumed things were working … they weren’t.
The Bugs Began Sneaking In
Initially, whatever looked all right. However then, out of nowhere, individuals on my listing began obtaining e-mails they weren’t intended to receive. I’m speaking entirely unimportant messages– sent in batches of 171 individuals each time. 3 days straight.
Total disorder.
I rebuilt the automations from scratch. Still occurred. I got in touch with support. They condemned “web server concerns.” But nothing made sense, and the trouble really did not disappear. Think of getting up every morning questioning who your system may’ve spammed over night.
That’s not simply annoying– it threatens. When your whole brand is improved trust, you can not pay for to appear like an unaware amateur blasting the wrong emails to the wrong people.
Support? Yeah, All The Best
Currently, I don’t expect perfection from any type of system. Bugs take place. But when they do? I expect the support group to step up fast.
That really did not take place right here.
Responses were unclear. Tickets went unanswered. I seemed like I was yelling right into the void while my organization melted. Meanwhile, every min I invested fixing was a min I had not been serving customers or growing my agency.
For a device that markets itself to serious entrepreneurs, GoHighLevel certain didn’t treat me like one.
The Interface Was a Hot Mess
You ever utilize a tool and simply really feel … lost? That was me inside GoHighLevel For SMMA.
The UX was clunky. Things were hidden in weird locations. Even straightforward tasks like modifying a funnel or tweaking an e-mail circulation became a scavenger hunt.
And their funnel builder? Don’t even obtain me started. Want to transform item settings, web page formats, and total flow? Awesome– you’ll require to quest through 3 various areas that make no rational feeling. Fifty percent the time, I could not even keep in mind where I would certainly clicked something ten secs earlier.
It felt like using software program constructed by designers, for engineers– not daily business owners.
The “Cost effective” Plan That Got Genuine Expensive, Genuine Rapid
Let’s chat money.
One of GoHighLevel’s big selling points is the price. I indicate, $97/month for all those features? Appears impressive, best?
Yet below’s what they do not tell you:.
You pay additional per email if you use their SMTP.
You have to attach solutions like Mailgun or Twilio and manage their payment individually.
You’ll obtain random microcharges that aren’t discussed clearly.
Want much better email deliverability? That’s gon na cost you too.
By the time I included whatever up, I was paying greater than I had been with Keap. And becoming worse results.
That’s not a bargain– it’s just bad math.
My Email Metrics Tanked GoHighLevel For SMMA
The final straw? Enjoying my email open prices drop like a rock.
I ‘d been getting a solid 35% open price with Keap. My target market was involved, my automations were called in, and points just worked.
After changing to GoHighLevel? Opens dropped listed below 15%. Clicks were practically nonexistent. Something was plainly off.
Maybe it was a deliverability problem. Perhaps the system was just sending out at bad times or not personalizing messages properly. Whatever the reason, I wasn’t remaining to play investigative while my listing deteriorated.
Lessons I Found Out the Hard Way
If you’re thinking about switching over to GoHighLevel– or any new system– here’s what I want somebody had actually informed me before I made the leap:.
1. Don’t Chase the Shiny Toy
It’s easy to get hyped regarding the most up to date “revolutionary” tool. Yet even if everyone’s talking about something doesn’t mean it’s right for you. If your existing system is working, think twice prior to blowing it up.
2. Value Simplicity Over Features
Much more isn’t always much better. A system with a clean, user-friendly user interface will conserve you time and migraines over time– even if it doesn’t have every feature imaginable.
3. Demand Openness
Concealed prices are the worst. Pick devices that are ahead of time about pricing, integrations, and limits. You should not need a calculator and a thesaurus to recognize your regular monthly expense.
4. Listen to Actual Users (Not Just Marketing Experts)
Examine unbiased evaluations, user discussion forums, and Reddit threads. Focus on actual customer experience– not just slick sales pages.
Still Want an All-in-One CRM? Below Are Much better Options
If you’re still on the hunt for a dependable, user-friendly platform to run your company, I’ve tested a lot. Right here are a few I ‘d actually recommend:.
Keap— My present go-to. Effective automations, solid assistance, and it just functions. Well worth every cent.
HubSpot— Great for services that require scalability and advanced CRM features.
GreenRope— A strong all-in-one remedy for little to mid-sized companies with solid reporting tools.
Monday.com— Great for task management, group collaboration, and sales pipeline monitoring.
Bonsai— Especially excellent for consultants and service-based solopreneurs.
Final Thought
GoHighLevel might help some. However, for me? It was a discouraging, costly experiment that I could not wait to finish.
So if you’re standing at the side, asking yourself whether to make the leap– think hard. Ask yourself what’s really not working in your existing configuration. Do not shed your systems down just because something newer and shinier showed up.
Stick to what works. Your sanity (and your customers) will certainly thank you.