You understand that sensation when you’re 99% sure something’s a terrific concept, only to realize later on … it was an overall dumpster fire? That’s precisely what happened when I chose to switch my entire company over to GoHighLevel.
It looked glossy. It appeared revolutionary. Yet in reality? It became among the most painful software choices I’ve made in over a years of running my business.
So before you jump on the GoHighLevel bandwagon, let me stroll you through exactly what decreased– because if you’re anything like me, you’re constantly looking for smarter, a lot more effective methods to expand your organization. Just … not like this.
The Sexy All-in-One Guarantee
Right here’s things. When GoHighLevel struck the scene, it sounded like a dream come true. A solitary platform to manage your CRM, sales funnels, email campaigns, appointment reservations, automation, payments– you call it.
If you have actually ever juggled a Monster stack of tools just to run your daily, you recognize just how alluring the “all-in-one” pitch can be. I ‘d been making use of Keap for many years (and loving it, truthfully), but still– I got enticed in by the assurance of simplifying whatever under one roofing system.
And yeah, I’ll confess: I had a negative situation of shiny item disorder.
Why I Left Keap (A Device That Actually Worked)
Let me be genuine with you: Keap had not been damaged. It did whatever I needed. It handled my email automations, sales funnels, visit scheduling, invoicing– you call it. Sure, the user interface really felt a little dated in places, and in some cases things took a few more clicks than I liked, however hey, it worked.
So why adjustment?
Truthfully, I simply began questioning if I was missing out. GoHighLevel was cheaper (on the surface), provided much more features, and all the trendy marketing professionals on the internet seemed to be going crazy regarding it. FOMO is a hell of a drug.
That curiosity price me greater than just cash– it cost me time, power, and comfort.
What It Cost Me to Switch
I went done in. Enrolled in the $297/month agency plan. Invest a strong 30 to 40 hours moving data, rebuilding workflows, and generally attempting to reproduce my entire Keap setup inside GoHighLevel.
Below’s what I needed to relocate:
- 20,000+ e-mail clients
- Loads of automations
- All client accounts and notes
- Stripe invoicing integration
- Entire funnel facilities
- Custom-made types, landing pages, triggers … every little thing
Allow’s not also speak about the lost performance throughout those couple of weeks. I depended on my eyeballs in Zapier workarounds, seeing tutorials, and attempting to determine where the hell basic setups were.
And just when I assumed things were working … they weren’t.
The Bugs Started Creeping In
At first, everything looked alright. Yet then, out of no place, people on my checklist started obtaining e-mails they weren’t supposed to receive. I’m speaking totally irrelevant messages– sent in batches of 171 customers at once. Three days in a row.
Complete mayhem.
I reconstruct the automations from square one. Still occurred. I contacted support. They condemned “server problems.” But absolutely nothing made good sense, and the problem didn’t go away. Envision waking up every early morning questioning who your system may’ve spammed overnight.
That’s not just aggravating– it’s dangerous. When your whole brand is built on depend on, you can’t manage to look like an unaware amateur blasting the incorrect e-mails to the wrong individuals.
Assistance? Yeah, Good Luck
Now, I do not anticipate perfection from any kind of platform. Insects occur. Yet when they do? I expect the support group to step up fast.
That didn’t happen here.
Reactions were obscure. Tickets went unanswered. I felt like I was screaming into the void while my service burned. Meanwhile, every min I invested troubleshooting was a minute I had not been serving clients or expanding my agency.
For a device that markets itself to serious entrepreneurs, GoHighLevel sure really did not treat me like one.
The User interface Was a Warm Mess
You ever before utilize a device and just feel … lost? That was me inside GoHighLevel Funding.
The UX was clunky. Things were hidden in strange places. Even straightforward tasks like editing and enhancing a funnel or tweaking an email circulation turned into a scavenger hunt.
And their funnel builder? Don’t also get me began. Want to alter product setups, page formats, and general flow? Trendy– you’ll require to hunt through 3 different locations that make zero sensible sense. Half the moment, I could not even remember where I ‘d clicked something 10 secs earlier.
It felt like using software built by engineers, for designers– not day-to-day entrepreneur.
The “Affordable” Plan That Obtained Genuine Pricey, Actual Fast
Let’s speak money.
One of GoHighLevel’s large selling factors is the cost. I imply, $97/month for all those features? Sounds fantastic, ideal?
However below’s what they don’t inform you:.
You pay extra per email if you utilize their SMTP.
You need to connect services like Mailgun or Twilio and manage their payment separately.
You’ll get random microcharges that aren’t described plainly.
Desire 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 getting worse results.
That’s not a bargain– it’s just poor math.
My Email Metrics Tanked GoHighLevel Funding
The last straw? Viewing my email open prices drop like a rock.
I would certainly been obtaining a strong 35% open rate with Keap. My audience was engaged, my automations were called in, and points simply worked.
After switching to GoHighLevel? Opens went down listed below 15%. Clicks were nearly missing. Something was clearly off.
Perhaps it was a deliverability problem. Maybe the system was simply sending out at bad times or otherwise customizing messages correctly. Whatever the cause, I had not been staying to play investigator while my checklist rotted.
Lessons I Found Out the Hard Way
If you’re considering switching to GoHighLevel– or any new platform– here’s what I want a person had actually informed me before I made the leap:.
1. Do Not Chase the Shiny Plaything
It’s easy to obtain hyped regarding the most up to date “innovative” tool. Yet just because every person’s talking about something doesn’t imply it’s right for you. If your present system is functioning, think twice prior to blowing it up.
2. Worth Simpleness Over Features
Much more isn’t always much better. A system with a clean, intuitive interface will save you time and headaches in the future– even if it does not have every feature under the sun.
3. Demand Openness
Hidden prices are the most awful. Select tools that are in advance regarding pricing, integrations, and restrictions. You shouldn’t require a calculator and a synonym replacement tool to recognize your regular monthly bill.
4. Listen to Real Users (Not Just Online Marketers)
Check impartial reviews, customer forums, and Reddit threads. Take note of actual customer experience– not simply slick sales pages.
Still Want an All-in-One CRM? Below Are Better Options
If you’re still on the hunt for a reputable, user-friendly platform to run your service, I have actually checked a bunch. Right here are a couple of I ‘d really suggest:.
Keap— My current go-to. Effective automations, solid support, and it simply works. Worth every cent.
HubSpot— Great for services that require scalability and advanced CRM features.
GreenRope— A solid all-in-one solution for small to mid-sized companies with solid coverage devices.
Monday.com— Great for project management, group collaboration, and sales pipeline monitoring.
Bonsai— Especially fantastic for consultants and service-based solopreneurs.
Final Thought
GoHighLevel may benefit some. But also for me? It was a frustrating, costly experiment that I couldn’t wait to end.
So if you’re standing at the edge, questioning whether to make the jump– think hard. Ask yourself what’s truly not operating in your current configuration. Don’t melt your systems down even if something newer and shinier appeared.
Stick to what jobs. Your sanity (and your customers) will certainly thank you.